Question

Vague language is not totally accurate or clear. Although some people think this is “bad” English, all native English speakers use vague language when they are unable to give accurate information, or they think it is either unnecessary or socially inappropriate to do so. A good example of vague language is rounding up numbers when telling the time. Twenty-six minutes past two becomes:

It’s about half past two.

It’s almost half past two.

It’s nearly half past two.

Often, speakers use vague language not because they do not have accurate information, but because they feel it is more polite to make a less definite (明确的) statement. It is wrong to say “I’m not sure that’s completely correct.”

As short definite statements sometimes sound too assertive (独断的) to native English speakers, they often add extra vague language to a sentence. This extra language has no extra meaning; it is just a social softener.

The use of vague language differs from language to language and is an important cultural consideration when doing business in a foreign language. Native English speakers, for example, can find Germans direct because Germans use little vague language. On the other hand, for Germans, native English speakers can sound indecisive, inaccurate and lacking in authority. In both cases they are reacting to characteristics of the language, not their business partner.

Sometimes a speaker might start a list of some kind and then cannot remember the rest of the list or does not think the other items are important enough to mention. In these cases, list completers are ideal:

“I typed some letters, reports and other things like that.”

“You have to ask a doctor or a lawyer or someone like that.”

46. Native English speakers often use vague language _____.

     A. to be more polite             B. to get more benefits

     C. to mislead competitors       D. to save themselves some trouble

47. Which of the following are you expected to say when communicating with a German?

     A. It costs twenty pounds or so.    

     B. It’s four minutes to ten.  

     C. We say around three or four o’clock. 

     D. I’ve been to Prague a couple of times. 

48. According to the text, which of the following can serve as a list completer?

     A. Or so.        B. Or else.     C. And then.   D. And the like.    

Answer 1

    本文向我们介绍了含糊语言的含义以及它在人们日常生活和工作中的作用。

46. A。细节理解题。由第二段中的Often, speakers use vague language not because they do not have accurate information, but because they feel it is more polite to make a less definite statement可知，说英语的人使用含糊语言主要是为了表示礼貌。

47. B。推理判断题。由第四段中的On the other hand, for Germans, native English speakers can sound indecisive, inaccurate and lacking in authority可知，德国人喜欢使用直接的和精确的语言。

48. D。推理判断题。由文章中对list completer的描述以及所举的实例可以看出，D选项And the like(以及诸如此类)符合list completer的特点。