If ever we have to wait for something in the UK - for the bus, to get into a concert, or recently, with coronavirus, to get into a shop, we form a queue.. If you are seen to ‘push in,’ i
Trang 1BRITISH CULTURE:: GET IN THE QUEUE,
PLEASE!
If ever we have to wait for something in the
UK - for the bus, to get into a concert, or
recently, with coronavirus, to get into a shop,
we form a queue Everybody knows that when
you roll up, you join the back of the queue We
‘wait our turn’ in the queue It is an absolutely
fair system and we all agree with it It is in
British genes We Brits would never dream of
‘jumping the queue’!
If you are seen to ‘push in,’ it is considered
very rude and unfair to other people who have
been waiting So, if you see a line of people
and you are not sure about it, then ask: “Is this the back of the queue?” People will be very polite with you and let you know where you should stand You might even get chatting! Brits are happy to chat while queuing.
If ever somebody pushes in, you can almost feel the feathers ruffling! People will be silently furious! However, rarely will anybody say anything British people do not like to create a scene by arguing If somebody does say something to the rule breaker, the person who has dared to push in, the rest of the people in the queue will be every embarrassed and they will look away
People do let you know they are annoyed, but in subtle ways For example,
they may ‘tut’, and give bad looks to the transgressor They may also complain to the person next to them in the queue You would need a skin as thick as a rhinoceros to miss these ‘subtle’ signals that you have transgressed a sacred British rule Take my advice, if you come to the UK, get used to queuing At the end of the day, it’s the right thing to do!
Name: Class/group: _ Date: _
Say if the sentences are true or false: :
1 British people queue to get into shops
T/F
2 You should join the front of the queue
T/F
3 British people would not dream of
jumping a queue T/F
4 It is considered rude to push in T/F
5 If you are not sure, you should say
nothing T/F
6 If you go to the front of the queue, all the
Brits will shout at you T/F
7 If you push in, Brits will be cross T/F
8 The author of this passage is British T/F
Answer the following questions:
a What do Brits do if they have to wait for something?
b How many Brits agree that queuing is a good idea?
c How is ‘pushing in’ considered
by Brits?
d If you ask about the queue, how will Brits respond?
e Why would most Brits not say anything if you pushed in?
f How do Brits let you know they are unhappy with you?
Do people queue in your country? Is queuing a good idea? What do you think about it?
Trang 21T, 2F, 3T, 4T, 5F, 6F, 7F, 8T (We Brits…)
a They form a queue
b They all agree
c It is considered rude
d They will respond politely
e They don’t like to create a scene
f They may ‘tut’ or give you bad looks