Every country has its different customs when visiting other people's homes for a dinner party. It's important to know these before visiting a foreign country, so that you can avoid making embarrassing mistakes. Three people from different countries explain how to behave at a dinner party there.

Masako, Japan

The first thing to remember when visiting a Japanese home for dinner is that you should always dress correctly, as if going to the office. Casual wear is not appropriate. When you meet someone in Japan you should always bow. A deep bow is suitable for someone older or senior to you, while a short bow is suitable for younger people or your peers. Remember to take off your shoes when you enter the house. Always take a gift when you visit a Japanese home. Your host will expect it. It is important to arrive on time, and certainly not more than five minutes late. Don't sit down at the table until your host tells you where to sit. When you have finished eating and drinking, return your chopsticks to the chopstick rest, and do not finish your glass. If you do so, your host will pour more into the glass.

Mamadou, Senegal

Don't be surprised if there are only men or only women at your table when you go out to dinner in Senegal. Men and women sometimes eat separately in nay country. Wait until your host tells you where to sit. We normally sit on the floor to eat. First, everyone washes their hands in a washing basin. When the food comes it will be placed in front of you, and at first you will be offered food from the dishes by your host. Later you can serve yourself from the dishes, but make sure you do not lean over the food. Take food from the part of the bowl closest to you. Try a little of everything. It is polite to do so. Please make sure your feet do not touch the mat on which the food is placed.

Luis, Spain

Spanish dinner parties are great fun. We often start late in the evening and don't get up to leave until the small hours of the morning. I think you will enjoy going out to dinner in Spain. Firstly, never arrive on time. Fifteen or twenty minutes late is normal. Shake hands with your host, smile and look him in the eye. If he offers you a cup of coffee, be sure to accept it. Not to do so would be to reject your host' s kindness. A gift is not necessary, but will be welcomed. Food is served on individual plates, western-style, and is eaten with a knife and fork. Keep your hands where others can see them during the meal, but don' t put your elbows on the table. When you have finished, put your knife and fork at an angle on the plate. Try to finish your food if you can!

72. What is the purpose of the writer in writing this passage?

A. To introduce some customs in foreign countries.

B. To tell stories about three people at dinner parties.

C. To avoid making embarrassing mistakes when dining abroad.

D. To show the importance of cultural awareness when travelling abroad.

73. From Masako's explanation, we can know that in Japan _________.

A. young people bow not so deeply as older or senior people

B. old people don't have to bow to young people

C. young people do not bow deeply to those of the same age

D. all people should bow deeply to each other when they meet

74. Which of the following should a guest in Senegal do when the food is served?

A. Wait until the host asks him/her to eat.                  B. Don't eat until the host helps him/her.

C. Help himself/herself to anything he likes.              D. Eat up the food from the closest plate.

75. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The Japanese sit on the floor and eat in front of a mat.

B. The Senegalese sit on the floor and eat at a table.

C. The Spanish sit at a table and eat with chopsticks.

D. The Japanese sit at a table and eat with chopsticks.

Every country has its different customs when visiting other people's homes for a dinner party. It's important to know these before visiting a foreign country, so that you can avoid making embarrassing mistakes. Three people from different countries explain how to behave at a dinner party there.
Masako, Japan
The first thing to remember when visiting a Japanese home for dinner is that you should always dress correctly, as if going to the office. Casual wear is not appropriate. When you meet someone in Japan you should always bow. A deep bow is suitable for someone older or senior to you, while a short bow is suitable for younger people or your peers. Remember to take off your shoes when you enter the house. Always take a gift when you visit a Japanese home. Your host will expect it. It is important to arrive on time, and certainly not more than five minutes late. Don't sit down at the table until your host tells you where to sit. When you have finished eating and drinking, return your chopsticks to the chopstick rest, and do not finish your glass. If you do so, your host will pour more into the glass.
Mamadou, Senegal
Don't be surprised if there are only men or only women at your table when you go out to dinner in Senegal. Men and women sometimes eat separately in nay country. Wait until your host tells you where to sit. We normally sit on the floor to eat. First, everyone washes their hands in a washing basin. When the food comes it will be placed in front of you, and at first you will be offered food from the dishes by your host. Later you can serve yourself from the dishes, but make sure you do not lean over the food. Take food from the part of the bowl closest to you. Try a little of everything. It is polite to do so. Please make sure your feet do not touch the mat on which the food is placed.
Luis, Spain
Spanish dinner parties are great fun. We often start late in the evening and don't get up to leave until the small hours of the morning. I think you will enjoy going out to dinner in Spain. Firstly, never arrive on time. Fifteen or twenty minutes late is normal. Shake hands with your host, smile and look him in the eye. If he offers you a cup of coffee, be sure to accept it. Not to do so would be to reject your host' s kindness. A gift is not necessary, but will be welcomed. Food is served on individual plates, western-style, and is eaten with a knife and fork. Keep your hands where others can see them during the meal, but don' t put your elbows on the table. When you have finished, put your knife and fork at an angle on the plate. Try to finish your food if you can!

