TOCFL Sign & Notice Interpretation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sign in a Taiwanese train station reads: 「禁止飲食」. What does this sign prohibit?
- Photography
- Eating and drinking (Correct answer)
- Loud talking
- Standing in the aisle
Correct answer: Eating and drinking
「禁止」means 'prohibited' and 「飲食」means 'eating and drinking,' so the sign forbids consuming food or beverages in that area.
Question 2: A store notice reads: 「本店週一公休」. What does this mean for customers?
- The store is open extra hours on Monday
- The store is closed every Monday (Correct answer)
- Discounts are available on Monday
- The store opens late on Monday
Correct answer: The store is closed every Monday
「公休」means a regular day off, so 「週一公休」indicates the store is closed every Monday.
Question 3: A hospital notice states: 「請勿大聲喧嘩，保持安靜」. What is the hospital requesting?
- Do not use mobile phones
- Please keep quiet and avoid loud noise (Correct answer)
- Do not bring food inside
- Please wait in line
Correct answer: Please keep quiet and avoid loud noise
「大聲喧嘩」means making loud noise, and 「保持安靜」means keep quiet, so the notice requests visitors to be silent.
Question 4: An elevator sign reads: 「載重限250公斤，限乘10人」. What restriction does this impose?
- The elevator operates only 10 hours a day
- Maximum weight 250 kg and no more than 10 passengers (Correct answer)
- Children under 10 must be accompanied
- The elevator stops at 10 floors only
Correct answer: Maximum weight 250 kg and no more than 10 passengers
「載重限」means weight limit, 「限乘10人」means limited to 10 persons, specifying the elevator's capacity restrictions.
Question 5: A park sign reads: 「請勿踐踏草坪」. What behavior does the sign forbid?
- Feeding animals
- Walking on the grass (Correct answer)
- Picking flowers
- Riding bicycles
Correct answer: Walking on the grass
「踐踏」means to trample or walk on, and 「草坪」means lawn or grass, so the sign prohibits stepping on the grass.
Question 6: A library notice reads: 「本館圖書借閱期限為兩週，逾期每日罰款五元」. What happens if a book is returned late?
- The book must be replaced
- A fine of 5 yuan per day is charged (Correct answer)
- The borrowing privilege is revoked immediately
- The borrower must pay the full book price
Correct answer: A fine of 5 yuan per day is charged
「逾期」means overdue, 「每日罰款五元」means a daily fine of 5 yuan, explaining the penalty for late returns.
Question 7: A restaurant sign reads: 「本店提供外帶服務，外帶九折優惠」. What benefit does takeout offer?
- Free delivery within 2 km
- A 10% discount on takeout orders (Correct answer)
- A free drink with every takeout
- Takeout items are freshly made to order
Correct answer: A 10% discount on takeout orders
「九折」in Chinese pricing means 90% of the original price, which equals a 10% discount for takeout customers.
TOCFL Sign & Notice Interpretation 1
A sign in a Taiwanese train station reads: 「禁止飲食」.
What does this sign prohibit?