The White House is an important historical building in the USA. It lies1the country's capital. Many people expect to see the palace with their own eyes.

    We spent six months getting tickets to visit the White House. I was2with excitement while we were waiting in the White House South Lawns. The first thing3 interested me was the colorful flowers and green grass.

    Everything inside and outside was4kept in the white House. We went through many security checks(安检) 5entering the building. In the east hallway on the first floor, I saw the pictures of past presidents on the walls. The6had over 2700 books. The Vermeil Room and China Room showed different collections.

    We walked upstairs to the State Floor. The East Room, the7in the White House, was the most wonderful in its size and furniture. This is the room where the president usually8the reporters. The Green, Blue and Red Rooms on the same floor got their names because of the9 of the furniture and walls. These rooms are 10 having parties for state guests.

    How much do you know about manners（礼仪）? Different countries have 1manners. In 2 Asian countries, it is good manners to take off your 3before you go into a house. 4in European (欧洲)countries, even if they sometimes become very dirty, this is not done. If you are a 5 in a Chinese house, when you have a meal, you usually do not6 the food. You often leave a little to7 that you have had enough.  But in England, a visitor always finishes food to show that he has 8it. We must know the customs (风俗) of other 9 ， so that they will not think 10bad-mannered. People all over the world 11that a well-mannered person should be kind and12 to others. If you 13 this, at least you will not go very far wrong. 14 likes a person with good manners, but no one likes a person with bad manners. 15 your manners.

    People all over the world celebrate the New Year. However, not all countries celebrate in the same way, and in some countries, the new year doesn't begin on the 1 day every year.

    In many countries, the New Year begins on 1st January, but people start celebrating on 31st December, New Year's Eve. In New York many people go to celebrate in Times Square. 2  they're waiting for the New Year, they listen to music, sing traditional songs and have fun. Just before 12 o'clock, everyone 3 down from 10: 10, 9, 8… As soon as it's 12 o'clock, everyone shouts very 4, “Happy New Year!”

    New Year's Day is often a family day. Some families get together for a special meal. When the weather is fine, many families go out for a 5.

    On New Year's Day, many people make resolutions for the new year. They 6a list of things, such as “I will help out more with housework. I will work 7 at school than others.” or “I won't spend so much time playing video games.” When they have made their 8, they read it to their family or friends and promise to 9 their resolutions(办法).

    So it doesn't matter how they celebrate. 10 people in countries all over the world, it's a time to say goodbye to the old year, and to welcome the new.

    Every country has its own customs (风俗). Do you want to know something about 1  customs? England is a great country with a long 2. There are many different customs in England. As we all know, a woman's age is her secret. So you can't ask a woman 3 she is. When you go out on a 4  day in England, you may see many people 5 umbrellas with them. Don't laugh at (嘲笑) them. In England, the weather changes very quickly. Although it's sunny now, it may rain very 6. When you get a present from your friend, you must open it at once and say 7 to him or her. In England and many other Western countries, 13 is a(n) 8 number, so there is no Room 13, Class 13, Number 13 and so on. In England, you must 9 on the left of the road. So you see, you can do something in China, 10 you can't do it in England! Do remember these customs if you have a chance to visit England.

    The Spring Festival is often called "Chinese New Year" by people in western countries, because people in China 1 the end of a lunar(农历)year, and the start of a new lunar year.

    At Spring Festival, people want to keep away from 2, so that the new year will 3 with good luck. There are a lot of 4 for the Spring Festival. People 5 their houses (before New Year's Day), cut their hair, and buy lots of new 6 to wear. They decorate their houses with couplets, paper-cuts and lanterns. The decorations are all 7, because red is a "lucky colour".

    Older people give young people red packets 8 money in them. People eat jiaozi for New Year and yuanxiao at Lantern Festival.

Then there's the dragon dance and fireworks. These are 9 to bring good luck for New Year. It's a great time and everyone feels 10.

    The 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar (农历) in China is the Lantern Festival.

    It's an important 1 in China. Chinese people celebrate it in many ways. In the evening there are different 2 shows in parks and streets. Lanterns are often red 3 the Chinese think red stands for (代表) happiness and good luck. People 4 different lanterns out of paper and other things. Some are in the 5 of rabbits, birds and boats. Some are in the shapes of dragons and cartoon stars. There are 6 lanterns here and there. In some cities, such as Suzhou, there is 7 a big lantern show at night, and many people come to enjoy it every year.

    8 are special food for the festival. Families always get together and 9 a big meal. After that, people go out to 10. They often sing and dance happily late until midnight.