8．
阅读理解
I have a rule for travel, never carry a map.
I prefer to ask for directions.
Foreign visitors are often puzzled in Japan
because most streets there don't have names. In Japan, people use landmarks 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 country of the American Midwest, usually
there are not many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat.
In many places there are no towns or buildings with miles. Instead of landmarks,
people will tell you directions and distance. In Kansas (堪萨斯州), 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(测量) distance by telling time. "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.
People in Greece (希腊) sometimes do not even
try to give directions because few visitors understand the Greek language. Instead
of giving you the direction, a Greek will often say, "Follow me." Then
he'll lead you through the streets of the city to the post office.
Sometimes a person doesn't know the answer
to your question. A New Yorker might say, "Sorry, I have no idea." But
in Yucatan, Mexico (墨西哥), no one answers "I don't know". People in Yucatan think that
"I don't know" is not polite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong
one. A visitor can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
One thing will help you everywhere. You might
not understand a person's words, but maybe you can understand his body language.
He or she will usually turn and then point in the correct direction. Go in that
direction, and you may find the post office!
