Ideas about polite behavior are different from one culture to another. Some societies, such as America and Australia, for example, are mobile and very open. People here change jobs and move houses quite often. As a result, they have a lot of relationships that often last only a short time, and they need to get to know people quickly. So it's normal to have friendly conversations with people that they have just met, and you can talk about things that other cultures would regard as personal.

    On the other hand, there are more crowded and less mobile societies where long–term relationships are more important. A Malaysian or Mexican business person, for example, will want to get to know you very well before he or she feels happy to start business. But when you do get to know each other, the relationship becomes much deeper than it would in a mobile society.

    To Americans, both Europeans and Asians seem cool and formal at first. On the other hand, as a passenger from a less mobile society puts it, it's no fun spending several hours next to a stranger who wants to tell you all about his or her life and asks you all sorts of questions that you don't want to answer.

    Cross-cultural differences aren't just a problem for travelers, but also for the flights that carry them. All flights want to provide the best service, but ideas about good service are different from place to place. This can be seen most clearly in the way that problems are dealt with.

    Some societies have “universalist” cultures. These societies strongly respect rules, and they treat every person and situation in basically the same way.

     “Particularist” societies, on the other hand, also have rules, but they are less important than the society's unwritten ideas about what is right or wrong for a particular situation or a particular person. So the normal rules are changed to fit the needs of the situation or the importance of the person.

    This difference can cause problems. A traveler from a particularist society, India, is checking in for a flight in Germany, a country which has a universalist culture. The Indian traveler has too much luggage, but he explains that he has been away from home for a long time and the suitcases are full of presents for his family. He expects that the check–in official will understand his problem and will change the rules for him. The check–in official explains that if he was allowed to have too much luggage, it wouldn't be fair to the other passengers. But the traveler thinks this is unfair, because the other passengers don't have his problem.

    Do you know how to pick a good book you'll really like? Here are some tips.

    Start With Your Interest.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}You can pick something that you love to read, not for school. They can be ancient martial (武术) arts, computers, or fashion design. You name it, there are books about it.

    What's Your Type? Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction (or both)? Fiction books, like novels, can transport you to another world or help you imagine something beyond your own experience. Nonfiction books give you the who, what, when, and why of something{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Many of them read like novels from start to finish.

    Read the description. The reviews and quotes on the back and inside covers of many books give you an idea of what the book is about. They can also help you pick future books, too. If you find a book you really like, take a minute to read the quotes and see which authors praised the book.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Find a Family Favorite. Which book did your mother love best when she was at your age?{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Find out and give them a read — then you can share your thoughts about the book.

    Finally, you'll probably enjoy what you're reading a lot more if you find a quiet place and make time for the book.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You can put on some good music, get yourself some tea and let yourself be carried away by the book. You'll see that time does fly when you're reading something you love!

A. How about your brothers and sisters?

B. They tell stories using facts — but that doesn't mean they're boring.

C. Reading is a good way to improve your English.

D. Most reading is best enjoyed when you can concentrate (全神贯注) on it.

E. Often, they'll have similar styles and you might find books you like by those authors, too.

F. So you should read as much as possible when you are free.

G. Reading on your own isn't like reading for school.

How to interview for your dream job

    Here are some tips for getting your foot in the door and then maximizing your chance of getting that dream job.

    Do some homework first.

    Google the company and find out as much as you can about their mission, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Try torelate the position you're interviewing for to these overall corporate goals.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Look the interviewer in the eye when you meet him/her. This shows confidence, indicating smartly to the interviewer that you feel as though you belong in the room. Do not just touch hands with people when shaking with them. This will doom you to many. Instead, grab their hand and shake with some firmness, but not with a death grip.

    Focus on the point.

    It's not about you, it's about them, Whenever you interview, keep in mind that it's about them, not about you, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Try to relate your assets(资产) to the overall mission of the company. The stronger connection you can make, the better.

    Close positively.

    Whenever an interviewer leaves you, shake their hand and thank them for their time. Look them firmly in the eye again. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Write a thank-you email.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}The next time you're at your computer, fire off an email to each person you interviewed with thanking them for their time, Mention that you're excited by the prospect of working for the organization and how you think it's a great fit.

