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 just across the bus stop.”
In the Midwest of America, usually there are not many landmarks. So people will tell you directions(方向) and distance. In Kansas(堪薩斯州), 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(測量) 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(希臘) 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 “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 on in that direction, and you may find the post office!
【小題1】What do you think of the word “landmarks” mean?

　　One evening Mr. Green is driving his car in the country and looking for a small hotel. When he sees an old man on the side of the road. Mr. Green stops his car and says to the old man,“I want to go to the Sun Hotel. Do you know how to get there?”“Yes, of course,”the old man answers,“I will show you the way. Please let me sit in your car I can go with you and tell you where to turn.”He gets on Mr.Green's car. They drive about twelve miles. When they come to a small house, the old man says,“Stop here.”Mr. Green stops his car and says,“But this isn't a hotel.”

　　“No,”the old man answers,“This is my house. Thank you very much for driving me home. And I'll show you the way to the Sun Hotel. Turn around and go back nine miles. Then you will get to the hotel.”

A．He is mending his car.

B．He is driving his car and looking for a hotel.

C．He is looking for his car.

D．He is looking for a horse.

A．The old man asks Mr Green to let him sit in his car.

B．The old man shows Mr Green the way to the post office.

C．The old man shows Mr Green the way to the Sun Hotel.

D．The old man tells Mr Green to turn right at the first crossing.