Question

1. Politeness has been well defined as benevolence in trifles. It is the desire to put those whom
we meet perfectly at their ease, and save them from every kind of petty discomfort and
annoyance. The limited part of benevolence called politeness requires only an inclination to
make them happy temporarily, while they are in our presence, and when this can be done
without any sacrifice on our part or only with a slight sacrifice of personal comfort.
2. Politeness is said to be one of the important characteristics of civilized person. Politeness is the
art of choosing among your thoughts. It must be implemented in every walk of life. When we
deal with people elder to us we are polite. But, an honest polite person is polite with everyone,
people of lower status, workers and even children. Not only with humans but also with animals
we must be polite as they are our helpers.
3. Politeness is a skill. Like any other skill, you can master it with practice. The greatest enemy of
politeness is ego. To be polite person, you have to sacrifice your ego. It is difficult for an egoist
to be polite. You have to imply politeness in your thinking, speech and actions. Actions work
more than words. Polite actions will give fine results. Politeness will reduce your stress and
boost you to be productive. Apart from your present benefits, you protect your future. Being
polite makes you mentally healthy. In our daily life we come across many incidents with people
nearby and ourselves.
4. Different rules of behaviour have to be observed, accordingly as we are in the street or in the
drawing-room, at home or at school, in the company of friends or of strangers. There is also to
be considered the great diversity of social etiquette which distinguishes one country from
another.
5. Politeness, besides being a duty that we owe to others, is a valuable possession for ourselves. It
costs nothing, and yet may in many cases bring much profit. The great advantage of this
excellence of conduct was very clearly expressed by Dr Johnson, when he said that the
difference between a well-bred and an ill-bred man is that one immediately attracts your
liking, the other your dislike.
1. Being a genuinely polite person means: *
a. being polite to the elders
b. being polite to children
c. being polite to people of lower status and workers
d. being polite to one and all including animals.
2. By civilised person the author means *
a. people who pretend to be something else
b. people who are refined enough to exist in a society
c. people who treat people according to their status.
d. people who use other people.
3. “implemented in every walk of life” the phrase means: *
a. applied in every walk of life
b. forced in every walk of life
c. eradicated from every walk of life
d. displaced from every walk of life
4. Politeness not only reduces stress but also *
a. makes you more productive
b. protects your future
c. makes you inflate your ego
d. both (a) & (b)

Answer 1

1 d. Being polite to one and all including animals.

2 b. people who are refined enough to exist in a society.

3 a. applied in every walk of life.

4 a. makes you more productive.

!