Of course, the main difference on the Chinese dinner table is *chopsticks instead of knife and fork, but that’s only *superficial. Besides, in some nice restaurants, you can always ask for a pair of knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks not helpful enough. The real difference is that in the west, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone *shares. If you are being invited to a formal dinner and particularly if the *host thinks you’re in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of many different kinds of dishes.

In China, the meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main *courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong restaurants) to be followed by *staple foods that are from rice, noodles to dumplings. If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have staple food at last or have none of them at all.

Perhaps one of the things that surprise a western visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests. In formal dinners, there are always public chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This is a sign of friendship and politeness. It is always polite to eat the food. But if you do not eat it, it is OK to leave the food in the plate.

People in China *tend to over-order food, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is eaten up. When you have had enough, just say so. Or you will always overeat!

（　 ）57. The real difference between Chinese manners and western manners is that _____________.

　 A. you have your own plate of food in China

　 B. you can’t ask for knife and fork in China

　 C. people use chopsticks instead of knife and fork in China

D. the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares in China

（　 ）58. In China, ____________ comes first in a formal dinner.

A. hot meat B. staple food

C. vegetable dishes　　　　　　　　　　　 D. four cold dishes

（　 ）59. The thing that surprises western visitor most on a dinner is that ____________.

A. the Chinese have none of the staple food at all

B. the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last

C. there are public chopsticks and spoons on the table

D. the Chinese hosts put food into the plates of their guests

（　 ）60. We can know from passage that ___________ on a dinner in China.

　 A. the staple foods are dumplings, rice and noodles

　 B. you should eat up all the food when you have meals

　 C. it is very impolite for the guests to leave the food in the plate

　 D. you must wait if you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes

Tips for Living in China
1.Dinners
When you are invited to a dinner, you don’t have to eat everything .First, try a little of every dish by putting some on your plate or in rice bowl. You don’t have to eat it, but as a foreign guest (客人),you are supposed to be served first. If you don’t try anything, your host will be embarrassed（尴尬）---and will put it on your plate for you .
2.Bargaining
When you go to open-air markets or personal stores, you need to bargain with the shop assistants. Remember to build a friendly relationship(关系)first. You are creating a relationship with the businessman ,not a price war. Think of it this way :Shouting ,arguing ,and pointing are not good. Smiling ,being friendly, offering to buy more for a better price is. And don’t be afraid to ask,” Can you offer me a better price?”
3.Chopsticks
Don’t point with them at other people’s faces ,and by all means don’t stick them upright in your rice bowl----that is how the Chinese honor (纪念)the dead at graves. You should put them beside the plate.
4.Smiling
Chinese smile for more reasons than Americans .A smile can mean the person is embarrassed, trying to be helpful ,curious, happy or friendly .In the middle of an argument ,smiling means that the speaker doesn’t want this to become personal. When all else fails ,smile in China. It shows you have no ill intention (意图)and can work wonders in getting better service.根据表格内容，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选择最佳答案。（10分）
【小题1】When you are invited to a dinner,__________.