1. 1.

   What is the purpose of the writer in writing this passage?

   1. A.
      To introduce some customs in foreign countries.
   2. B.
      To tell stories about three people at dinner parties.
   3. C.
      To avoid making embarrassing mistakes when dining abroad.
   4. D.
      To show the importance of cultural awareness when travelling abroad.
2. 2.

   From Masako's explanation, we can know that in Japan _________.

   1. A.
      young people bow not so deeply as older or senior people
   2. B.
      old people don't have to bow to young people
   3. C.
      young people do not bow deeply to those of the same age
   4. D.
      all people should bow deeply to each other when they meet
3. 3.

   Which of the following should a guest in Senegal do when the food is served?

   1. A.
      Wait until the host asks him/her to eat.                 
   2. B.
      Don't eat until the host helps him/her.
   3. C.
      Help himself/herself to anything he likes.             
   4. D.
      Eat up the food from the closest plate.
4. 4.

   Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

   1. A.
      The Japanese sit on the floor and eat in front of a mat.
   2. B.
      The Senegalese sit on the floor and eat at a table.
   3. C.
      The Spanish sit at a table and eat with chopsticks.
   4. D.
      The Japanese sit at a table and eat with chopsticks.

“It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, ” said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.

Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn’t spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.

“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently, “nor the best, either.”

“Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work,” agreed Clorinda, “but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other.”

“That was not what I meant,” said Aunt Emmy.

“What did you mean, then?” asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.

Aunt Emmy smiled.

“Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself,” she said. “That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: 'The gift without the giver is bare.”

“I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare,” said Clorinda. “That is my predicament(窘境)exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know.”

“Won't your aunt miss you terribly?” said Aunt Emmy gravely. “I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “But of course you must decide for yourself, dear.”

“Well, I must say bye-bye and run home.” Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.

Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's. Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.

“I've come to tell you all about it,” she said. “Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give.”

“First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. ”

“Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness.”

“I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so.”

“Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them.”

“I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy,” she said, as she unpinned the paper.

There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.

“It's as sweet as yourself, dear child,” she said tenderly. “And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy,” said Clorinda softly.

1.Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because___________.

A. She had to leave Aunt Mary

B. She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy

C. She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts

D. She had no time to make a proper decision

2. Which of the following sentences can best explain the line “The gift without the giver is bare.”？

A. A gift is valued by the mind of the giver.

B. Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver.

C. You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts.

D. Think twice before you give gifts to somebody

3.What is the gift that Clorinda gave to old Aunt Kitty?

A. Passion?? ????????????? ????????????? B. Sympathy?? ????????????? ????????????? C. Kindness?? ????????????? ????????????? D. Company

4.What does the underlined phrase “in confidence” mean?

A. respectfully??? ????????????? B. confidently??? ????????????? ????????????? C. secretly??? ????????????? ????????????? D. willingly

5. Which two words can best describe Aunt Emmy?

A. cute and joyful??????????????????? ????????????? B. kind-hearted and emotional

C. optimistic and wise???????????????? ????????????? D. gentle and timid (羞怯的)

6.Which of the following is the best title?

A. A Special Christmas?????????????????? B. Clorinda’s Gifts

C. Aunt Emmy????????????????????????? D. Clorinda’s Choice