Question

How to Talk Politely

“How are you?” is a nice question. It’s a friendly way that people in the United States greet each other. But “How are you?” is also a very unusual question. It’s a question that often doesn’t have 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 don’t say what they mean either. For example, when someone asks “Do you agree?”, the other person might be thinking, “No, I disagree, I think you are 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 says “I’ve to go now.” often, the person who wants to stop gives an excuse: “ Someone’s at the door.” “Something is burning on the stove.” The excuses might be real, or it might 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, or finishing a talk, people often don’t say exactly what they are thinking. It’s an important way that people try to be nice to each other, and it’s all part of the game of language.

1.When a person in the United States asks “How are you?”, he or she wants to hear “________”

A. How are you? B. Hello. C. I don’t know. D. Very well, thank you.

2.If you have different opinions from someone, it is polite to say “________”.

A. You’re wrong B. I’m not so sure if you are right

C. Of course, I disagree D. No, I don’t agree with you

3.Which of the following is a polite way to finish a talk?

A. I have no time to talk with you now. B. I want to stop.

C. I have to go now. D. I don’t want to talk any more .

4.According to the passage, when a person says “Something is burning on the stove.”, it means that _______.

A. he is giving an excuse B. he is hurting someone’s feelings

C. he is talking to a person at the door D. he is going to another place

5.One of the rules of the game of language is probably ________.

A. “Always say what you mean” B. “Don’t disagree with people”

C. “Usually say exactly what you are thinking” D. “Be polite”

1.D 2.B 3.C 4.A 5.D 【解析】本文介绍了当人们问候、谈论观点，结束谈话时，他们经常不准确地说出他们的想法，而是礼貌的表达出来。 1.D 细节理解题。根据The person who asks “How are you?” hopes to hear the answer “Fine”, even if the person’s frien...

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