本文作者： 21ST
C

Everyone hates to wait in lines. But it’s not always the length of the wait we find so __1__ . Our behavior when waiting is only __2__ defined by the length of the wait. “Often the psychology of queuing is more __3__ than the statistics of the wait itself,” said the MIT researcher Richard Larson, an expert on waiting lines.

One obvious __4__ of queuing psychology is that we get bored when we wait in line. This issue is __5__ in many ways, from magazines in hospital waiting rooms to mirrors in elevators __6__ we can check our appearance.

We really __ 7__ it when we expect a short wait and then get a long one. But studies show that we are much more __8__ when we are given an idea of how long we’ll be waiting. Walt Disney Co knows this __9__ than anyone else. It posts estimated waiting times for attractions in its theme parks. But according to Larson, these times are __10__ so that visitors get to the front of the queue more quickly than they expect. It keeps them __11__ .

But perhaps the biggest influence on our feelings about waiting in a line has to do with our sense of __12__ . When it comes to queues, the universally acknowledged __13__ is first come, first served. Any deviation (违反) from this principle is regarded as unfair and can __14__ violent queue rage (大怒).

Sometimes, however, we are willing to make  __15__ . For example, we are fine with the priority given to those with a more critical condition in hospital.

__16__ in most situations, we demand fairness. You’ve probably __17__ mild queue rage yourself in fast food restaurants, watching people in the other line move faster than you, __18__ yourself for having chosen the “wrong” line.

In order to solve this problem, the serpentine (蛇形的) line was __19__ . Slate magazine’s website explains: “The serpentine line isn’t always faster than multi-lines. But it offers important relief: you absolutely __20__ have to see someone arrive after you and get served before you.”

1. A. unchangeable B. uninteresting 

C. unbearable D. unbelievable   

2. A. simply B. partly C. naturally D. completely

3. A. necessary B. different C. reasonable D. important

4. A. reason B. aspect C. disadvantage D. result

5. A. solved B. reflected C. explained D. discovered

6. A. in case B. as if C. so that D. even if

7. A. hate B. imagine C. understand D. consider

8. A. careful B. patient C. worried D. polite

9. A. less B. longer C. better D. worse

10. A. incorrectly estimated B. accurately estimated

C. underestimated D. overestimated

11. A. happy B. relaxed C. busy D. surprised

12. A. defeat B. fairness C. achievement D. disappointment

13. A. truth B. information C. habit D. standard

14. A. lead to B. result from

C. relate to D. put forward

15. A. differences B. changes

C. exceptions D. preparations

16. A. Then B. But C. So D. As

17. A. experienced B. noticed C. prevented D. performed

18. A. warning B. reminding C. excusing D. blaming

19. A. changed B. replaced C. invented D. forbidden

20. A. never B. often C. even D. still

D

One day in 11th grade, I went into a classroom to wait for a friend. When I went into the room, the teacher, Mr Washington, asked me to go to the board to __1__ something out. I told him I was not one of his students.

He said, “It doesn’t matter. Go to the board.”

I was embarrassed. I said, “I can’t do it. I have learning __2__ .”

He looked at me and said, “Don’t ever say that again. Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your __3__ .”

It was a(n) __4__ moment for me. On one hand, I was __5__ because the other students laughed at me. They knew that I was in Special Education. But on the other, I felt liberated. Mr Washington had showed me I did not have to live by another person’s __6__ of me.

I was __7__ as having learning difficulties in the fifth grade and put back into the fourth grade. I had __8__ all my life. But Mr Washington __ 9__ this.

One day, he gave a speech to the school. “You have greatness within you. You have something __10__ . If you can see for one moment a larger vision of yourself, of who you really are, then in a historical context, the world will __11__ be the same again.”

Afterwards, I caught up to him and said, “Mr Washington, is there greatness within me?”

He said, “Yes, Mr Brown.”

“But I failed English and math and history. I’m __12__ than most kids.”

“That just means that you have to work harder. Your grades don’t __13__ who you are or what you can __14__ in your life.”

Mr Washington became my teacher. Normally, special education students don’t __15__ Speech and Drama, but they made __16__ for me to be with him. I began to do well __17__ . For the first time in my life I made the honor roll; I wanted to take part in a trip with the drama department and you had to be on the honor roll for it. That was a __18__ for me!

Mr Washington __19__ my picture of who I am. He gave me a larger vision of myself, __20__ my learning difficulties.

1. A. read B. work C. count D. pick

2. A. worries B. pressure C. difficulties D. shortcomings

3. A. routine B. challenge  C. manner D. reality

4. A. liberating B. peaceful C. interesting D. challenging

5. A. scared B. disappointed C. embarrassed D. shocked

6. A. idea B. view C. expectation D. suggestion

7. A. identified B. treated C. classified D. named

8. A. fought B. worked C. recovered D. failed

9. A. prevented B. changed C. ignored D. recognized

10. A. natural B. common C. special D. pleasant

11. A. ever B. never C. simply D. almost

12. A. funnier B. smarter C. harder D. slower

13. A. determine B. guarantee C. express D. admit

14. A. handle B. contribute C. achieve D. invent

15. A. take B. bring C. perform D. like

16. A. settlements B. interviews C. agreements D. arrangements

17. A. differently B. particularly C. academically D. mentally

18. A. luck B. miracle C. power D. relief

19. A. produced B. displayed C. examined D. rebuilt

20. A. without B. with C. beyond D. by