As we know, there are differences between western culture and Chinese culture. We can see differences when we pay attention to the way words are used. Let's look at the words about animals and plants. Most expressions in Chinese about the dog, for example, “a homeless dog”, “a mad dog”, “a running dog” and “a dog catching a mouse”, have negative(消极的)meanings. But in western countries, dogs are thought to be honest and good friends of people. In English, people use the dog to describe positive(积极的)actions. For example, “you are a lucky dog” means you are a lucky person. And “every dog has its day” means each person has good 1uck one day. To describe a person's serious illness, they say “sick as a dog”. The word “dog-tired” means very tired. However, Chinese love cats very much. But in western culture, “cat” is often used to describe a woman who is cruel(冷酷的). There are many other examples of how “cat” is used differently as well.
The rose(玫瑰)is thought of as a symbol of love in both China and some western countries. People think the rose stands for(代表)love, peace, courage and friendship. And the rose is the national flower of England, America and many other countries.
The words about plants and animals are used in positive or negative ways in different cultures. We can learn about many differences in cultures by comparing(比较)how some words are used.

    A Bite of China, the seven-part documentary (纪录片) introduces Chinese food through the geography, history and culture.

A Bite of China is fill of &eat pictures of food, from expensive food to local food. The documentary shows Chinese food culture and how to make the delicious food.

    How to make dishes is only one part of food culture. The program tries to bring something new by showing more cultural elements (元素) about dishes, such as eating habits, and people's life. For example, one part tells China's history of rice growing. It explains why rice is the main food of the southern Chinese, while the northern ones mainly eat wheat flour (面粉).

    And a part about pickles(腌制食品) tells about a woman in Beijing. She returns to her hometown in Jilin and makes pickles for the first time for her lonely mother.

Another part shows happy moments of sons and daughters making New Year cakes after they return home from different cities to celebrate with their lonely parents in Zhejiang.

A Bite of China also shows social changes when showing food culture. For example, some members of a family work outside but leave the old in their hometowns - in this case, food can make people remember the happy time.

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    Libraries are wonderful places，full of stories，nice and quiet，and free for everyone．Here are some of the most breathtaking libraries in the world．

Binhai Library：Tianjin，China

    Since its opening in October，2017，people have been interested in the eye—shaped of the building which is quite modern and unusual．They call the library "the eye of Binhai"．The library can house 1.2 million books．It has round bookshelves built into the walls from floor to ceiling，and these bookshelves can also serve as stairs and seating areas．

Central Library：Seattle，U．S．

    It's shiny，modern and unusual and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours．In its first year，more than two million tourists visited the library．The library holds different art exhibitions，book signings and other events．The library offers free selfguided cell phone tours，along with group tours．

Trinity College Library：Dublin，Ireland

    It's the oldest library in Ireland．founded in 1592 by Queen ElizabethⅠ．It has rights to receive material published in the Republic of Ireland free of charge．It is also known as the Long Room，which has more than 200,000 of the library's oldest books．One of the most famous manuscripts is "The Book of Kells" ．Every year more than 500,000 visitors visit the library because of it．

    Have you ever wondered what kind of music young people across the United States are listening to? Are they crazy about Britney Spears? Do they love the Backstreet Boys? Or do they dance with Eminem?

    Well, nearly 6,000 teens have taken part in a Teen & Music survey, made by the USA Weekend Magazine last autumn. And the result showed what type of music was hot and what was not.

    It comes without surprise that hip-hop and rap are the most popular types of music among American teenagers. They began in the mid-1970s with young black kids in New York, taking music onto the streets. Hip -hop and rap are well-known for the break-dancing that goes with them.

    The word "rap" comes from a slang word. It is a rapid rhyme that is spoken rather than sung.

    Pop music, such as Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, has always met the tastes of the general public. It continues to enjoy support from teens and is the second most popular music after hip-hop and rap.

    The third is rock music with exciting dance beats and simple lyrics that speak loudly of social problems. The melodies are led by electric guitars. Rock became popular in the USA in the early 1950s. The American singer Elvis Presley and British group the Beatles became world famous rock artists.

    The survey also shows that jazz is least loved by American teens. It developed in the later part of the 19th century from a mixture of African songs and hymns. Jazz tends to be the type of music that people enjoy more as they get older.

    American people like to say "Thank you" when others help them or say something kind to them. People in many countries do so, too. It is a very good habit.

    You should say "Thank you" when someone passes you the salt on the table,  when someone walking ahead of you keeps the door open for you, when someone says you have done your work well, or you have bought a nice thing, or your city is very beautiful. "Thank you" is used not only between friends, but also between parents and children, brothers and sisters.

    "Excuse me" is another short sentence they use. When you hear someone say so behind you, you know that someone wants to walk past you without touching you. It's not polite to break others when they are talking. If you want to speak to one of them, say "Excuse me" first, and then begin talking. You should also do so when you begin to cough or make any noise before others.

    Let's learn to say "Thank you" and "Excuse me".