一、阅读理解
1.Traffic lights are red, yellow and green. They are very important signals(信号). Traffic lights are usually placed at busy street corners to help control traffic. Sometimes, they are on streets near schools and shops, too. Most young children are taught what each of the coloured lights means, so everybody can stay safe.
The first traffic signals were used for trains. The signals were put alongside railway tracks(轨道). The colour red was used to mean "stop" because it warned people of danger. A red light was also the easiest colour to see from a distance. Train drivers could see the red "stop" light ahead and had enough time to slow down and stop their trains. A green light was used to mean "take care" and a white light meant "go".
However, there were many dangerous accidents on the train tracks. Some train drivers thought a star shining in the night sky was a white light that meant "go". So the signals were
swapped. The "go" light was changed to green and the "take care" light was changed to white.
During these times, people travelled by train or in carts pulled by horses. Years later, when cars were built, people began to drive them because they could travel much faster than horses. However, the road rules for drivers were not very clear and many people were hurt crossing the roads. Yellow warning signs had to be placed beside the roads to remind drivers to take care and allow people to cross safely.
Today, towns and cities all over the world have traffic lights. Red and green lights match the signals used on the railways. Yellow lights are easy to see, so they are used to warn drivers that they should slow clown and prepare to stop.
1. Why was the color red used to mean "stop"?
A. It reminded people of traffic rules. B. It helped trains run smoothly.
C. It gave people a warning of danger. D. It was the first color people thought of.
2. What does the underlined word "swapped" in Paragraph 3 mean?
A. designed B. exchanged C. suggested D. compared
3. In which order did the "take care" light develop?
a. A white light.
b. A green light. worshipping
c. A yellow light.
A. a-c-b B. b-c-a C. a-b c D. b-a-c
4. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The advantages of traffic lights. B. The history of traffic lights.
C. The importance of traffic lights. D. The meanings of traffic lights.
2.Gesture (手势) culture
I was taking a photo of my Chinese friend. Suddenly she put two figures up at me. "Why are you doing that?" I shouted. It took a long time before she realized why I was upset. Showing someone two fingers means "cheese" to the camera. It is not harmful in China, but in fact it is very rude in the UK.
Language difference may not on only come from grammar and sounds, because it means gestures too. Perhaps you should know that waving one hand across your face means "you are crazy" in Germany. However, tapping one finger on the side of your head shows the same meaning in the UK. If you don't understand the meanings of the gestures clearly in different countries, you may make big mistakes!
The idea of gesture mistranslation is so common that the HSBC even used it in an advertisement. A man travels around South America. He uses the sign of a thumb and a forefinger made into a circle to mean "that's OK". So everyone looks excited and smiles back. Then he shows the same gesture to a man in Brazil, and everyone falls silent, because this is so rude to a man.
Therefore, understanding different cultures and gestures can help you avoid many mistakes in daily life.
1.Showing someone two fingers is ________ in the UK.
A. rude B. excited C. polite D. Funny
2.According to the passage, language difference includes grammar, sounds and ________.
A. feelings B. moods C. gestures D. Ideas
3.What does tapping one finger on the side of your head mean in the UK?
A. You are crazy. B. That's OK. C. You're nude. D. It is harmful.
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