A. Greet appropriately.

B. Mind your language.

C. Read a recent annual report of the company.

D. This leaves them with a positive impression of you.

E. Send an email thank you as soon as you can after the interview.

F. It's not what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company.

G. However, it is vital in the short term as it is a way to continue a positive interaction.

    In the world, football is the most popular sport. This is because many countries have wonderful teams for the World Cup. The World Cup is held every four years.

    To remember 2002 FIFA World Cup ,children from different countries and more than 60 children from Japanese schools came together and spent three weekends drawing a big picture called “Dream(梦幻) World Cups ”in Japan .The children drew animals, flowers and people playing football under a blue bright sky. They wished each football team good luck by drawing the flags(旗帜)of all the countries that will take part in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. The picture was put up in a park near a playground in Yokohama .Some football teams will have games there.

    Are you a football fan(迷)？The World Cup makes more and more people interested in football. Teenagers(青少年)like playing and watching football .Many of them love some football stars so much that they get the pictures of their favorite players on the walls of their rooms. That is the way to show their love for the World Cup as children in Japan.

                                                  Printable Tags Turn Everyday Objects into Smart Devices

    Engineers have developed printable metal tags (标签)that could be attached to everyday objects and turn them into smart Internet of Things devices.

    The metal tags are made from copper foil (铜箔) printed onto thin, flexible, paper-like materials to reflect WiFi signals. The tags work essentially like "mirrors" that reflect radio signals from a WiFi router(路由器). When a user's finger touches these "mirrors", it disturbs the reflected WiFi signals in such a way that can be remotely sensed by a WiFi receiver like a smartphone.

    The tags can be nailed onto objects that people touch every day, like water bottles, walls or doors. These objects then become smart and connected devices that can signal a WiFi device whenever a user interacts with them. The tags can also be shaped into thin keypads or smart home control panels that can be used to remotely operate WiFi-connected speakers and other Internet of Things devices.

    Xinyu Zhang, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, named the technology LiveTag. He pictures people using LiveTag technology to track human interaction with everyday objects. For example, LiveTag could potentially be used to assess the recovery of patients who have suffered from stroke (中风). "When patients return home, they could use this technology to provide data based on how they interact with everyday objects at home, whether they are opening or closing doors in a normal way, or if they are able to pick up bottles of water, for example. The amount, intensity and frequency of their activities could be recorded and sent to their doctors to evaluate their recovery," said Zhang. "And this can all be done in the comfort of their own homes rather than having to keep going back to the clinic for frequent testing," he added.

    The researchers note several limitations of the technology. LiveTag currently cannot work with a WiFi receiver further than one meter away, so researchers are working on improving the tag sensitivity and detection range. Ultimately, the team aims to develop a way to make the tags using normal paper and ink printing, which would make them cheaper to mass produce.

    Children who have developed leadership skills are sure to have a bright future.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Not only will they gain more self-esteem and interact more easily with their peers, they can also make an impact on their community. These qualities will continue to develop as children grow up. Here are simple techniques to develop children's leadership qualities.

    Discuss peer pressure. Children are often exposed to peer pressure and worry about how others view them.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Leadership requires being socially involved, but still honoring personal morals and standards. Discuss hypothetical (假设的) peer pressure situations and ask kids to consider how they'd behave in different situations.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}When they're able to clearly show their thoughts, they feel more self-confident and are able to deal with complex problems. You can help by encouraging children to speak out and by listening seriously to their thoughts. Although many children go through rebellious stages, don't enforce silence. Instead, suggest self-expression.

    Teach by example.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Even if they don t express it aloud, children may see you as a role model. Model leadership behavior by helping others, volunteering in leadership positions and taking action in everyday life.

    Develop children's individual talents and encourage participation. Every child has potential for leadership skills, but not every child develops skills in the same way.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}A child might be a talented athlete or skilled at painting and drawing. Find ways for kids to develop these skills in a group setting, which promotes teamwork and social skills.

A. Encourage children to express themselves.

B. Pay attention to specific interests and abilities.

C. Find volunteer and community service opportunities.

D. Children start benefiting from leadership skills at any age.

E. Children with self-awareness have a greater ability to lead.

F. Children observe the adults in their lives, and value what they see.

G. Talk with your children about the importance of avoiding peer pressure.