I ran into quite a few language problems while vacationing with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her “pants were dirty”. They looked at her in amazement, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, “pants” means underpants or knickers, not trousers as it does back home.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　 Katie — From America

I went to stay with a friend on the west coast last summer. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn’t find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 David — From Britain

When I asked for the “restroom” in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and “rest”. It took me years to get through to someone that I only wanted the toilet!

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Tom — From America

Last summer we went on a two-week family touring holiday, so Dad hired a car over the Internet. This was an old vehicle and there turned out to be lots of things wrong with it. When he phoned the hire company and tried to explain that the lock on the boot was broken, they thought he was talking about footwear! He had no idea their word for “boot” was “trunk”. In the end we went to a garage and just solved the problem.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Mary — From Britain

51. Hearing Katie’s mother’s words, Katie’s friends were in amazement because ____________.

A. Katie’s mother got mud on her jeans　　　　　　　 　

B. Katie’s mother’s underpants were dirty

C. they mistook “pants” in American for underpants

D. they didn’t know English

52. David went out to find a phone box to ____________.

A. phone the police for help　　　　　　　　　　　　

B. phone his friend for help

C. tell his friends he couldn’t go to visit her　

D. apologize for his being late

53. When Tom asked for the “restroom”, the people around him thought _____________.

A. he wanted to have a rest　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. he wanted the toilet

C. he wanted a chair　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　 D. He wanted to go to a department store

54. The underlined word “garage” is probably _____________.

A. a parking place　 B. a car　　　　　　　　　　 C. a gas station　 　　 D. a place to repair cars

55. Which of the following words is from British English？

A. Pants.　　　　　　　　 B. Ground floor. 　　 C. Restroom.　　　　　　 D. Trunk.

--- I am terribly sorry, sir. I thought it was a parking place.

　 --- 　　　　　 . Here is your ticket.

　 A．It doesn’t matter　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．You are right

　 C．I can’t agree with you　　 D．Sorry, that’s no excuse

 

Would you like to be a king or queen? To have people waiting on you hand and foot? Many Americans experience this royal treatment every day. How? By being customers. The American idea of customer service is to make each customer the center of attention. Need proof? Just listen to the commercials. Most of them sound like the McDonald’s ad: “We do it all for you.” Actually, not all stores in America roll out the red carpet for their customers. But wherever you go, good customer service means making customers feel special.
People going shopping in America can expect to be treated with respect from the very beginning. Most places don’t have a “furniture street” or a “computer road” which allow you to compare prices easily. Instead, people often “let their fingers do the walking” through the store hot lines. From the first “hello”, customers receive a satisfying response to their questions. This initial contact can help them decide where to shop.
When customers get to the store, they are treated as honored guests. Customers don’t usually find store clerks sitting around watching TV or playing cards. Instead, the clerks greet them warmly and offer to help them find what they want. In most stores, the clear signs that label each department make shopping a breeze. Customers usually don’t have to ask how much items cost, since prices are clearly marked. And unless they’re at a flea market or a yard sale, they don’t bother trying to bargain.
When customers are ready to check out, they find the nearest and shortest checkout lane. But as Murphy’s Law would have it, whichever lane they get in, all the other lanes will move faster. Good stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes get too long. Some even offer express lanes for customers with 10 items or less. After they pay for their purchases, customers receive a smile and a warm “thank you” from the clerk. Many stores even allow customers to take their shopping carts out to the parking lot. That way, they don’t have to carry heavy bags out to the car.
【小题1】 By quoting (引用) the McDonald’s ad: “We do it all for you”, the author intends to_______.

A．suggest that customers believe what commercials say deeply

B．show readers the American idea on good customer service

C．express all the stores pay much attention to the customers

D．persuade readers to choose the stores with ads correctly

【小题2】In the USA, what may you do at first if you want to do some shopping?

A．To visit a professional street with lots of similar stores.

B．To compare prices in many shops in the same street.

C．To make phone calls and get better shopping choices.

D．To receive other customers’ answers to the questions.

【小题3】The underlined words “a breeze” in Para.3 most probably means _________.

A．an easy job

B．a trouble

C．a funny thing

D．a boring task

【小题4】Which of the followings shows American stores offer convenience to customers in this passage?

A．The store clerks don’t usually sit around watching TV or playing cards.

B．Some stores offer price bargain to the customers like a yard sale.

C．The clerks give customers a smile and a warm “thank you” after paying.

D．Some stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes are crowded.

【小题5】Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?

A．Customer Service in America	B．Excellent Stores in America
C．Shopping Rules in America	D．Being King or Queen in America

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Eric in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Eric screamed with 36 and said, “Hi there.” His fat baby hands hit the high chair tray, and his eyes were wide with excitement.

I looked around and saw the 37 of his enjoyment. It was an old man with a worn and oily coat. And his hair was uncombed and unwashed. I was sure he 　38 . His hand waved. “Hi there, baby; I see ya,” the man said to Eric.

My husband and I 39 　looks. Eric continued to laugh and answer, “Hi, there.” Everyone in the restaurant noticed this. My husband and I were embarrassed.

We finally got through the meal and 　40 　 the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat between me and the door. “Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Eric,” I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be 41 . As I did so, Eric leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's “pick-me-up” position. Before I could stop him, he had 　42 himself to the man's arms．Eric, in an act of total 43 , and love, laid his tiny head upon the man's torn shoulder.

His 　44 　hands full of dirt, pain and hard labor gently, so gently, cradled my baby's waist and patted his back. I stood amazed. After a while, he pushed Eric from his chest 45 as though he were in pain, saying “God bless you, ma'am. You've given me the best Christmas gift.”

I had just witnessed a genuine (pure or true) love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no 46 . The ragged old man, unknowingly, had reminded me that a genuine love is one in which the true meaning of love is 47 .

36. A. surprise　　　 B. delight　　　 C. anger　　　　 　　 D. nerve

37. A. source　　　　 　　　 B. reason　　　 C. effect　　　　　 　 D. resource

38. A. smiled　　　 　 B. mopped　　 C. smelled　　　　　 D. wiped

39. A. consulted　　 B. exchanged　 C. separated　　　　 D. replaced

40. A. ran for　　　 B. headed for　 　 C. sent for　　　　 D. accounted for

41. A. breathing　　 B. fighting　　 　 C. creating　　　　 D. holding

42. A. thrown　　　 　 B. devoted　　 　 C. driven　　　　　 　 D. jumped

43. A. independence 　　 B. desire　　　 C. trust　　　　　　 D. dignity

44. A. allergic　　　 B. strong　　　 　 C. smart　　　　　 　D. aged

45. A. eagerly　　　 B. violently　　 C. gladly　　　　 　　　 D. unwillingly

46. A. judgment　　 　 B. decision　　 C. conclusion　　　 　 D. choice

47. A. sharpened　　 　 B refreshed　　 　 C. realized　　　　 　　 D. learned