Manners nowadyas in metropolitan cities like London are practically non-existent. It is nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to elbow an elderly woman aside in the dash for the last remaining seat on the tube or bus, much less stand up and offer his seat to her, as he ought. In fact, it is saddening to note that if a man does offer his seat to an older woman, it is nearly always a Continental man or one from the older generation.

　　This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued about by young men, who say that, since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with courtesy and that those who go out to work should take their turn in the rat race like anyone else. Women have never claimed to be physically as strong as men. Even if it is not agreed, however, that young men should stand up for younger women, the fact remains that courtesy should be shown to the old, the sick and the burdened. Are we really so lost to all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves First come, first served, while a greyhaired woman, a mother with a young child or a cripple stands? Yet this is all too often seen.

　　Conditions in travel are really very hard on everyone, we know, but hardship is surely no excuse. Sometimes one wonders what would have been the behaviour of these stuot young men in a packed refugee train or a train on its way to a prison-camp during the War. Would they have considered it only right and their proper due to keep the best places for themselves then?

　　Older people, tired and irritable from a day's work, are not angels, either —— far from it. Many a brisk argument or an insulting quarrel breaks out as the weary queues push and shove each other to get on buses and tubes. One cannot commend this, of course, but one does feel there is just a little more excuse.

　　If cities are to remain pleasant places to live in at all, however, it seems imperative, not only that communications in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite. All over cities, it seems that people are too tired and too rushed to be polite. Shop assistants won't bother to assist, taxi-drivers growl at each other as they dash dangerously round corners, bus conductor pull the bell before their desperate passengers have had time to get on or offer the bus, and so on and so on. It seems to us that it is up to the young and strong to do their small part to stop such deterioration.

　　名人名言

　　You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don''t try.

　　----Beverly Sills

　　metropolitan a.大城市的，大都会的

　　[联想词]

　　municipal a. 市的，市政的

　　courtesy n. 1.谦恭有礼 2.有礼貌的举止（或言词）

　　cripple n. 跛子，伤残人 vt. 1.使跛，使受伤致残 2.严重削弱，使陷于瘫痪

　　stout a. 1.发胖的，胖而大的 2.结实的，牢固的 3.勇敢的，大胆的，顽强的

　　[联想词]

　　sturdy a. 1.强壮的，结实的，坚固的 2.坚定的，坚强的

　　hardy a. 1.强壮的，坚强的，能吃苦耐劳的 2.耐寒的

　　robust a. 强壮的，健康的

　　muscular a. 肌肉发达的，强壮的

　　fragile a. 1.易碎的，脆的，易损坏的 2.虚弱的，脆弱的

　　irritate vt. 1.使恼怒，使烦躁 2.使（身体某部分）不适，使疼痛

　　irritable a. 1.易怒的，急躁的 2.（器官等）过敏的

　　[联想词]

　　aggravate vt. 1.加重，加剧，使恶化 2.激怒，使恼火

　　angel n. 1.天使 2.可爱的人

　　brisk a. 1.轻快的，生气勃勃的 2.兴隆的，繁忙活跃的 3.寒冷而清新的

　　[联想词]

　　energetic a. 精力充沛的，充满活力的

　　slack a. 1.不活跃的，萧条的，清淡的 2.懈怠的，马虎的 3.松（驰）的

　　n. （绳索等）松弛部分 vi.懈怠，懒散

　　weary a. 1.疲劳的，疲倦的 2.使人疲劳的，使人厌倦的 vi.（of）厌烦，不耐烦

　　shove vt. 1.乱推，挤 2.乱塞，随意做 vi. 用力推，挤 n.猛推

　　commend vt. 1.表扬，称赞 2.推荐

　　imperative a. 1.必要的，紧急的，极重要的 2.命令的 n. 必要的事，必须完成的事

　　growl vi. 1.（动物）发狺狺声 2.低志咆哮着说话

　　[联想词]

　　howl vi.嚎叫，吼叫，（风）呼啸 n.嚎叫，吼叫，（风）呼啸

　　yell vi. 号叫，叫喊 n.号叫，叫喊

　　mutter v. n.轻声低语，小声抱怨

　　mute a. 1.缄默的，无声的 2.哑的，举说话的 3.（字母）不发声的 vt.消除（声音），减轻声音

　　murmur v. n. 小声说话，小声抱怨，咕哝

　　buzz n. 嗡嗡声 vi.发出嗡嗡声

　　deteriorate vi. 变坏，恶化

　　deterioration n. 变坏，恶化，堕落

　　[联想词]

　　crumble vt. 弄碎 vi. 崩溃，瓦解

　　perfection n. 完美，完善

　　[联想词]

　　intact a. 完整无缺的，未经触动的，未受损伤的