Question

Decide if the following statements about British people are true or false.
1. British people are very polite.
2. They use the words ' thank you' and ' please' quite often.
3. They rarely stand in a line when they wait for a bus.
4. If you talk to a receptionist in a hotel, you will be called 'Sir' or ' Madam'.
5.Usually, the people that live in the UK greet each other with a double kiss.
Ajutati-ma va rog!

Answer 1

Hello!

Decide if the following statements about British people are true or false.

Decideți dacă următoarele afirmații despre poporul britanic sunt adevărate sau false.

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Răspuns:

1. British people are very polite.

True - „the British think of themselves as polite”.

2. They use the words 'thank you' and ' please' quite often.

True - „everyone knows how fond they are of their ‘pleases’ and ‘thank yous’ ”.

3. They rarely stand in a line when they wait for a bus.

False - „the British people stand in a line even at the bus station.”

4. If you talk to a receptionist in a hotel, you will be called 'Sir' or ' Madam'.

False - „the average English person does not call a stranger ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’, except if he or she works in a bank, hotel or department store.”

5. Usually, the people that live in the UK greet each other with a double kiss.

True and false:

a) false - in the past:

„the English find touching, hugging and kissing really terrifying, because these types of body language are for family members and very close friends.”

b) true - at present:

„Though, nowadays there’s been a lot of influence from all media – particularly on the television when we see celebrities greeting each other with a double kiss or hug.”

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Lecția din manualul de limbă engleză, cls. a VIII-a

The English Definition of Politeness

The British think of themselves as polite and everyone knows how fond they are of their ‘pleases’ and ‘thank yous’. For instance, buying a train ticket requires at least seven of these. Another sign of politeness is queuing. The British people stand in a line even at the bus station. Some foreigners consider that queuing is the true national British sport and not cricket or football.

Take forms of address, for example. The average English person does not call a stranger ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’, except if he or she works in a bank, hotel or department store. But in most European countries this is common polite behaviour. The English ‘you’ for every- one may appear more democratic, but it means that the British people need to find more complicated ways to express politeness.

And of course, the English find touching, hugging and kissing really terrifying, because these types of body language are for family members and very close friends. But most Europeans find the Latin habit of shaking hands and a friendly kiss quite charming. Though, nowadays there’s been a lot of influence from all media – particularly on the television when we see celebrities greeting each other with a double kiss or hug. And the young are changing traditional greetings.