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　　Although gifts play an important role in business around the world, you run the risk of offending(冒犯)a colleague if you present an inappropriate gift．In many eyes, a poor gift choice is worse than not offering a gift at all．

　　Every culture has specific items that are considered taboo(忌讳)or bad luck．Many of these traditions aren't followed as much these days by the younger generations or within more modem and global companies．However, it's a good idea to be careful when you're deciding on a gift, particularly if the recipient is an older person．

　　Here are some gifts that you should avoid in certain parts of the world：

　　Europe：Red roses symbolize a romantic relationship in many parts of Europe．An arrangement containing 13 flowers is considered bad luck in Germany and Switzerland．In addition, the preference is for flower arrangements to have an even number of flowers．

　　China：Sharp objects symbolize the cutting off of the relationship．Clocks are not appropriate because the Chinese phrase to give a clock sounds the same as to attend a dying parent．Handkerchiefs imply sadness．Never give an odd(奇数)number of an item; odd numbers symbolize separation, loneliness, and death．Do not bring food when you're invited to a meal because that implies your host cannot provide enough food．

　　The Middle East：Buying alcohol is forbidden in the Islamic faith, so don't present wine to your host．Pigs are banned because they're considered scavengers, so you shouldn't bring pork products, either．

　　India：Cows are sacred in India, so items made from cowhide are very offensive．

　　Latin America：Since some of the world's finest leather goods are made in Latin America, it would be insulting to bring leather from another country．Also, chrysanthemums(菊花), white asters, carnations(康乃馨), and yellow and purple flowers are sent only for funerals(葬礼)．

　　Korea and Japan：Don't give items in groups of four or nine．The words in Korean and Japanese that sound the same as the words for four and nine are related to death．In Japan, individual flowers are only for courting, death, or an illness．

　　Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia：Keep your gifts simple．Large and expensive gifts are considered tasteless．

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Outdoor Survival Provides Adventure Worldwide

　　Although there are no state controlled survival courses in Britain or the United States,there are various independent organizations offering similar activities．

　　Students can take part in outdoor training courses through university clubs and societies．Anyone can register with such groups,which then organize courses,training and trips for all members．

　　One of the most popular outdoor training programmes in both the US and Britain,is Outward Bound(户外训练)．It was founded in 1941 in Wales and attracts hundreds of thousands of adventurous types every year．

　　The courses are intended to broaden minds through experiences that build confidence,self-esteem(自尊)and character．As well as specialist courses such as canoeing, leadership skills and sailing,participants can take part in week long adventure training camps which include a host of sports and survival training education skills．

　　Michael Williams,an American student,took part in an Outward Bound course last year．He said：“We learned lots of first aid skills,lots of natural history,lots of environmental facts,and took part in a wildlife preservation programme．Beyond that,my favourite skills learned were sailing and rock climbing．”

　　Courses can last up to 40 days and are open to anyone over the age of 14．Students must be in general good health,but do not need to be experienced in outdoor-sports．There is no selection process;everyone is welcome,although new participants are advised to pick a course matching their physical capacity．

　　Most of the British courses take place in the Brecon Beacons in Wales．Another similar organization is the UK Survival School,which includes courses on learning to live with the environment,sailing and winter survival．On a basic survival weekend students will learn how to get water and food,how to make fire and cook with it,to find and build a shelter,control survival life support,how to cross rivers,send off a distress signal,and to use compasses by day and night．

　　According to the leaders,such adventures are “an awakening,an exploration into the unknown”．Outward Bound believes that participants will “use mind and body traveling some of the Earth’s roughest wilderness areas”．