Question

Knowing how to ask for information and help politely is important. In English, “Where are the restrooms?” and “Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?” are similar requests (請求) — both are correct English, but the first could sound rude. It’s important to use correct language, but sometimes this alone is not enough — we need to learn how to be polite when we make requests.

In English, just like in Chinese, we change the way we speak when talking with different people. The expressions you use might depend on whom you are speaking to or how well you know them. If you say to your teacher, “Where is my book?” this will sound rude. But if you say, “Excuse me, Mr West. Do you know where my book is?” your question will sound much more polite. On the other hand, it might be alright to say “Where is my book?” to the people you know well.

And you would not usually say, “Peter, lend me your pen.” A very direct order like this can sound rude in English. Usually in English polite questions are longer and include extra (附加的) language, such as “Could you please...?” or “Can I ask...?” It sounds more polite to say, “Peter, could you please lend me your pen?” If you stop a stranger in the street, we might first say, “Excuse me. I wonder if you can help me.” or “I’m sorry to trouble you but…” before asking him for help.

It might seem that speaking politely is more difficult than being direct, and in a way this may be true.

1.When we make requests, we need to speak in a ____ way.

A. polite B. careful C. different D. direct

2.You should say “____” when you ask a stranger for a way.

A. Which is the way to the zoo?

B. How can I get to the zoo?

C. Do you know the way to the zoo?

D. Excuse me. Can you tell me the way to the zoo?

3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. We should use long sentences when we ask for information and help.

B. When we ask for help from others, polite language must be used.

C. The way of speaking is important when we ask different people for help.

D. In English, polite questions are as neccessary as rude and direct ones.

 

Answer 1

1.A

2.D

3.C

【解析】

試題分析：這篇短文講述的是，當我們向不同的人去求助或詢問信息的時候，要注意說話的方式。如果是向陌生人求助，我們說話的方式就必須是有禮貌的；如果是熟悉的人，就可以用比較直接的方式。

1.細節(jié)理解題。根據短文第一段的最后一句話we need to learn how to be polite when we make requests.可知，當我們提出要求的時候，我們需要學會怎樣說才是有禮貌的。即我們提要求的時候，要用禮貌的方式來表達。故選A。

2.推理判斷題。根據這篇短文的大意我們可以知道，當我們跟別人說話的時候，尤其是在提要求的時候，一定要注意說話要有禮貌。所以當我們向別人問路的時候，我們不能直接的來提問，而是要加上一些附加的語言，如excuse me， 及can you tell me…。故應選D。

3.推理判斷題。A選項意為：當我們向別人尋求信息或幫助的時候，我們應該使用長句子。這不符合文章的意思；B選項意為：當我們需要別人的幫助的時候，必須用有禮貌的語言。根據文意可知，如果我們向關系比較好的人詢問，用一般的語言也是可以的；D選項意為：在英語里，有禮貌的問題和粗魯的、直接的問題一樣的有必要。這個說法不符合文意。C選項意為：當我們向不同的人求助的時候，說話的方式是重要的。根據短文第二段In English, just like in Chinese, we change the way we speak when talking with different people.可知這個表達是符合文意的。故選C。

考點：文化類短文閱讀。