15．I travel a lot，and I find out different"styles"of directions every time I ask"How can I get to the post office？"
Foreign tourists are often confused in Japan because most streets there don't have names； in Japan，people use landmarks（地标）in their directions instead of street names．For example，the Japanese will say to travelers，"Go straight down to the corner．Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market．The post office is across from the bus stop．"
In the countryside of the American Midwest，there are not usually many landmarks．There are no mountains，so the land is very flat； in many places there are no towns or buildings within miles．Instead of landmarks，people will tell you directions and distances．In Kansas or Iowa，for example，people will say，"Go north two miles．Turn east，and then go another mile．"
People in Los Angeles，California，have no idea of distance on the map； they measure distance in time，not miles．"How far away is the post office？"you ask．"Oh，"they answer，"it's about five minutes from here．"You say，"Yes，but how many miles away is it？"They don't know．
It's true that a person doesn't know the answer to your question sometimes．What happens in such a situation？A New Yorker might say，"Sorry，I have no idea．"But in Yucatan，Mexico，no one answers"I don't know．"People in Yucatan believe that"I don't know"is impolite．They usually give an answer，often a wrong one．A tourist can get very，very lost in Yucatan!
28．When a tourist asks the Japanese the way to a certain place they usuallyB．
A．describe the place carefully
B．refer to recognizable buildings and places
C．show him a map of the place
D．tell him the names of the streets
29．Which is the place where people measure distance in time？C
A．New York．
B．Kansas．
C．Los Angeles．
D．Iowa．
30．People in Yucatan may give a tourist a wrong answerD．
A．in order to save time
B．as a test
C．for fun
D．so as to be polite
31．What can we infer from the text？C
A．It's useful for travelers to know how to ask the way properly．
B．People have similar understandings of politeness．
C．It's important for travelers to understand cultural differences．
D．New Yorkers are generally friendly to visitors．
分析 文章讲述的是在问路时遇见的各国的文化差异．
解答 28．B，细节理解题，根据句子in Japan，people use landmarks（地标） in their directions instead of street names．可知在日本人在指路的时习惯使用地标，故答案为B．
29．C，细节理解题，根据句子People in Los Angeles，California，have no idea of distance on the map； they measure distance in time，not miles．可知，洛杉矶的人是用时间来测量距离的，故答案为C．
30．D，细节理解题，根据句子People in Yucatan believe that"I don't know"is impolite．They usually give an answer，often a wrong one．可知，Yucatan的人会为了礼貌给人错误的答案，故答案为D．
31．C，推理判断题，文章讲述的是在问路时遇见的各国的文化差异，所以对于游客来说理解文化差异是非常重要的．
点评 本文是社会文化类阅读，主要考查细节理解题和推理判断题．在做细节理解题时，首先根据题目要求迅速在文章里找出相应的段落、句子或短语．认真比较选项和文中细节的区别，在做推理判断题时不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
