在中国的大城市，排队是生活中最普遍的事情：买东西要排队，坐车要排队，去医院也要排队。
In China's big cities, queuing is one of the most common things in life: you queue to shop, you queue for the bus, and you queue at the hospital too.
有的人排队的时候很有耐心，一边看手机，一边慢慢等。
Some people are very patient in line, looking at their phones while slowly waiting.
但是也有人不想等，看见前面人多，就直接插队。
But some people don't want to wait: seeing many people ahead, they simply cut in line.
插队的人也许觉得自己聪明，其实大家都在心里对他有意见。
People who cut in line may think they are clever, but actually everyone silently resents them.
我见过一位老人礼貌地对插队的年轻人说：“大家都在等，请你到后面去，好吗？”
I once saw an elderly man politely say to a young man who had cut in line: "We are all waiting — would you please go to the back?"
那个年轻人脸红了，说了一声“对不起”，马上站到了队伍的最后。
The young man blushed, said "sorry," and immediately went to stand at the end of the line.
排队看起来是小事，其实最能说明一个地方的文明水平。
Queuing seems like a small matter, but it actually best shows a place's level of civility.
你愿意等三分钟，别人也会愿意为你等三分钟。
If you are willing to wait three minutes, others will be willing to wait three minutes for you too.
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Key words 生词
排队páiduìto queue; line up
耐心nàixīnpatience
插队chāduìto cut in line
礼貌lǐmàopolite; manners
队伍duìwuline; queue
文明wénmíngcivility; civilization
Grammar note 语法点
一边……一边……
'doing A while doing B' — two actions happening at the same time.
一边看手机,一边慢慢等。
看起来……其实……
'it seems... but actually...' — contrasts appearance with reality.
排队看起来是小事,其实最能说明一个地方的文明水平。
Check yourself 小测验
1. 大家对插队的人有什么想法?
2. 听了老人的话,年轻人做了什么?
3. 作者觉得排队最能说明什么?
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