Living in the foreign culture can be exciting, but it can also be confusing. A group of Americans who taught English in other countries recently discussed their experiences. They discussed that miscommunications were always possible, even over something as simple as “yes”and“no”.
     On her first day in Micronesia, an island in the Pacific, Lisa thought the waitress wasn't paying any attention to her. The day was hot she went into a store and asked, "Do you have any cold drinks?" The woman there didn't say anything. Lisa repeated the question again. Still the woman said nothing. She later learned that the woman had answered her: She has raised her eyebrows, which in Micronesia, it means, "yes".
     Jan remembered an experience she had in Bulgaria, a country in Europe. She went to a restaurant that was known for its cabbage. She asked the writer,“Do you have cabbage today?”He nodded his head. Jan waited, but the cabbage never came. In that country, a nod means "no".
     Tom had a similar problem when he arrived in India. After explaining something in class, he asked his students if they understood. They answered with different nods and shakes of heads. He thought some people hadn't understood, so he explained again. When he asked again, they did the same thing. He soon found out that his students did understand. In India, people nod and shake heads in different ways. It depends on where they come from.

    You might be surprised to learn that India produces about 800 movies a year, and that number continues to grow. Just as the center of the American film industry is Hollywood, the movie center of India is Mumbai, known 1 Bombay. “Bollywood” is a combination (结合) of the 2 “Bombay” and “Hollywood”.

    Bollywood is not a physical place. Some people 3 the name, saying that it makes the industry look like a poor cousin to Hollywood. 4, Bollywood is one of the largest centers of film production in the world.

    No Bollywood movie is thought complete 5 a few songs and dances. In fact, music is an important part of Bollywood movies. Even a bad movie can still be 6 if the music is good. Because of this, music directors are sometimes more popular than actors. A Bollywood movie has five to six songs in it, often explaining what the dances mean. A film's success often 7 on the quality of such musical numbers. In some ways, Bollywood has been influencing 8 films in the western world since the 2000s.

    Bollywood may be different from Hollywood when it comes to musical style, but it is very 9 to Hollywood in several ways. Bollywood hero Shark Khan uses a gun just like Hollywood star Tom Cruise. News reporters follow Bollywood stars just as often as Hollywood stars. The personal lives of Indian actors and actresses catch the headlines, just as 10 do in the United States.

    In the U.S. Mother's Day is a holiday on the second Sunday in May. It is a day when children give their mothers cards, presents and flowers. One of the best ways to celebrate Mother's Day is to give your mother a day off. Let her have a good rest while other members of the family do the housework. Many families begin Mother's Day with the breakfast in bed. Usually dad and the children will let mum sleep late as they go into the kitchen and get ready for her favorite meal. A Mother's Day breakfast can be anything your mum likes. After the food is cooked, keep everything nicely on a plate. Don't forget to put a flower in the bottle. With spring here, the children can pick up the nicest flower from the garden outside. When everything is ready, carefully carry the plate and mum's favorite books or newspapers up to her bedroom. Cards and small presents from the children can be put on the plate before they are given to mum in bed. Many families take mum out to her favorite restaurant for a meal. It is a good way to let your mum rest and let her see what a happy family she has!

     Friendship Day in India falls on the first Sunday of August every year. It is celebrated with many activities.

     Young people in India spend the day with their closest friends and have fun together. Most youngsters in India plan a movie or have a meal with their friends. Some friends may go on a drive to tourist places. Some friends go to the supermarket for shopping. On Friendship Day, most stores offer discounted prices for customers and it is a perfect day to buy something for friends.

    Some friends go to parties that are organized by many restaurants. Such parties are very enjoyable. You can get food at a discounted price. Some friends just decide to meet up at someone's home and talk about their happy time. The time good friends spend sitting together and talking over a cup of coffee is wonderful.

    Long-distance friends call up each other on this day and wish each other with warm feelings. Some of them even plan to meet up on this day. Yet some others plan a surprising visit just to see their friend gasp in shock!

    People in Britain and the USA are taking more interest in modern dance. Dance classes of all kinds are popular; the number of people going to watch modern dance companies is also larger. And perhaps the most popular modern dance company in Britain is the Ballet Rambert.

    The Ballet Rambert is Britain's oldest dance company which began in 1926. In the 1960s, the company didn't have enough money to put on big performances. The directors wanted to encourage new dancers and to keep up their high standards.

    A change of direction was necessary. They decided to give the ballet a "new look" in 1966. The aim was to provide a chance for new talent—for musicians and designers as well as dancers—and to show dance as a modern art form. And although some of the company's fans disliked the change, new audiences came to see the performances. The modern dance pieces and modern music found unexpected popularity. In 1968, the Ballet Rambert was a great success in London's West End. The company became a good choice for new, progressive talent in the arts.

    Later, the Ballet Rambert started to introduce young people to modern dance by giving performances at schools, which again, was a success. The Ballet Rambert has managed to make modern dance popular while creating performances different from the old ones. It is considered the oldest dance company in Britain and at the same time one of the most modern!

    Lydia is 14 years old. She lives in a small house with her parents and two brothers, Daniel and Henry. Daniel is 12 years old, and Henry is 9 years old. Daniel and Henry often complain about the small house. They want to live in a big house. Their dream house is very big. In the house, they each have a bedroom, a desk and a computer. In front of the house, there is a big beautiful garden. In the garden, there are some fruit trees. They like eating fruit very much. Behind the garden, there is a swimming pool. They like swimming, too. They can ask their friends to come to their house on weekends. They can play computer games, swim and do their homework together. They say they will have a lot of fun that time.