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The middle-and upper-class Englishman, on the other hand, is brought up in a nursery shared with brothers and sisters. The oldest occupies a room by himself which he vacates [v `keit] when he leaves for boarding school, possibly even at the age of nine or ten. The difference between a room of one?s own and early conditioning to shared space, while seeming inconsequential, has an important effect on the Englishman?s attitude toward his own space. He may never have a permanent “room of his own” and seldom expects one or feels he is entitled to one. Even Members of Parliament have no offices and often conduct their business on the terrace[`ter s] overlooking the Thames. As a consequence,
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the English are puzzled by the American need for a secure place in which to work, an office. Americans working in England may become annoyed if they are not provided with what they consider appropriate enclosed work place. In regard to the need for walls as a screen for the ego, this places the Americans somewhere between the Germans and the English.
10. ll.37-39 The difference between a room of one?s own (Am.) and early conditioning to shared space (Br. 早就习惯了与人共享空间), while seeming inconsequential (unimportant,
insignificant),
has
an
important effect on (affects greatly) the Englishman?s attitude toward his own space.
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