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.

　 Some time ago,a friend of mine who worked in a part of the city I didn’t know very well invited me to call on him.It took me hours to get there and I took great trouble to find a proper spot to park my car.As I was already three quarters of an hour late,I parked my car quickly.

At noon,just as I was leaving my friend’s office it suddenly struck me that I had no idea where I had parked my car.I could hardly go up to a policeman and tell him that I had lost a small green car somewhere!Walking down street after street,I examined each car closely and was very happy to see a small green car just behind an old car.But how disappointed I was to discover that though the car was exactly like my own,it belonged to someone else!Feeling quite tired now,I went off for lunch.Some time later,I left the restaurant and walked down the street.Turning the corner,I nearly jumped for joy:my car was right in front of me,and there was no problem this time.

To tell the truth,driving in a crowded city is far from being a pleasure and it is much easier to walk than to drive.

1.What did the writer do the other day?

A.He went to telephone his old friend.

B.He paid a visit to his friend .

C.He called on a friend,who he didn’t know well

D.He visited a friend and had lunch with him

2.”　 It suddenly struck me” in the second paragraph probably means______.

A. a stick suddenly hit me B.a stone suddenly hit me

C.I suddenly found out　　 D.I suddenly thought

3.Which of the following is true according to this story?

A.The writer had not much difficulty in finding a parking place.

B.It took him forty-five minutes to find a place to park his car.

C.It was very difficult for the writer to find a parking-place.

D.He got a parking-place right away and parked his car in a hurry.

4.How did he look for his car?

A.He asked a policeman for help.

B.His friend called a poilceman

C.He examined every car in the street.

D.A waiter helped him to do this

　　Some time ago, a friend of mine who worked in a part of the city I didn't know very well invited me to call on him. It took me hours to get there and I took great trouble to find a proper spot to park my car. As I was already three quarters of an hour late, I parked my car quickly.

　　At noon, just as I was leaving my friend's office it suddenly struck me that I had no idea where I had parked my car. I could hardly go up to a policeman and tell him that I had lost a small green car somewhere! Walking down street after street, I examined each car closely and was very happy to see a small green car just behind an old car. But how disappointed I was to discover that though the car was exactly like my own, it belonged to someone else! Feeling quite tired now, I went off for lunch. Some time later, I left the restaurant and walked down the street. Turning the corner, I nearly jumped for joy: my car was right in front of me, and there was no problem this time.

　　To tell the truth, driving in a crowded city is far from being a pleasure and it is much easier to walk than to drive.

(1)What did the writer do the other day?

[　　]

A．He went to telephone his old friend.

B．He paid a visit to his friend.

C．He called on a friend, who he didn't know well.

D．He visited a friend and had lunch with him.

(2)“It suddenly struck me”in the second paragraph probably means“________”.

[　　]

A．a stick suddenly hit me

B．a stone suddenly hit me

C．I suddenly found out

D．I suddenly thought

(3)Which of the following statements is true according to this story?

[　　]

A．The writer had not much difficulty in finding a parking-place.

B．It took him forty-five minutes to find a place to park his car.

C．It was very difficult for the writer to find a parking-place.

D．He got a parking-place right away and parked his car in a hurry.

(4)How did he look for his car?

[　　]

A．He asked a policeman for help.

B．His friend called a policeman.

C．He examined every car in the street.

D．A waiter helped him to do this.

For 52 years my father got up every morning at 5:30 am, except Sunday, and went to work. He returned home at 5:30 pm, for dinner at 6:00 pm. I never remember my father having a night out with his children. All he asked from me as a daughter was to hold his hammer while he repaired something, just so we could have some time to talk to each other.
For 22 years, after I left home for college, my father called me every Sunday. Nine years ago, my father, 67 years old, spent three days painting my house. He asked me to hold the paint brush for him and talk to him. But I was too busy and I could not take the time to hold the paint brush, or talk to my father.
Five years ago, my father spent five hours making a swing（秋千）for my daughter. Again, all he asked me to do was to give him a glass of tea, and talk to him. But again, I had some clothes to wash, and the house to clean.
On January 16, 1996, my father telephoned me as usual, this time from my sister’s home in Florida. I had to get to church, and I cut the conversation short.
The call came at 4:40 pm. That day, my father was in hospital in Florida. I got on an airplane immediately, and on the way, I made up my mind that when I arrived, I would make up for the lost time, and have a nice long talk with him.
I arrived in Florida at 1:00 am, but my father had passed away at 9:12 pm. This time it was he who did not have time to talk, or time to wait for me.
【小题1】
When the author was young, her father ______.

For 52 years my father got up every morning at 5:30 am, except Sunday, and went to work. He returned home at 5:30 pm, for dinner at 6:00 pm. I never remember my father having a night out with his children. All he asked from me as a daughter was to hold his hammer while he repaired something, just so we could have some time to talk to each other.

For 22 years, after I left home for college, my father called me every Sunday. Nine years ago, my father, 67 years old, spent three days painting my house. He asked me to hold the paint brush for him and talk to him. But I was too busy and I could not take the time to hold the paint brush, or talk to my father.

Five years ago, my father spent five hours making a swing（秋千）for my daughter. Again, all he asked me to do was to give him a glass of tea, and talk to him. But again, I had some clothes to wash, and the house to clean.

On January 16, 1996, my father telephoned me as usual, this time from my sister’s home in Florida. I had to get to church, and I cut the conversation short.

The call came at 4:40 pm. That day, my father was in hospital in Florida. I got on an airplane immediately, and on the way, I made up my mind that when I arrived, I would make up for the lost time, and have a nice long talk with him.

I arrived in Florida at 1:00 am, but my father had passed away at 9:12 pm. This time it was he who did not have time to talk, or time to wait for me.

1.

When the author was young, her father ______.

A. was busy with his work               B. disliked his children 

C. often talked to his children         D. never cared about his children

2.

 How old was the author’s father when he made a swing for his granddaughter?

A. 45.   　　　　　　B. 67.   　　　C. 71.    　　　　　　　D. 76.

3.

When painting the house, the father asked the author to hold a paint brush because ______.

A. he wanted to make his work easy        

B. he was too old to work all by himself

C. he just wanted his daughter to help him

D. he wanted to have a talk with his daughter

4.

The underlined phrase “passed away” in the last paragraph probably means “______”.

A. arrived   　　　　B. lost    　　　C. left    　　　　D. died