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Exercise 39.

You are going to read an article. seven paragraphs have been removed from the article.
Choose from the paragraphs A-H the one which fits each gap 1-7. There is one extra
paragraph that you do not need to use.

Mobile Phone Etiquette

The term 'etiquette' refers to the set of largely unwritten rules and conventions that govern our
everyday behaviour. Many of these rules are reasonable and logical, and sticking to them makes
life easier for everyone. Other aspects of good etiquette might seem to be somewhat arbitrary,
with origins lost in the mists of time; for the most part, though, we abide by the rules because we
don't wish to appear bad-mannered or disrespectful.

1.

A prime example of this concerns the use of mobile phones. There can be no doubt that these
devices have a host of advantages and that, over the last twenty years or so, they have
revolutionised the way in which people communicate. On the negative side, though, the fact that
mobiles became ubiquitous almost overnight means that there hasn't been time for society as a
whole to develop a set of commonly accepted guidelines regarding their use.

2.

Journalist, Anne Perkins, was so infuriated by the lack of respect and consideration shown by
some mobile phone users that she decided to set up MobileManners.web. This website aims to
raise awareness of the issue and to encourage people to follow the Mobile Manners code of
conduct when using their mobile.

3.

Their conversation was well underway when it was interrupted by the ringing of the celebrity's
phone. Not only did he insist on taking the call, but he then proceeded to carry on a prolonged
conversation while Anne was left twiddling her thumbs. The worst part of this was that he wasn't
responding to a family emergency or even discussing an important business deal. He was simply
recounting his exploits of the previous night at some fashionable nightclub to some sycophantic
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crony. After hanging up, he didn't even apologise to Anne, so when his phone rang again, two
minutes later, she cut the interview short and left.

4.

To begin with, the site points out that mobiles are supposed to make your life easier, not more
stressful. You should not feel obliged to answer the phone every time it rings, nor do you have to
respond to text messages immediately. You can, and, most of the time, should give priority to the
people around you.

5.

These are basic points that most people probably have an opinion on, even if they don't
necessarily agree with the Mobile Manners take on things. However, the code goes on to give
Anne's views on a wide range of issues which many of us may never have thought about before.
The topics that should and shouldn't be discussed on a mobile in public, the types of ringtone that
are appropriate for people with certain jobs, and the times of day when it is inappropriate to send
a colleague a text message are just some of the things that are covered.

6.

Of course, displaying good manners isn't the only thing that people need to think about in
connection to mobiles. Safety is another very important aspect of mobile phone use. In
particular, the issue of using mobiles while driving has been in the headlines in recent years. A
large number of road accidents are believed to have been caused by drivers who were chatting on
the phone or, even worse, texting while on the road.

7.

All in all, it is clear that it can take some time for us to fully understand the social and legal
ramifications of new technology. This is especially true of a development that changes the
culture as quickly and as radically as the mobile phone has.
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A Rude behaviour, like that of the so-called 'star', certainly doesn't adhere to the Mobile Manners
code, the first rule of which is 'Show respect to the people affected by your mobile phone use'.
The website stresses that its founder truly believes that mobile phones are wonderful devices but
that, in a civil society, people should be more thoughtful about their impact on others.

B Anne says that she had long been annoyed by some impolite people's use of mobiles, but that
the final straw came about six months ago when she was interviewing a well-known public
figure for an article she was writing for a national newspaper.

C In a number of countries, it is now illegal to use a mobile while you are behind the wheel. In
other places, only hands-free phones are permitted, although this compromise might still
endanger road users, since research has shown that drivers are far more distracted by a phone
conversation than when chatting with another passenger.

D Problems arise, however, when people disagree about the correct etiquette, or aren't sure about
what the 'done thing' is in a certain situation. This can occur when a significant change in the
lifestyle of people in a community happens too rapidly for social norms to become ingrained.

E Anne points out that the details aren't crucial, and that she doesn't expect people to memorise
the whole code. The important thing, she says, is that people start thinking about the issue and
modifying their behaviour accordingly. Even if some people start lowering their voices when
talking on their mobiles or switching them to silent mode when in public places, Anne thinks she
will have achieved something and made the world a slightly more pleasant place.

F The Mobile Manners site is just one of many dealing with this issue that have sprung up in
recent years. There is also a large number of sites dealing with online etiquette (or 'netiquette)
and others covering the correct way (at least in the authors' opinion) to behave in relation to other
technological developments. People clearly feel the need for guidance in these matters.

G Consequently, otherwise polite people can use their phones in ways that irritate those around
them. And places such as museums, restaurants, cinemas and theatres have been forced to
introduce measures that regulate the use of mobile phones, or in some cases ban them outright,
because members of the public could not be relied upon to use their phones in a considerate
manner.

H This means that you shouldn't let a ringing phone interrupt a face-to-face conversation unless
you are expecting an important call and, under those circumstances, it is polite to apologise and
say something along the lines of 'Do you mind if I get that?' before answering the call. Similarly,
you should wait for an appropriate moment to respond to a text, and never try to carry on your
conversation and compose a text message at the same time.