Giving Directions in Different Places

If you ask people of different countries “Could you tell me the way to the post office?”, you will get different answers.

In Japan, people use landmarks (路标) instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the corner.          61           The post office is across from the but stop.”

In Kansas, America, there are no towns or buildings within (在……之内) miles. So instead of landmards, people will tell you directions and distance. For example, people will say, “Go north two miles (英里) .          62          ”

People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions. They will often say, “Follow me.”            63        

Sometimes if the person doesn’t know the answer to your question, he or she, like a New Yorker, might say, “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “I don’t know.”         64           They usually give an answer, but often a wrong one. A visitor can always get lost in Yucanta!

        65           You might not understand a person’s words, but maybe you can understand his or her body language. He or she will usually point to the correct direction. Go on in that direction and you may find the direction.

A.      Turn east, and then go another mile.    

B.      But one thing will help you everywhere.

C.      People there think “I don’t know. ” is not polite.

D.     Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market.

E.      Then he or she will take you through the street of the city to the post office.

阅读下列短文，从所给的四个选项中，选出最佳答案

　One morning Mr Black is driving in the country (乡村) and looking for a small hotel (旅馆) . When he sees an old woman on the side of the road, he stops his car and says to the old woman, “I want to go to the Sun Hotel. Do you know it?”

　“Yes,”the old woman says, “I will show you the way.”She gets in Mr Black's car, and they drive about twelve miles (英里). When they come to a small house, the old woman says, “Stop here.”Mr Black stops and looks at the house. “But this isn't a hotel, ”he says to the old woman.

　“No,”the old woman answers, “This is my house. And I'll show you the way to the hotel. Turn around and go back nine miles. Then you'll see the hotel.”

根据以上短文，选择正确答案

1．What is Mr Black doing that morning?

[　　]

A．He is walking in the country

B．He is working for a restaurant

C．He is looking for a hotel to live in

D．He is driving a small bus

2．Mr Black asks the old woman ______.

[　　]

A．to take his car

B．the way to the hotel

C．to help him repair (修理) his car

D．the way back home

3．After she gets in the car, they drive ______ and stop.

[　　]

A．nine miles　　　　　　　　B．twenty miles

C．two kilometres (公里)　　　D．twelve miles

4．Why does the old woman stop him in front of the small house ? Because _____.

[　　]

A．the small house is hers

B．she is too hungry

C．there's something wrong with the car

D．they get to the hotel

5．Which of the following (下面的) sentences (句子) is right?

[　　]

A．The old woman doesn't know the way to the hotel

B．Mr Black wants to go to the Moon Hotel

C．The old woman doesn't get off and goes back to the hotel with Mr Black

D．At last Mr Black has to go back nine miles to find the hotel

Foreign visitors are often puzzled in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks 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 just across the bus stop.”
In the Midwest of America, usually there are not many landmarks. So people will tell you directions(方向) and distance. In Kansas(堪萨斯州), 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(测量) distance by telling time. “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 away is it?” They don’t know.
People in Greece(希腊) sometimes do not even try to give directions because few visitors understand the Greek language. Instead of giving you the direction, 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. A New Yorker might say, “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico(墨西哥), no one answers “I don’t know.” People in Yucatan think “I don’t know” is not polite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A visitor can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
One thing will help you everywhere. You might not understand a person’s words, but maybe you can understand his body language. He or she will usually turn and then point in the correct direction. Go on in that direction, and you may find the post office!
【小题1】What do you think of the word “landmarks” mean?