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1、通过阅读学习大学英语六级词汇(四)UnitFourWaitinginLine TheBritishqueueupandtheAmericanswaitinline,exceptforNewYorkers,whowaitonline.Nooneseemstoknowthereasonforthislocalidiom.Itissomethingtoponderwhilewaitingin/online. Anotherthingtoponder:ItisestimatedthatAmericansspednduptofiveyearsoftheirlivesinthattedious,w
2、earybutunavoidableprocessknownaswaiting.Studiesshowthatotherwiserationalpeopleactirrationallywhenforcedtostandinlineorwaitincrowds,evenbecomingviolent. Queuesareagrimrealityofcitylife.Whilethereseemstobenoconsensusonthecity'sworstline,theonesmentionedmostoftenintalkshereandtherewerelunchtimelines
3、atbanksandpostofficesand,amongyoungerpeople,movielinesandcollege-registrationlines. "Banklines,"saidMarkSloane,aninvestor."Nomatterwhattimeofdayyoubank,thenumberoftellersisinadequatetothenumberofpatrons.Evenwhenthebankisopenyouseelonglinesinfrontofthemoneymachinesoutside." "Supermarkets,"saidEdF
4、rantz,agraphicartist,whoonceabandonedafullshoppingcartinthemiddleofalongcheckoutline.Itwasnotapoliticalact."Thelinewasfilledwithcouponclippersandcheckwriters,"herecalled."AndsuddenlyIhadtowalkaway.Foodnolongermattered." Inanylinethefundamentalruleisfirstcome,firstserved,orwhatdsocialscientistscal
5、l"distributivejustice."Exceptionsmaybemade,say,infancyrestaurantswheretheheadwaitershavetheirfavorites,but,ingeneral,theruleprevails. Ifmiserylovescompany,sodosportsfans.Dr.LeonManndocumentedthisseveralyearsagowhen,asaHarvardprofessor,hestudiedthelongovernightqueuesforticketstoballgamesinhisnativ
6、eAustralia. "Outsidethestadiumsomethingofacarnivalatmosphereprevails,"hewroteinTheAmericanJournalofSociology."Thedevoteessing,sipwarmdrinks,playcardsandhuddletogether." Liketheteamstheyhadcometowatch,thefansinlinetooktimeouts.Someworkedinshifts,withcertainmembersleavingtotakenapsoreatmeals,while
7、otherssavedtheirplacesinline.Somestakedclaimsinlinewithitemsofpersonalpropertysuchassleepingbagsandfoldingchairs."Duringtheearlyhoursofwaiting,"Dr.Mannnoted,"thequeuesoftenconsistedofonepartpeopletotwopartsinanim
