Question

I travel a lot, and I find out different “styles”(风格)of directions every time I ask “ How can I get to the post office?”

Foreign tourists are often confused(困惑的)in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks(地标)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.”

In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are not usually many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat. In many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, “ Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.

People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map. They measure distance in time, not miles. “ How far away is the post office?” you ask. “ Oh,” they answer, “ it’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “ Yes, but how many miles is it?” They don’t know.

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

1.When a tourist asks the Japanese the way to a certain place, they usually _______ .

A.describe the place carefully

B.show him a map of the place

C.tell him the names of the streets

D.refer to recognizable buildings and places

2.What is the place where people measure distance in time?

A.New York. B.Los Angles.

C.Kansas          C. Iowa

3.People inYucatan may give a tourist a wrong answer ________ .

A.in order to save time B.as a test

C.so as to be polite D.for fun

4.What can we infer from the text?

A.It’s important for travelers to understand cultural differences.

B.It’s useful for travelers to know how to ask the way properly.

C.People have similar understanding of politeness.

D.New Yorkers are generally friendly to visitors.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章作者围绕不同国家回答问路的风格，介绍了不同国度的不同文化。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第二段Foreign tourists are often confused（困惑的）in Japan because most streets there don't have names. In Japan, people use landmarks（地标）in their directions instead of street names.可知在日本通常是用地标指路。故D正确。

2.细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二段People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map; they measure distance in time, not miles.可知，在洛杉矶用走一段路用多少时间来指路。故B正确。

3.推理判断题。根据文章最后一段根据But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers "I don't know." People in Yucatan believe that "I don't know" is impolite.可推断，因尤卡坦人可能会给游客一个错误的答案的目的是为了礼貌。故C正确。

4.推理判断题。根据主题段第一段的I find out different“styles”of directions every time I ask“How can I get to the post office?”以及下文举例说明可知，作者围绕回答问路的风格，介绍了不同国度的不同文化。因此推断作者说明了对旅行者来说了解不同地方的文化差异很重要。故A项正确。