I travel to many places, and I find out different “styles” of giving directions (指路) every time I ask “How can I get to the post office?”
In Japan, people use landmarks (地标) in their directions because most streets don’t have names. For example, the Japanese will tell you, “Go straight ahead and turn left at the hotel. The post office is across from the bus stop.”
In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are no towns or buildings in many places. So when giving directions, people will also tell you the distances (距离). In Kansas, for example, people will say, “Go north two miles (英里). Turn east, and then go another mile.”
People in Los Angeles, California have no idea of distance. They measure (测量) distance in time, not miles. “How far away is the post office?” you ask. “Oh,” they answer, “it’s about five minutes from here.”
Sometimes people don’t know the answer to your question. What will they say? A NewYorker might say, “Sorry, I don’t know.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “I don’t know.” People there think that “I don’t know” is impolite, so they usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A visitor can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
1. Why do Japanese people use landmarks in their directions?
A.They have no idea of distance. | B.Most streets there have no names. |
C.There are no towns or buildings in their places. | D.They don’t know the way at all. |
2. What may you hear in Kansas when you ask for directions?
A.“It will take one day and a half.” |
B.“Turn south and then go three miles.” |
C.“Turn left at the traffic lights and you will see the hotel.” |
D.“Go along Autumn Street and turn right at the crossing.” |
3. When giving directions, people in Los Angeles, California __________.
A.have no idea of time | B.measure distance in miles |
C.may say, “It’s half an hour from here” | D.never answer “I don’t know” |
4. Which is TRUE about Yucatan?
A.It’s a place in the USA. | B.People there are all impolite. |
C.Visitors may lose their way there. | D.Visitors can find their way easily there. |
5. What can be the best title (标题) of the article?
A.Giving Directions in Different Places | B.Getting Lost in Yucatan |
C.Travelling in Different Places | D.Sorry, I Don’t Know |