Question

  We often ask for information or help,especially when we visit a foreign country. So knowing how to ask for information politely is important. In English ,“Where are the restrooms?” and “Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?” are correct English,but the first could sound rude. It's important to use correct language,but sometimes we need to learn how to be polite.

   In English,just like in Chinese,we change the way we speak when talking with different people. 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. Of course it might be all right to say “Where is my book?” in some situations,perhaps with people you know well.

   “Peter,give me your pen. ”can sound rude in English. Usually in English,polite questions are longer such as “Could you please. or “Can I ask. It sounds more polite to say. “Peter,could you please give me your pen?,? Sometimes we might even need to spend some time when you stop a stranger in the street. We might first say ,“Excuse me. Can you help me?” or “I'm sorry to trouble you but. .. ”before asking them for help.

   It might seem that speaking politely is more difficult than being direct (直接) . However,if you want to be a polite person,you should learn about language etiquette (规矩) . It is just as important as learning grammar or vocabulary. And doing this will also help you become better at English,or any other language you wish to speak.(北京市朝阳区)

() 1. What is the polite way when you ask for help?

   A. Pass me the watch,Li Tao.

   B. Where is the supermarket?

   C. Tell me where I can find a bank.

   D. Could you please give me your pen?

() 2. Why do we need to learn polite languages? Because.

   A. they can improve our grammar and vocabulary

   B. they can help us become better at English

   C. everyone wants to be polite

   D. the teachers tell us to do so

() 3. From the passage,we can infer (推测) the writer.

   A. thinks being direct is nothing important

   B. knows much about spoken language

   C. is good at asking for directions

   D. often speaks many languages

() 4. What's the main idea of the passage?

   A. How to start a polite talking with strange people.

   B. Correct language is as important as a polite one.

   C. How to use correct language is important.

   D. People should learn to speak politely.

Answer 1

1. D 2. B 3. B 4. D

阅读提示:本文是议论文。通过对比法说明有礼貌的英语表达方式，有助于我们学好英语,同时也有助于我们了解语言规矩。

1. D 细节理解题。由第一段“Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?”句式可知 D 是礼貌的 请求。

2. B细节理解题。由最后一段最后一句“And doing this will also help you become better at English,or any other language you wish to speak.”可知。

3. B推理判断题。通过作者列举有礼貌和无礼貌的口语表达形式， 可以推测出作者口语表达能力很好。

4. D细节理解题。由最后一段前两句“It might seem that speaking politely is more difficult than being direct (直接) .However,if you want to be a polite person,you should learn about language eti-quette (规矩) .”可知。