The airline lost your baggage. The hotel laundry(洗衣房) ruined your favorite shirt. The taxi driver overcharged you. When you're abroad, sometimes things go wrong. Now you can do something about it! Use these tips when you want to express an effective plaint in English.
No matter how unfair the situation, it's best to phrase your plaint politely. In English, you'll sound more polite if you use indirect language. Here are some examples:
“I'm sorry to bother you...” Starting a plaint like this puts the listener who may have heard many plaints that day at ease. Use this phrase if the situation isn't that serious. For example, I'm sorry to bother you, but I wanted a baked potato, not fries.
“Can you help me with this?” Everyone would much rather be asked to do something than told! So try phrasing your plaint as a request for help: Can you help me with this? My shirt came back from the laundry without buttons.
“I'm afraid there may be a misunderstanding.” This is a polite way of saying, Your information is wrong. Please fix it now. You'll most likely use this phrase if you made reservations(预定) for a flight, hotel or restaurant, and when you arrive, it's not what you expected. For example, I'm afraid there may be a misunderstanding. I requested a non-smoking room.
“I understand it's not your fault...” Often when you make a plaint, you deal with a person who was not directly responsible for the problem. But the problem isn't your fault, either! This phrase is helpful when you need swift action. Tell the person you're dealing with you understand they're not at fault and then directly state the problem: I understand it's not your fault, but the airline promised they would deliver my baggage yesterday.
“Excuse me, but I understood that...” Using this phrase lets the person know you're well-informed and are suspicious they might be trying to take advantage of you. Don't say, Hey! You're trying to cheat me! Instead, start indirectly by stating what you know to be true: I understood that the taxi ride to the airport was only 25 dollars. Then give them an opportunity to do the right thing.
【小题1】What’s the purpose of this passage?A．To give an introduction of life abroad.B．To give suggestions on how to learn English.C．To offer advice on giving plaints in English.D．To offer guides to those who travel around the world.【小题2】According to the passage, if we meet an unfair situation, we’d better .A．state our plaints politely B．go for the police immediately C．use indirect language to hurt peopleD．fight against the one who is responsible【小题3】Why should we start a plaint with polite phrases?A．Because the situation is never serious.B．Because the listener may not speak English.C．Because it can help solve the problem more easily.D．Because we should be always in good manners abroad.【小题4】Several effective plaints in English are mentioned above EXCEPT .A．“Can you help me with this?”B．“I understand it’s not your fault.”C．“Hey! You’re trying to cheat me!”D．“I’m afraid there may be a misunderstanding.”C
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(答案→)C
解析：这篇文章是提供了一些如何用英语表达抱怨的方式。为了能够更好的解决问题，最好使用礼貌的语言。
【小题1】主旨题：从第一段的句子：Now you can do something about it! Use these tips when you want to express an effective plaint in English.可知这篇文章是提供了一些如何用英语表达抱怨的方式。选C。
【小题2】细节题：根据文章第二段的句子：No matter how unfair the situation, it's best to phrase your plaint politely.可知如果我们受到不公正的待遇，要礼貌的说出来，选A
【小题3】细节题：从文章第六段的句子：This phrase is helpful when you need swift action.可知我们要用礼貌的词语开始抱怨，因为这样可以更容易的解决问题。选C
【小题4】细节题：文章第四段提到A项，第六段提到B项，第五段提到D项，但是问没有提到C项的内容。