British people pride themselves on their polite manners towards one another in public. They often use the word ‘sorry’—even when they don’t really mean it! Usually, if they want to ask a stranger for the time, they would start by saying ‘Sorry to bother you. Do you know what time it is?’ If they’re five minutes late for an appointment (約會), they would generally greet the person by saying ‘Sorry I’m late!’

They use the word ‘sorry’ in so many different situations that the meaning of the word has changed a little over time. The two main dictionary definitions (釋義) of ‘sorry’ are: 1) feeling sad for someone else because of their problems or bad luck; 2) feeling regret because you’ve done something wrong. Now, think about this. Normally, when they want to ask a stranger a question, they start with ‘Sorry to bother you’. In this situation, they aren’t saying sorry because they feel sad for that person or because they feel regret.

So what does ‘sorry’ really mean? And why do British people use it so much? Well, in the British culture, saying ‘sorry’ is a way to be polite, especially to people who they don’t know very well. It’s also a very clever way to get what they want. In a recent experiment, an actor went up to a different strangers on a rainy day to ask if he could use their mobile phones in order to make a call. When he went up to one group of strangers and asked them without saying ‘sorry’ first, he was only 9 per cent successful in borrowing their phones. However, when he said ‘sorry’ to another group of strangers about the bad weather before asking if he could use their mobile phones, he was 47 per cent successful. So maybe saying ‘sorry’ is not just being polite, but it is also a good method to get what they want too!

Title: Why do 1. people say sorry?

Main points

Detailed information

The situations in which they say ‘2.’

Asking for the time

Being 3. for an appointment

The change of the meaning of ‘sorry’

The two main 4. definitions of ‘sorry’;

Feeling sad for 5. problems or bad luck

Feeling regret 6. of one’s own mistakes

When British people ask a stranger a question by 7.

with ‘sorry’, they are saying sorry neither because they feel sad for that person nor because they feel regret.

The 8. meaning of ‘sorry’

A way to be polite

A good way to get 9. they want

The result of an experiment shows it’s 10. for one to succeed in borrowing a mobile phone by saying ‘sorry’.

1.British 2.sorry 3.late 4.dictionary 5.others’ 6.because 7.starting/beginning 8.real 9.what 10.easier 【解析】本文向我們介紹了為什么英國人會說抱歉，以及抱歉一詞在不同語境下的各種含義。 1.句意：為什么英國人會說抱歉？原文“Bri...
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科目：初中英語 來源：新人教版2017-2018學(xué)年八年級上冊英語第二單元測試卷(無聽力） 題型：閱讀單選

I’m Bob. I work at night from Monday to Thursday. So in the daytime (白天), I often sleep for at least 7 hours. Then I get up, have some food and watch TV. I usually watch TV for more than two hours every day. At 7:00 p.m., I go to work by bike.

But on weekends, my life is different. I usually sleep at night and do different activities in the daytime. For example, last weekend was quite full for me. On Saturday morning, I went to learn dance. I have dance lessons once a week. In the afternoon, I went to play basketball with my friends. We played for three hours and felt excited. I thought it was good for my health. On Sunday morning, I drove to the dentist for teeth cleaning. In the afternoon, I went to the movies with my friend, Tom. I thought the movie was interesting, but Tom thought it was difficult to understand (理解).

1.Bob works days every week.

A. three B. four C. five D. six

2.Bob goes to work .

A. by bus B. at 7:00a.m. C. by car D. at 7:00p.m.

3.Bob went to last Sunday morning.

A. the dentist B. play basketball C. the movies D. have dance lessons

4.Bob thought the movie was .

A. interesting B. boring C. exciting D. difficult

5.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Bob usually watches TV for more than two hours every day.

B. Bob sleeps in the daytime on weekends.

C. Bob has dance lessons once a week.

D. Bob played basketball for three hours last Saturday.

1.B 2.D 3.A 4.A 5.B 【解析】 本文介紹了鮑勃的工作生活情況。他從星期一工作到星期四，晚上上班，白天睡覺。但是他在周末晚上睡覺，白天做不同的活動。 1.B 推理判斷題。根據(jù)I’m Bob. I work at night from Monday to Thursday.可知鮑勃從星期一工作到星期四，故推斷他一周工作四天，故選B。 ...

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科目：初中英語 來源：牛津譯林版（9A）英語Unit 1 Know yourself單元測試卷 題型：閱讀單選

The train started moving. It was packed with people of all ages. Most of them were working men and women and young college boys and girls. Near the window sat an old man with his son, who looked about thirty years old. As the train moved, the son was filled with joy because he was very excited at the scenery(景色) outside. He said in a high voice, “See Dad, the green trees and the scenery are very beautiful!” It made the other people feel very strange. Everyone started talking in a low voice about the old man's son. Suddenly, it started raining. Raindrops fell on the travelers through the opened window. Seeing the rain, the old man's son said happily, “See Dad, how beautiful the rain is!” Hearing these words, a young lady became angry with the man, as the raindrops were dropping on her new clothes. She couldn't help shouting at the noisy son and his father.

