填空题

There was a time when, if a lady got onto a (36) bus or train, a gentleman would immediately stand up and offer his seat. No more, though. Today a man ,will (37) look out of the window, or if he feels a bit (38) , hide behind his newspaper. Either way, the woman will have to stand until someone else reaches his (39) . You can’t (40) blame men for this change in manners, though. The days are gone when women could be (41) to as the weaker sex without causing (42) . A whole generation of women has grown up demanding equality with men; not just equality in jobs or education, but in social (43) . Hold a door open for some women and you’ re likely to get an angry lecture on treating women as inferiors, unable to open doors for themselves. (44) ; though on second thought perhaps that’s not such a bad idea. (45) . On the other hand, automatic male politeness is perhaps slowly being replaced by true consideration for the needs and feelings of women, (46) . Maybe that’ s worth standing in the bus or train for.