Question

Traveling without a map in different countries, I find out about different “styles” of directions every time I ask “How can I get to the post office?”

Foreign tourists are often confused in Japan because most streets there don’t have name signs. In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”

People in Los Angeles, the US, have no idea of distance on the map: they measure distance by time, not miles. “How far away is the post office?” you ask. “Oh,” they answer, “It’s about five minutes from here.” You don’t understand completely, “Yes, but how many miles away is it, please?” To this question you won’t get an answer, because most probably they don’t know it themselves.

People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because tourists seldom understand the Greek language. Instead, a Greek will often say, “Follow me.” Then he’ll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office.

Sometimes a person doesn’t know the answer to your question. What happens in the situation? A New Yorker might say, “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “I don’t know.” People there believe that “I don’t ” is impolite. They usually give an answer, but often a wrong one. So a tourist can get lost very easily in Yucatan!

However, one thing will help you everywhere in the world. It’s body language.

1.Which of the following is probably an example of Japanese directions?

A. “Turn right at the hospital and go past a school.”

B. “Go south two miles. Turn west and then go another mile.”

C. “The post office is about five minutes from here.”

D. “The post office is at Street Kamira.”

2.Why don’t people in Los Angeles give directions in miles?

A. They use landmarks in their directions instead of distance.

B. They prefer to lead you the way.

C. They often have no idea of distance measured by miles.

D. They prefer to use body language.

3.How do Greeks give directions?

A. Using street names.

B. Using landmarks.

C. Leading people the way.

D. Giving people a wrong direction.

4.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. There are different ways to give directions in different parts of the world.

B. People in Yucatan always give right directions.

C. People in some places give directions in miles, while in other places in time.

D. A person’s body language can help you understand directions.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.C

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于说明文，介绍了世界上几个不同地方的人不同的指路方式。

1.B 推理判断题。根据第二段后四句In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”可知日本人在指路的时候，喜欢使用地标式建筑，从所列举的例子中即可看出。B项“Turn right at the hospital and go past a school.”中的the hospital和a school正是地标性的建筑，而且B项的特点和列举例子的特点相同。故B正确。

2.C 细节理解题。根据第三段第一句People in Los Angeles, the US, have no idea of distance on the map: they measure distance by time, not miles.可知洛杉矶人的距离是通过时间来算的，他们不使用“英里”来计算路途。故C正确。

3.C 细节理解题。根据第四段后两句Instead, a Greek will often say, “Follow me.” Then he’ll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office.可知希腊人会直接带你去所要去的地方。故C正确。

4.B 细节理解题。根据最后两句They usually give an answer, but often a wrong one. So a tourist can get lost very easily in Yucatan!可知Yucatan人所指的方向通常都是错误的，人们会因为他们所指的路而迷路。故B正确。

【名师点睛】

本文以细节题的考查为主。细节题是针对文中某个细节、某句话或某部分具体内容设置问题，正确答案的根据一定可以在原文中找到，即原文的改写往往成为正确选项。

通常细节题的正确选项有以下特征：

1、对原文句子中的关键词进行替换。把原文中的一些词换成意义相近的词，成为正确选项。

2、词性或者语态的变化。把原文中的一些词变换一下词性，或者改变原文句子的语态，给考生制造障碍。

3、语言简化。把原文中的复杂语言现象进行简化，成为正确答案。

4、正话反说。把原文中的意思反过来表达而成为正确选项(适用于寻找错误选项的题目)。

要想做好细节题，我们就必须理解干扰项设置的特点。干扰项也是以文章中的某个细节设题，若不仔细辨别，很容易把它当成正确选项。干扰项有以下特征：

1、将原文内容扩大或缩小。把原文中的限定词去掉或替换，使该选项看似正确，实际上却是错误选项。

2、把未然当已然。改变文中某句话的时态，如把将来时变成现在时，把未发生的事情当成已发生的事情。

3、无中生有。即选项内容是根据主观想象或推测得出的结论，而文中并未涉及。 4、偷换概念。把原来做该事的“张三”换成“李四”，所述细节确实与原文一致，一不小心就会误选。

5、文不对题。这类题最不容易辨别，选项中的描述与原文完全一致，确属原文中的一个细节，这时要回到题干，看该选项是否能回答题干所提的问题。

考点：考查说明文阅读