Some British and American people like to invite friends for a meal at home. You should not be upset if your English friends don't invite you home. It doesn't mean they don't like you.

    Dinner parties usually start between 7 and 8 p.m. and end at about 11 p.m. Ask you hosts(主办人) what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine(酒) as a gift.

    Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks. If you want to be very polite, say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember—It's not polite to ask how much things cost.

    In many families, the husband sits at one end of the table and the wife sits at the other end. They eat with their guests(客人).

    You'll probably start the meal with soup or something small, then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then dessert followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it.

    Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short “thank you” letter. British and American people like to say “thank you, thank you, thank you” all the time!

    Paul and Jason were brothers who lived and worked on neighbouring farms. For 35 years they farmed side by side, sharing machinery and goods as needed, without a single problem.

    However, one autumn, things changed. It began with a tiny disagreement about a horse, which grew into a major difference. The difference led to angry words, followed by weeks of silence between the two brothers.

    One morning there was a knock on Paul's door. He opened it and saw a builder holding his toolbox." I'm looking for a few days' work," the builder said." Are there any jobs here I could help with?"

   "Yes," answered Paul, extremely pleased to see the builder." I do have a job for you. Look at that farm across the creek(小溪). That's my brother's farm. That creek used to be a grass field, but last week my brother dug a path from the river and made the creek. But I'll go him one better. See that pile of wood? I want you to build me a fence, two metres tall, so 1 won't need to see him anymore."

    The builder said thoughtfully." I think I understand the situation and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

    Paul had business in town that day and left the builder to his work. When he returned, the builder had just finished his job. Paul was shocked. Instead of a fence there was a bridge, stretching from one side of the creek to the other.

    As Paul stood on the bridge, staring in amazement, his younger brother Jason, came across, and took Paul's hand." You are a good man to have built this bridge after all I've done," said Jason.

    Then, Paul, with tears in his eyes, said to the builder who was packing his bag to go," Thank you so much. Please stay. I have much more for you to do."

   "I'd love to." the builder said quietly," but, I have many more bridges to build."

    Cody and his sister April wanted a dog. They went to an animal adoption center. A nice old man, Mr. Smith. greeted（问候）Cody and April.

"How can I help you?" he asked.

    "We would like to adopt a dog," April said. "Ah, you have two dogs to choose from. One of them is a very big bulldog(斗牛犬)named Buster. The other is a very small Chihuahua(吉娃娃)named Teacup," Mr. Smith told her. April wanted Teacup. Cody wanted Buster. They walked outside to discuss(讨论)it, but they couldn't agree on which dog to get. April suggested they race (赛跑)home for it. The winner of the race would choose the dog. Cody thought it was a good idea.

    So they had a race. Cody ran very quickly. He really wanted that bulldog. He looked back. April was so far behind him. Cody finally won the race. He was tired but happy.

    They went back to the adoption center. However, they only saw Teacup, the Chihuahua. They asked Mr. Smith where Buster was Mr. Smith said that a few minutes after April and Cody left, two boys walked in and adopted the bulldog.

    Cody smiled sadly, "We'll adopt the Chihuahua, please."