A
Tall people are seen as life’s winners; the ones you want to be, the ones who get everything their own way. But it just isn’t the case. Rosamund Beattie (6ft 4in), a member of the Tall Persons Club — not a joke, they really do find life difficult — says it’s like being famous but without the money.
I’m not actually that tall — 6ft 1in — but even I meet problems. Hotel beds are too short, train seats don’t have enough leg room, and I regularly have to bend at the knees to use mirrors. Clothing can be troublesome too. “Most shirts expose my navel(肚脐) when I stretch(伸展).” Trousers are a nightmare. “You’re desperately hoping you’ll find a pair of trousers that go all the way down to your shoes.” Then there’s the matter of relationships. How often do you see a woman with a man shorter than her? There’s exception but for most people it seems to be a no-no. Some tall women bend their shoulders in an attempt to hide their height. The habit never goes away, no matter how successful they become.
Yes, I know all this is going to sound admirable to someone of below average height. “I’ll swap places with you,” they’ll be saying. Fair enough. On balance I’d rather be 6ft 1 than 5ft 5. But it’s still true that, as so often, a supposedly desirable outcome in life is slightly less desirable than you might think. Before you look at a tall person and say you wish you were them, walk a mile in their shoes.
(Notes: 1ft ≈ 0.3m; 1in ≈ 0.025m)
21. According to the text, what is tall people’s life like?
A. A life which is not always easy. B. A fancy but less wealthy life.
C. A life of personal accomplishments. D. A life suffering prejudice by short people.
22. It can be learned from the text that ______.
A. short people may buy clothing as they like
B. short people may find train seats not enjoyable
C. tall men usually feel comfortable sleeping in a hotel
D. tall women usually prefer taller men to be their boyfriends
23. What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?
A. To compare the life of tall people with that of short people.
B. To reveal that being tall is not always seemingly desirable.
C. To convey his wish to swap places with a short person.
D. To urge other people to stand in tall people’s shoes.
