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【语篇来自二十一世纪学生英文报·试题原创】

Polite problems

I’ve noticed a scary amount of politeness lately, and it has made me a little nervous.

I say “scary” because I am not used to being met at the door of a business and led to the proper area of a store to find what I need.

In more familiar times, one would walk into a department store unnoticed, go up to a sales associate, and find him or her talking on a telephone.

You would wait for a minute or so to ask a question of the person, usually a woman. And she, finally deciding to notice you, would turn to face you and say “Yes?” impatiently.

You would ask if her department have a certain popular brand and she would point and say “If we do, they’re over there” and turn back to her phone.

That type of behavior still exists in many stores. But I have noticed a Type B associate lately.

For instance, I was at a store the other day to purchase a battery.

I was met at the door by a friendly woman who gave me a basket, asked what I was looking for, and led me to the battery I needed.

On the very same day, I stopped at a nearby grocery store. I was looking for a special type of bread and the associate wanted to lead me to that too. I said no since I knew where it was, but she led me there anyhow.

Everyone was so sweet that I felt like I was drowning in maple syrup.

Later, I was on the phone to an incredibly polite bank associate who could not help me with an online request. He was so upset that he couldn’t do so that I felt him nearly collapse. With sadness in his voice, he said I had to appear in person at a nearby branch to do my business because they needed me to give them my Social Security number in person. I said, “not a chance” and hung up, but then I began to worry if I had made him kill himself. I think his name was Gary.

Gary, if you’re out there, think of your mom and your little sisters and don’t do anything crazy. It’s just that I’m not used to politeness from a banker, and I forgive your sweetness.

1．Why does the author feel nervous when someone is extremely polite to him?
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2．What does the author think of walking into a department store unnoticed?
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3．Why didn’t the author want the associate to lead him to the bakery?
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4．What did the author feel when people were so sweet?
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5．What is the author’s attitude towards the banker?
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