单选题 Do you ever feel angry about someone who stands too close, talks too loudly or makes eye contact for too long? Why do we feel uncomfortable with those “close talkers”? Or with strangers who stand very near to us in a line? Scholars began to study personal space decades ago. They found that humans tend to avoid eye contact if they feel someone is standing too close. They put a distance between themselves and strangers. According to scientists, personal space involves not only an imaginary space around the body, but around all the senses. People may feel their space is being violated when they encounter an unwelcome sound, scent or stare: the woman on the bus shouting into her mobile phone or the co-worker sitting next to you putting on some perfume you don’t like. Whether people in recent times have become more protective of their personal space is hard to say. Yet studies of airlines show passengers’ strong desire to have some space to themselves. In a recent survey from Trip Advisor, travelers said if they had to pay for certain benefits, they would rather have larger seats and more legroom than extra food. Scholars know that commuters hold newspapers in front of them to read, but also to shield themselves from strangers. They know that college students unconsciously sit at positions where they can avoid direct eye contact. “If you videotape people at a library table, it’s very clear what seat people will take,” said Professor Dane Archer. One of the corner seats will go first, followed by the chair diagonally (斜对角) opposite because that is farthest away. “If you break those rules, it’s fascinating,” Archer added. “People will pile up books as if to make a wall.”