British postmen have a reputation for being cheerful.Of course, there are some gloomy postmen,who make you think that every letter contains tragic news,but the majority are jolly and good-humored.(1)_______________________.Normally, the city postman has to go on foot,not only along streets but also up and down stairs,as many blocks of flats still have no lifts and no down-stairs letter box.If he has a registered letter to deliver,he has to wait for someone to come to the door to sign for it.That person may greet him in a most unfriendly way if he has just been woken from a deep sleep very early in the morning.In the country,a postman may have a bicycle or a small van,so he does not have to walk so far: nevertheless he has his problems too.(2)_______________________.In winter, the postmen often have to carry on in the rain or the snow.Sometimes it is on foot,like his city colleague.Most country people keep a dog.He is forced to go in whether the dog is dangerous or not.So every day the country postman knows that,if the dog is not safely tied up,it may bite him on the leg or tear his trousers.
