“Sending thank-you notes is becoming a lost art,” mourns May Mitchell, a syndicated columnist known as “Ms Demeanor” and author of six etiquette(礼节) books. In her view, each generation, compared with the one before, is losing a sense of consideration for other people. “Without respect,” she says, “you have conflict.”
Ms. Demeanor would be proud of me: I have figured out a way to ensure that my children always send thank-you notes. And such a gesture is important, says Ms. Demeanor, because “a grateful attitude is a tremendous life skill, an efficient and inexpensive way to set ourselves apart in the work force and in our adult lives. Teach your children that the habit of manners comes from inside---it’s an attitude based on respecting other people.”
A few years ago, as my children descended like piranhas (一种南美淡水鱼，喜吞食或攻击) on their presents under the Christmas tree, the only attitude I could see was greed. Where was the appreciation of time and effort?
A thank-you note should contain three things: an acknowledgement of the gift (Love the tie with the picture of a hose on it); a recognition of the time and effort spent to select it (You must have shopped all over the state find such a unique item!); a prediction of how you will use your gift or the way it has enhanced your life (I’ll be sure to wear it to the next Mr. Ed convention!).
So, five years ago, in one of my rare flashes of parental insight, I decided that the most appropriate time to teach this basic courtesy is while the tinsel (装饰用光亮金属) is hot. To the horror of my children, I announced that henceforth every gift received will be an occasion for a thank-you note written immediately, on the spot.
I have reluctantly given my kids the green light to send e-mail thank-you notes; though hand-lettered ones (at least to me) still seem friendlier. But pretty much any thank-you makes the gift giver feel special—just as, we hope, the recipient feels. It’s a gesture that perfectly captures the spirit of the holidays.
41. 小题1:in Ms. Demeanor’s point of view, children born in the ______ is probably the least respectful generation.
| A．1960s | B．1970s | C．1980s | D．1990s |
42. 小题2: The phrase “set oneself apart” (Para. 2) means _______.
| A．to reserve to a particular use | B．to put to one side |
| C．to make noticeable or outstanding | D．to determine to purse |
43. 小题3:According to the passage, a thank-you note may contain the following information EXCEPT “_______”.
| A．I love the pearl necklace you bought me for my birthday |
| B．it must have taken you a long time to find just the right thing for me |
| C．is it very expensive | D．I promise I will wear it on my wedding day |
44. 小题4:How did the author feel when she saw her children searching under the Christmas tree for their presents?
| A．Greedy. | B．Cheerful. | C．Laughable. | D．Disheartened. |
45. 小题5:Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about the author?
| A．She feels hand-written letters are friendlier than word-processed ones. |
| B．She does not allow her children to sent email thank-you note. |
C．She thinks the best time to teach her children the basic etiquette of
appreciation is to strike while the iron is still not. |
| D．She thinks a thank-you note can make the gift giver feel special just as the |
recipient does.
