1. When I lived in Spain, some Spanish friends of mine decided to visit England by car. Before they left, they asked me for advice about how to find accommodation (住所). I suggested that they should stay at "bed and breakfast" houses, because this kind of accommodation gives foreign visitors a good chance to speak English with the family. My friends listened to my advice, but they came back with some funny stories.
"We didn't stay at ' bed and breakfast ' houses" they said, "because we found that most families were away on holiday."
I thought this was strange. Finally I understood what had happened. My friends spoke little English, and they thought "VACANCIES" meant "holidays", because the Spanish word for "holidays" is "vacaciones". So they did not go to houses where the sign outside said "VACANCIES", which in English means there are free rooms. Then my friends went to houses where the sign said "NO VACANCIES ", because they thought this meant the people who owned the houses were not away on holiday. But they found that these houses were all full. As a result, they stayed at hotels!
We laughed at this and about the mistakes my friends made in reading other signs. In Spanish, the word "DIVERSION" means fun. In English, it means that workmen are repairing the road, and that you must take a different road. When my friends saw the word "DIVERSION" on a road sign, they thought they were going to have fun. Instead, the road ended in a large hole.
English people also have problems when they learn foreign languages. Once in Paris, when someone offered me some more coffee, I said "Thank you" in French. I meant that I would like some more. However, to my surprise, the coffee pot was taken away! Later I found out that "Thank you" in French means "No, thank you." .
1. Why did the author suggest his friends staying at "bed and breakfast" houses?
A.It would be much cheaper than staying in hotels.
B.It would be convenient for them to have dinner together.
C.They would be able to practise their English.
D.There would be no problem about finding accommodation there.
2.If you see a road sign that says "DIVERSION" in London, you will ___.
A.fall into a large hole
B.find the road blocked by people
C.have a lot of fun and enjoy yourself
D.have to take a different road
3.What did the author really mean when the coffee pot was taken away?
A.He would finish drinking his coffee.
B.He was expecting another cup of coffee.
C.He meant that he didn't want any more.
D.He has already had enough coffee.
