In Canada and the United States, people enjoy entertaining (请客) at home. They often invite friends over for a meal, a party or just for coffee and conversation (谈话).
Here are the kinds of things people say when they invite someone to their homes:
“Would you like to come over for dinner this Saturday night?” “Hey, we’re having a party on Friday. Can you come?”
To reply (回答) to an invitation , either say ‘thank you’ and accept (接受), or say you’re sorry and give an excuse. “Thanks, I’d love to. What time would you like me to come?” or “Oh, sorry . I’ve tickets for a movie.”
Sometimes, however, people use expressions (习惯用语) that sound like invitations but which are not real invitations . For example; “Please come over for a drink sometime.” “Why not get together for a party sometime?” “Why don’t you come over and see us sometime soon?”
They are really just polite ways of ending a conversation. They are not real invitations because they don’t mention (提到) a certain time or date. They just show that the person is trying to be friendly. To reply to expressions like these, people just say “Sure, that would be great!” or “OK. Yes, thanks.”
So next time when you hear what sounds like an invitation, listen carefully. Is it a real invitation or is the person just being friendly?
Title: Real   【小题1】   or not

配对阅读。左栏是五个在日常社交中遇到的问题，右栏是专家的建议。请将问题与建议配对，并将答案填写在答题卡上对应位置。

1.My American friends invite me to their dinner party. I don’t know what to bring.

2.One of my American friends invites me to dinner at eight tonight. Should I arrive earlier?

3.I’m going to a dinner party held by Americans, but I don’t know how to use the forks and knives.

4.I am going to an American friend’s party. I am not sure what to dress. Should I dress formally?

5.An American family invite me to their home for dinner. How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness after dinner?     A．Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You must refuse politely.

B．Just watch the other people, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, ask the person next to you.

C．If you accept a dinner invitation of your friend, tell him or her what you like and don’t like to eat.

D．You should arrive on time. Don’t get there early. If you’re going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.

E. Flowers are always nice, or you may bring a bottle of wine if you know that your friends drink it.

F. Everyday dress is OK for most visits to an American’s home.

G. You should thank them for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a thank you card the day after.

Some British people and American people like to invite friends for a meal at home. You should not be upset if your English friends don’t invite you home. It doesn’t mean they don’t like you!

Dinner parties usually start between 7 and 8 pm and end at about 11 pm. Ask your hosts what time you should arrive. It’s polite to bring flowers,chocolates or a bottle of wine as a gift.

Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks(小吃). Do you want to be extra polite? Say how much you like them,or the pictures on the wall. But remember---it’s not polite to ask how much things cost.

In many families,the husband sits at one end of the table and the wife sit at the other end. They eat with their guests. You’ll probably start the meal with soup or something small,then you’ll have meat or fish with vegetables,and then dessert,followed by coffee. It’s polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it. Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day,or write them a short “Thank you”,British and American people like to say”Thank you,thank you,thank you”all the time.

(　 )51.An English doesn’t invite you to his or her dinner which______________.

A. means she or he doesn’t like you.　　 B. means she or he likes you.

C. doesn’t mean he or she likes you.　　 D. doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t like you

(　 )52.You are going to take part in a dinner party and _____________.

A. you’d better bring a certain present with you　　 B. you must leave home for it at 7 pm

C. you should ask your host when you should leave D. you must arrive at it before 8 pm

(　 )53.It’s impolite______________.

A. to say that you like the host’s room very much

B. for a guest to ask the host the price of the thing in the room

C. for guests to have drinks and snacks before the evening

D. for the host and the hostess to sit and eat with their guests

(　 )54.In which order will you eat or drink the following things the meal?

A. Snacks,vegetables,meat,coffee.　　　　　　

B.Coffee,drinks,soup,fish,vegetables,dessert

C. Soup,meat with vegetables,dessert and coffee　

D. Drinks,soup,something small,fish and coffee.

(　 )55.Which is the good manner(方式，态度) in which you express your enjoyment of the evening?

A. Before leaving for home,you should say:Thank you for inviting me.

B. When you shake hands with your host,you should say,”I did enjoy the evening”

C. You can write a “Thank-you letter”to your host after that.

D. You should finish everything in your plate and take if you want it.