Some British and American people like to invite friends and colleagues for a meal at home. You should not be upset (心烦意乱) 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 p.m., and end at about 11. Ask your hosts what time you should arrive. It’s polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a present.
　　Do you want to be extra (特别地) polite? Say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember—not to ask how much things cost.
　　You’ll probably start the meal with soup, or something small as a “starter” (酵母), then you’ll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then a dessert (甜食), followed by coffee. It’s polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it. Some people eat bread with their meal, but not everyone does.
　　Before they take out their cigarettes after the meal, most people usually ask, “Do you mind if I smoke here?”
　　Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short “thank you” letter. Perhaps it seems funny to you, but British and American people say, “thank you, thank you, and thank you.” all the time.

　　1.If your English or American friends don’t invite you to dinner at home, ______.
　　A.it shows they don’t like you B.B. it shows they have no time to get together
　　C.it shows they don’t want to make friends with you D. it doesn’t show they don’t like you

　　2.When you are invited to go to your friend’s home, _____.
　　A. you shouldn’t take anything with you B. you may go at any time
　　C. you may take an expensive present with you D. you may take a small present with you

　　3.In England and America, it’s not polite to _______.
　　A.ask the price of a thing B. eat all the food on your plate　C. talk to your hosts D. eat too fast

　　4.In the passage, the order of the serving of a meal is _____.
　　A.Dessert—meat or fish with vegetables—coffee—soup
　　B.Coffee—soup—dessert—meat or fish with vegetables
　　C.meat or fish with vegetables—dessert—soup—coffee
　　D.soup—meat or fish with vegetables—dessert—coffee

　　5.Which is not right?
　　A.In England or America, it usually takes more than three hours to have a dinner party at home
　　B.If you are invited to go to a dinner party, you can’t arrive early.
　　C.You mustn’t smoke after a meal when you are with some American or English people.
　　D.You’d better write a short “Thank you” letter to your hosts or give them a call if you want to be extra polite.

　　【答案与解析】

　　这是一篇有关东西方文化差异的阅读材料。英美人喜欢邀请朋友或同事到自己的家里吃饭。但是按照西方人的习惯，我们怎么样做才能更为礼貌些呢？本文给了最明确的回答。
　　1.D.第一段的最后那句有明显的说明。
　　2.D.“It’s polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a present.”一句是该题的出处。
　　3.A.正确理解“remember—not to ask how much things cost.”这句话才能得出答案。
　　4.C.仔细阅读短文第四自然段，就不难找到答案。
　　5.C.A、B、D三个选项在文中都有明确的说明。而根据“Before they take out their cigarettes after the meal, most people usually ask…”可以看出，抽烟前应当用“Do you mind if I smoke here?”这句话征求一下对方的意见。由此可将C项排除。