Asking for information or help is a very common and necessary activity, 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 similar requests—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?" in some situations, perhaps with 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 language, such as "Could you please...?" or "Can I ask...?" It sounds more polite to say, "Peter, could you please lend me your pen?" Sometimes we might even need to spend some time leading in to a question or request. For example, 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 them for help.

It might seem that speaking politely is more difficult than being direct, and in a way this may be true. However, in order not to offend people, learning about the language etiquette 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.

1. It's important to know how to_     _in English when we visit a foreign country.

2. When you talk with different people, you need to__       _.

3. Extra words are used to help__      ___.

4.._      _is as important as learning language structure.

5. How do you say " Don't smoke here. " politely? "_         __*

 

1 

Before I left to meet Lynne, my friend told me that I had better take some money, but I didn’t listen to him. I thought that Lynne would pay because she invited me.

I arrived at the restaurant on time because I knew Americans like to be on time. Lynne and I sat at a table near the door and soon we began to enjoy ourselves there.

The food there was very delicious. I talked a lot about Saudi Arabia and Lynne told me all about herself. After two hours the waiter came and asked if we wanted one check(账单) or two. Lynne said two. Lynne paid her check, and the waiter gave me mine, I had no money. Then I had an idea, I called my friend. In a few minutes he arrived with some money. He laughed at me all the way home.

Now, I think it’s funny, but I guess you can understand how I felt at that time. So when you visit a foreign country, you have to learn their language and culture.

1.From the first paragraph, we mainly know____________.

A. I invited Lynne.                                          B. Lynne invited me.

C. Lynne was my best friend                      D. I knew Lynne very much.

2. After the meal,___________________________,

A. Lynne paid only for herself                     B. Lynne paid for both of us.

C. I would like to pay for myself                D. I paid for both of us.

3.. From the passage we know, when we visit a foreign country,__________.

A. We’d better pay for ourselves.

B. We should learn their language well.

C. We’d better pay for others after meal.

D. We have to learn both their language and culture.

 

Asking for information or help is a very common and necessary activity, 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 similar requests—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?" in some situations, perhaps with 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 language, such as "Could you please...?" or "Can I ask...?" It sounds more polite to say, "Peter, could you please lend me your pen?" Sometimes we might even need to spend some time leading in to a question or request. For example, 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 them for help.
It might seem that speaking politely is more difficult than being direct, and in a way this may be true. However, in order not to offend people, learning about the language etiquette 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.
【小题1】 It's important to know how to_     _in English when we visit a foreign country.
【小题2】 When you talk with different people, you need to__      _.
【小题3】 Extra words are used to help__     ___.
【小题4】._      _is as important as learning language structure.
【小题5】 How do you say " Don't smoke here. " politely? "_        __*

Every year at our school, we have a special day called International Day (国际日). It is for students to learn about different cultures (文化) from different countries. On this day, each class must tell other classes about a different country. Of course you will see many dances and different foods.

If you visit the classroom of Japan, you can play the games Japanese children play. You also have some special Japanese foods. In the classroom of Mexico (墨西哥), there are tomalleys (龙虾肝) and chips to eat.

In the afternoon, all the students, teachers and parents watch the dances. There are lots of dances. These dances are beautiful. People enjoy the shows.

I enjoy International Day very much.

1.‘International Day’ is a special festival in ___________.

A. Japan                    B. Mexico      C. America               D. our school

2.When can we watch dances?

A. In the morning.           B. In the afternoon.            C. In the evening.               D. All day.

3.Which is the special food in Mexico?

A. Tomalleys and chips.    B. Turkey.                       C. Pizza.                         D. Pumpkin pie.

4.What’s the best title (题目) for the passage?

A. Dancing Day             B. International Day          C. Food Day                      D. Game Day

 

Zhang Heng was a famous scientist in the history of China. His invention Hou Feng Seismometer was a great success and it helped us understand the world better.

(AD 78-139)	It was invented. Zhang Heng was born in Nanyang in the eastern Han Dynasty. At that time, there were many earthquakes every year. People thought they were from ghosts. Zhang Heng, however, didn’t believe it. He tried to find ways to study earthquakes for many years and in 132 he invented the first seismometer in the world.
It was used. But at first, people didn’t believe it and all laughed at him. In February, 138, Zhang heng’s seismometer told there was an earthquake in the west of Luoyang. After four days, three earthquakes really happened in Luoyang area. It was believed to be useful from then on. However, it was lost 1700 years ago.
It was reproduced. Scientists have been trying to reproduce one like that. In 2012, the latest reproduced seismometer was successfully listed in Shanghai museum. It was reported to have been a little helpful during the earthquakes in Tangshan, Yunnan and Sichuan. It is hoped to be improved better soon and be able to predict coming earthquakes one day.

 

1.When was the first seismometer in the world invented?

A．In 78.            B．In 132.            C．In 138.            D．In 139.

2. Where can we visit the latest reproduced seismometer?

A．In Henan.         B．In Luoyang.        C．In Shanghai.        D．In Nanyang.

3. We probably read this passage from a (an) ______________.

A．advertisement                         B．story book

C．travel guidebook                        D．science magazine