Question

“How are you?” is a nice question .It’s a friendly way that people in the U.S.A greet each other. But “How are you?” is also a very unusual question. It’s a question that often doesn’t need an answer. The person who asks “How are you?” hopes to hear the answer “Fine”, even if the person’s friend isn’t fine. The reason is that “How are you?” isn’t really a question and “Fine ”isn’t really an answer. They are simply other ways of saying “Hello” or “Hi”.

Sometimes ,people also don’t say exactly what they mean. For example, when someone Asks “Do you agree?” ,the other person might think, “No, I disagree. I think you’re Wrong...”But it isn’t very polite to disagree so strongly, so the other person might say “I’m not sure.” It’s a nicer way to say that you don’t agree with someone.

People also don’t say exactly what they are thinking when they finish talking with other people. For example, many talks over the phone finish when one person say “I’ve to go now. ”Often, the person who wants to hang up gives and excuse:“ Someone’s at the door.”“Something is burning on the stove.” The excuses might be real, or not. Perhaps the person who wants to hang up simply doesn’t want to talk any more, but it isn’t polite to say that. The excuse is more polite ,and it doesn’t hurt the other person.

Whether they are greeting each other, talking about an idea, of finishing a talk, people don’t say exactly that they are thinking. It’s an important way that people try to be nice to each other, and it’s part of the game of language.

1.When a person disagree with someone, it is polite to say“_________”.

A.You are wrong. I disagree. B. I’m not sure.

C. I’m sure I disagree. D. No, I disagree.

2.A polite way to finish talk is to say“__________”.

A. You have to go now.

B.I want to hang up.

C.I have to go now.

D.I don’t want to talk any more.

3.When a person says “I’ve to go now .Someone’s at the door.”, the person may be _______.

A .giving an excuse B. hurting someone’s feeling

C .ill D. asking you a question

4.The rule of the game of language is probably“__________”.

A. Always say what you mean

B. Don’t disagree with people.

C. Never say exactly what you’re thinking.

D. Be polite.

 

Answer 1

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文主要介绍了人们在说话时往往不直接表达自己的意思，有的时候还会找出各种借口来使谈话更有礼貌。所以作者总结说语言的规则就是要有礼貌。

1.二段so the other person might say “I’m not sure.” It’s a nicer way to say that you don’t agree with someone.描述，可知说“I’m not sure. ”是礼貌的方式，故选B

2.三段many talks over the phone finish when one person say “I’ve to go now. ”描述。故选C

3.细节理解题。根据第三段Often, the person who wants to hang up gives and excuse:“ Someone’s at the door.”“Something is burning on the stove.”描述，故选A

4.推理判断题。根据第四段It’s an important way that people try to be nice to each other, and it’s part of the game of language.描述，语言游戏的一部分是设法对别人友好是重要的。故选D

考点：文化类短文阅读。