I had always found {#blank#}1{#/blank#} interesting to talk to foreigners and learn about the cultural differences between countries. Last Saturday, I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (meet) a man from France who explained to me {#blank#}3{#/blank#}the French greeted each other. Now I know the French usually shake hands when they meet {#blank#}4{#/blank#} they know each other well, they kiss each other on the cheek. When {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(say) goodbye, they shake hands again. So it is not {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(usual) for a Frenchman who you greeted several minutes ago {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(come) and shake hands with you again.

    Every culture in the world has its own taboos. It is necessary that we {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(be) aware of them because breaking a taboo may be an {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (annoy) experience. For example, in Japan, “4” and “9” are considered to be numbers that are unlucky. We should know this in order not to cause {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (offend).

    There was once a guy who suffered from a cancer, one that can't be cured. He was 18 years old and he could die anytime. All his life, he{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(stick) in his house taken care of by his mother.  He never went outside but he was tired{#blank#}2{#/blank#}staying at home and wanted to go out for once. So he asked his mother and she gave him{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(permit)

    He walked down his block and{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(find) a lot of stores. He passed a CD store and looked through{#blank#}5{#/blank#}front door for a second. He stopped and saw a beautiful girl about his age. He opened the door and walked in, not looking at anything else but her.

    He walked{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(close) until he was finally at the front desk{#blank#}7{#/blank#}she sat. She looked up and smiled, “Can I help you?” He said, “I would like to buy a CD.” He picked one out and gave her the money for it. “Would you like me to wrap it for you?” She asked{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(smile) again. He nodded and she went to the back. She came back with the wrapped CD and gave it to him. After that, he often bought a CD there. One day, he went there buying a CD{#blank#}9{#/blank#}he did every day, and once again she went to the back of the store came back with it{#blank#}10{#/blank#}wrap). He took it and when she wasn't looking, he left his phone number on the desk and ran out…

    China is a big old country and it has a history of more than five thousand years. We are proud of{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(it) culture and part of the culture even influences the world{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(great), for example, the thought of Confucius. As Chinese economy develops very fast and plays {#blank#}3{#/blank#} important role in the world, more and more{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(foreign) learn Mandarin (普通话) in Confucius institutions. The Chinese traditional culture can be tested by the time. It unites the whole nation and no matter{#blank#}5{#/blank#} kind of disaster comes, we will fight together for the country's future. Today, many young people lose {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(faith) in traditional culture and they are crazy{#blank#}7{#/blank#}the western culture. They follow the western fashion{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(think) we are the old style. But someday, they {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (realize) they are wrong {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (abandon) traditional culture.