“Can't you see it is raining? You! Old man! If your son is not feeling well, get him to a mental hospital(精神病院) quickly and please don't disturb(干擾) us any more!” The old man's face turned slightly red and then in a low voice, he replied, “We are on the way back from hospital. He was blind at birth. Only last week he can see again. The rain and the nature are new to him. Please forgive him.” All the other people became quiet.

1.What did people think of the son's behavior? They thought he was .

A. lovely B. funny C. strange D. clever

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C. He couldn't hear. D. He couldn't walk.

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A. the scenery outside was beautiful B. it was raining

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4.What do you think of the young lady?

A. She was friendly to the man. B. She was rude to the man.

C. She was clever. D. She was too noisy.

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-You have a beautiful voice. - .

A. Don’t make fun of me B. Just so so

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科目：初中英語 來源：四川省廣安市2018年中考英語試卷 題型：閱讀單選

12).

Friendship Restaurant

We have different kinds of Japanese food here. The food menu is in Japanese and Chinese. All the waiters and waitresses can speak at least one foreign language.

Tel: 312--9997

Time:11:30 am-10:00 pm

Friendship Restaurant

We have different kinds of Japanese food here. The food menu is in Japanese and Chinese. All the waiters and waitresses can speak at least one foreign language.

Tel: 312--9997

Time:11:30 am-10:00 pm

Volunteer Project

Maybe you want to help others but don't know how. Then the Volunteer Project will help you. Here you will get the best idea of volunteering.

Call 822--5566 to join it.

Email address: [email protected]

Volunteer Project

Maybe you want to help others but don't know how. Then the Volunteer Project will help you. Here you will get the best idea of volunteering.

Call 822--5566 to join it.

Email address: [email protected]

Dream Comer

Do you want to improve your English? Do you want to practise your English with native speakers? If yes, why not join the Dream Corner? Come here on Friday afternoon every week.

Dream Comer

Do you want to improve your English? Do you want to practise your English with native speakers? If yes, why not join the Dream Corner? Come here on Friday afternoon every week.

Red Bird Club

Do you like dancing? Do you want to show your cool dance at parties? Join us and make your dream come true.

Closed on Tuesday.

Call 822--3331 for more information.

Red Bird Club

Do you like dancing? Do you want to show your cool dance at parties? Join us and make your dream come true.

Closed on Tuesday.

Call 822--3331 for more information.

Underground World

Here you will find different kinds of fishes and even some kinds of sharks. You will fcel that you are in the sea but of course this is not true. If you like fishes, just pay a visit here.

Time: 9:30 am--5: 30 pm

Underground World

Here you will find different kinds of fishes and even some kinds of sharks. You will fcel that you are in the sea but of course this is not true. If you like fishes, just pay a visit here.

Time: 9:30 am--5: 30 pm

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A. Chinese

B. Japanese

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A. 846-3809

B. 312-9997

C. 822-3331

D. 822-5566

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B. Monday

C. Saturday

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B. excellent dancers

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A. the Red Bird Club

B. the Volunteer Project

C. the Dream Comer

D. the Underground World

1.B 2.D 3.A 4.C 5.C 【解析】 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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＂My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.＂(Clear–age 5)

＂You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ if you don’t mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.＂ (Jessica–age 8)

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A. Clear. B. Elaine. C. Rebecca. D. Lauren.

3.What is love according to Terri?

A. Love is what pleases you when you are tired.

B. Love is the care between husband and wife.

C. Love is a rest when you are tired.

D. Love is a kiss from parents.

4.What does Jessica mean about love?

A. Too much love is no love. B. You should say love more often.

C. You mean what you think. D. Say love more often if you mean it.

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A. Rebecca’s grandmother ever couldn’t bend over.

B. Bethany is willing to be picked on by any other person.

C. If Samantha becomes angry, she will not shout at others.

D. Lauren likes to wear her sister’s old clothes better.

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科目：初中英語 來源：江蘇省姜堰市2017-2018學(xué)年八年級下學(xué)期期末考試英語試卷 題型：單選題

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選擇for或since完成句子：

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3.Great changes have taken place _____ you left.

4.His grandpa has been dead ____ ten years.

5.I have studied English ______ I was 12 years old.

6.We have lived here _______ 1990.

7.The boy has had a bad cold ______ last night.

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