Do you know the names of the people who live next door? Chances are you live next to someone, but do you actually know them? Sadly, the only time we do seem to hear about people’s neighbors is when things go wrong — hearing people say things like they have the bad neighbors! So, what does go wrong?
When talking about famous feuds (宿仇) with people who live close, you only need to think of the Montagues and Capulets in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Thankfully, most real-life quarrels don’t go that far. These days, especially in cities, many people live in buildings. Our neighbors are all around us — so what problems can come from that?
The first obvious cause of argument is noise pollution. Loud noise through the walls construction (施工), or people arguing next door can disturb the silence of your living space. Asking someone directly to turn the music down can cause you to feel anxious. However, if you get someone like a building manager to speak to your neighbors, it can make things more awkward because you didn’t speak to your neighbors directly.
And then what about smells? If your neighbors like eating food with pungent (刺激的) smells, and the smells flow through your window, what can you do? There are some other common problems, such as water running through the wall, pets making noise, and Jittering from the window above you. These can bring anger over time.
It’s not easy living next door to someone, especially if they’re noisy. But having a clear and honest conversation might help. Also, try thinking what you are doing could make your neighbors angry. If it’s something that would make you feel bad, maybe think again.
8. Why does the author mention Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in paragraph 2?
A.To present a fact. | B.To provide an example. |
C.To explain a topic. | D.To make a comparison. |
9. What are you advised to do if a neighbor makes too much noise?
A.Turn to the police. | B.Talk to the neighbor directly. |
C.Quarrel with the neighbor. | D.Ask the building manager for help. |
10. What can we infer about a neighbor’s pungent food smells?
A.They provide you pleasure. | B.They open your imagination. |
C.They’re your neighbor’s favorites. | D.They make you uncomfortable. |
11. What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A.How to make a neighbor happy. | B.How to deal with a noisy neighbor. |
C.How to communicate with a neighbor. | D.How to get along well with a neighbor. |