When you are invited to a meal in Thailand（泰国），the words of the invitation mean "come and eat rice". In fact, nearly all Thai dishes are 1 with rice, which grows there very easily 2 the climate is warm and there is much rain.

    The food served is 3 cut into pieces, so there is no need to use knives and forks, but, instead, special spoons and forks are used. The Thais 4to eat with their hands and now there are still some people who eat this way. There is a special 5 of doing it. First they wash their 6 hands in a bowl of water—they only eat with their right hands. They are careful not to let the food 7the palms（手掌心）of their hands. After the meal, the 8are again carefully washed.

    The meal usually has several different dishes. They are all hot. They are served in bowls, which everyone shares, 9each person has their own bowl of 10. As Thailand has a long coastline（海岸线）, it is not surprising that fish and shellfish（贝类动物） play an important part in Thai cooking.

    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 use body language to send messages to others. It is very1because others can understand you easily when you use body language. When you are talking with others, you are not just using words, but also using2. For example, waving one's hand is to say "Goodbye". Shaking hands means welcome, and clapping hands3congratulations(祝贺). Nodding the head means yes, but shaking the head means no.

    Different countries have4body languages. For example, when in5, France and Arab countries kiss each other when they meet, 6men in China or Australia shake hands. People in Puerto Rico like touching each other, but people in Britain do not touch each other. People in Arab countries like7close to one another when they are talking, but English people must keep a distance away when they are talking. It is very important8the meanings of gestures and movements in the foreign country9they will help you communicate with people and make you stay there much more 10and comfortable.

    "Sesame Street" is a TV programme for children. It first appeared in New York 1 1969. It is called" the longest street in the world". That's because the TV programme by that name can be seen in so many parts of the world.

    In the US over six million children watch the programme regularly. The viewers include more than half the nation's pre-school children. Parents love the programme. Many teachers also think it is very helpful, 2 some educators are against certain things in it.

    Tests show children from different background have benefited from watching the programme. Those who watch it five times 3 week learn more than those who watch it once in a while. In the US the programme is shown at 4 hours so that more children can watch it. The programmes all 5 songs, stories, jokes and pictures to help children understand numbers, letters and human relationship. But there are some differences. For example, the programme made in Mexico City devotes more time to teaching whole words than to teaching letters one by one.

    Why is "Sesame Street" more successful than other children's shows? There 6many reasons-the good education of its producers, the support 7 the government and businesses, and the skillful use of many TV tricks. Also 8 watch it with their children. This is partly because famous adult stars often appear on it. But the best reason may be that it makes every child 9 able to learn. Children find themselves learning, and they want to learn 10.

    Different people have different ideas about time. People in the US think that it is1to know the time. In cities in America, there are2in stations, factories and other buildings. Most Americans also have watches with them3they go. They want to do certain(一定的) things4certain times. They don't like to be

5.

    But time is not so important to6in the world. When you visit a country in South America, you will find that people there don't like to be in a hurry. If you have an appointment(约会) with somebody, he could7be late, because he may not want to arrive8.

    In South America, 9the radio programs may not begin on time. The men on the radio may not think it is important to tell the exact time. People in South America think that clocks or watches are just machines. They think that you10a clock or a watch control(控制) your life if you do everything on time.