D
If you are invited to an
American friend’s home for dinner, keep in mind these general rules for polite
behavior. First of all, arrive approximately on time ( but not early).
Americans expect promptness. It is OK to be 10 or 15 minutes late, but not 45
minutes late. Dinner might be overcooked and ruined by then. When you are
invited to someone’s home for a meal, it is polite to “bring a small gift”.
Flowers or candy are always appropriate. If you have an attractive item made in
your native country, your host and/ or hostess would certainly enjoy receiving
that as a gift.
Some Americans don’t know about
the dietary restrictions of various ethnic and religious. Don’t make a fuss
about it. If your host doesn’t say anything about what you are eating, then you
shouldn’t, either. Simply eat what you can and hope that no one notices what
you left. If you are questioned, you may have to admit that you don’t eat meat
(or whatever), but you can also say that you have enjoyed the other foods and
have had “more than enough” to eat. Don’t make the cook feel obliged to prepare
something else for you. Be sure to compliment the cook on the food that you
enjoyed.
Don’t leave immediately after
dinner, but don’t overstay your welcome, either. When your friends seem to be
getting tired and running out of conversation, take their behavior as a cue to
leave. The next day, call or write a thank-you note to say how much you enjoyed
the evening.
If you invite someone to join
you for dinner in a restaurant, phone the restaurant first to find out if you
need a reservation in order to avoid a long wait for a table. To make a
reservation, just give your name, the number of people in your group, and the
time you plan to arrive. When you invite someone to dinner, you should be
prepared to pay the bill and reach for it when it arrives. However, if your
companion insists on paying his or her share, don’t get into an argument about
it. Some people prefer to pay their own way so that they don’t feel indebted,
and those feelings should be respected. In most American restaurants, the
waiter or waitress’ tip is not added to the bill. If the service was adequate,
it is customary to leave a tip equal to about 15% of bill. In expensive restaurants,
leave a bit more.
(Note: Answer the
questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN 13 WORDS.)
80. When invited to
an American family for dinner, the first rule of polite behavior to keep in
mind is to __________________________________.
81. The
author uses the expression of “host and/or hostess” to avoid the impression
of
_______________________________________.
82. When served a
food that you don’t like in an American family, what is the proper thing for
you to do?
___________________________________________________.
83. What is
the proper amount of tip in an expensive American restaurant ?
________________________________________________.
第II卷 (共45分)