Do you often carry maps when you travel to other countries? Maps can show you the right ways. But if you don’t bring maps with you, what should you do? I’m afraid that you need to ask the way. Here are some tips(建议) for you, because there are different ways to give ways in the world.
In Japan, most streets don’t have their street names. The Japanese use landmarks(路标) to give ways. So when you ask, “Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the nearest post office?” They often say, “Go along the road, turn left on the second street and go past a supermarket. The post office is opposite the hospital.”
In the countryside of the American midwest. The land is very flat(平坦的). So if you have the same question, people will say to you, “Go east 3 kilometers, turn north and then walk another kilometer.” But in Los Angeles and California, people measure distance(测量距离) by time, not meters. So when you ask, “How far is the nearest post office?”, they will tell you, “It’s about 10 minutes’ walk from here”.
People in Greece often use body language to help you. They will use their hands to show the right or left ways, or they will simply say, “follow me.” Because they can’t speak English and the tourists couldn’t understand the language there.
【小题1】If you are in Japan, __________.| A．the street name will help you find the way easily |
| B．the Japanese use landmarks to help you find the ways |
| C．you need to use body language to ask the way |
| D．you can see some street names in Japanese |
| A．Northwest. | B．Southwest. | C．Northeast. | D．Midwest. |
| A．They use the landmarks. | B．They use body language. |
| C．They measure distance by time. | D．They usually say “follow me”. |
| A．指示路牌 | B．当地方言 | C．肢体语言 | D．翻译机器 |
| A．Asking the way | B．Different ways of giving way |
| C．Funny things in the world | D．The important language—English |
