Without doubt, studying international customs can help avoid {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (difficult) in today's world of cultural crossroads.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I get to know more international friends, I learn more about cultural “body language”. Not all cultures greet each other the same way, nor {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be )they comfortable in the same way with touching or distance between people. Spoken language can {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (take) full advantage of to communicate with others, they also express their feelings {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (use) unspoken “language” through physical distance, actions or posture, English people, for example, do not usually stand very close {#blank#}6{#/blank#} others or touch strangers as soon as they meet.

    However, people from places like Spain, Italy or South American countries approach others {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (close) and are more likely {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (touch) them. Most people around the world now greet each other by shaking hands, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} some cultures use other greetings as well, such as the Japanese, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} prefer to bow.

    In much of Asia, especially the stalled “rice bowl” cultures of China, Japan, Korea,{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Vietnam, food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

    Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine (结合) various hardwoods and metal{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(create) special designs.

    The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs (树枝) to remove it. Over time,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(gradual) turned into chopsticks.

    Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} lived from roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

    Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat{#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

    Overhead bridges are found in many parts of big cities, especially in place{#blank#}1{#/blank#} traffic is very heavy and crossing the road is dangerous. The purpose of these bridges{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(be) to enable pedestrians to cross roads{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(safe). Overhead bridges are used in very much the {#blank#}4{#/blank#}way as Zebra crossings. They are more efficient although{#blank#}5{#/blank#}little) convenient because people have to climb up a long flight of steps. This is{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(convenient) especially to older people. When pedestrians use an overhead bridge, they do not hold up traffic. However, when they cross a busy road using a zebra crossing, traffic is held up. This is why the government has built many overhead bridges{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(help) pedestrians and to keep traffic moving at the same time. For their own safety, pedestrians should be encouraged to use them instead of {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(risk) their lives by dashing across the road. Old people, however, may find it a little difficult climbing up and down the steps, but it is still much safer than walking across the road with all the danger of moving traffic. Overhead bridges serve a very useful purpose. Pedestrians, both old and young, should make{#blank#}9{#/blank#}a habit to use them. This will prevent unnecessary accidents and {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(lose) of life.

    It was a city in Hubei Province. On International Children's Day, some orphans(孤儿) from the Wuhan Welfare Institute for Children {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(take) to the park. An elderly westerner was with them. The children love the man very much and call {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Grandpa without doubt. This man was Professor William Dorrity, from Florida, the USA. In 2003, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Professor William Dorrity and his wife retired, they came to Wuhan and started to work as volunteers at the Welfare Institute.

    The Dorritys have been working hard {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(improve) the conditions at the Welfare Institute since they came. They often take children on day-trips, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(bring) them all kinds of food for the kids to enjoy. They recently bought audiphones(助听器) for four orphans {#blank#}6{#/blank#} hearing problems. They also bought {#blank#}7{#/blank#} wheelchair(轮椅) for ten-year-old Tan Jun, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} suffers from a brain problem. The Dorritys said “we love China and we love children, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} we are happy to do this.{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(Hope), there will be more people to give their love to those children.”

    Tony and I are good friends. We tried to walk across the United States of America. We're not exactly sure{#blank#}1{#/blank#} we were doing it. Part of it was to test ourselves; to see if we could face the challenges. When I was{#blank#}2{#/blank#} teenager I often daydreamed that I was going to walk across the United States{#blank#}3{#/blank#} I graduated from high school.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} , I didn't do that. Before I knew it I was in my thirties, married,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} （have） a job, yet still had this idea in my mind with each{#blank#}6{#/blank#} （pass） year. I figured I was too old and my opportunity had passed. Then, a few years ago, I met Tony,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} was in his thirties and quit his job as a civil engineer in New York City to walk across the United States. He wasn't doing it for a cause{#blank#}8{#/blank#} as part of an organization. He was doing it{#blank#}9{#/blank#}（simple） because he loved to walk and discover. The idea was back and I no longer had an excuse. We planned on averaging 20miles a day and taking some days off to rest, so we expected the walk to take about 6months realizing it could take{#blank#}10{#/blank#} （long）. We were in no hurry: The total distance would have been about 3,100miles.