As I was leaving to meet Lynne, my roommate told me that I'd better take some money. But I didn't listen to him. I thought that Lynne would pay because she had invited me. I arrived at the restaurant exactly on time. I'd been told that Americans expect you to be on time. Lynne and I sat at a table in the corner of restaurant and a waitress came and took our order.

    The dinner was a great success. I talked a lot about Saudi Arabia and Lynne told me all about herself. After two hours, the waitress finally came and asked if we wanted one check or two. Lynne said two. We went to the cashier and Lynne paid her check. I was embarrassed (尴尬) when the cashier gave me my bill. I had no money to pay for my meal. Then I had an idea. I pretended to look for something in my pockets and said, “Oh! I forgot my wallet! Can I call my roommate, please?” The cashier showed me where the phone was and I quickly called my roommate. In a few minutes, he arrived with some money, but he couldn't hide how he felt. He laughed all the way home. Now, I think it's funny too, but at that time I was terribly embarrassed. I thought that an invitation to have dinner in the United States meant the same thing as that in China. I guess you have to understand that your customs are only your customs. When you visit a foreign country, you have to learn about their customs, too.

    There are many expressions with heart. One of them is "lose your heart to someone". When that happens, you have fallen in love. But if the person who "won your heart" does not love you, then you are sure to have a "broken heart". In your sadness, you think that the person you loved is "hard-hearted", and in fact, has a "heart of stone".

    You may decide to "pour out your heart" to a friend. Telling someone about your personal problems can often make you feel better.

    If your friend does not seem to understand how painful your broken heart is, you may ask her to "have a heart". You are asking your friend to show some sympathy(同情) for your situation. Your friend "has her heart in the right place" if she says she is sorry for how you feel.

    If your friend says, "My heart bleeds(流血)for you", she means the opposite. She is a cold—hearted person who does not really care about your situation.

    When you are feeling afraid, "your heart is in your mouth". You might say, for example, that your heart was in your mouth when you asked a bank to lend you some money to pay for a new house.

    If that bank says no to you, do not "lose heart". Be "strong-hearted". Sit down with the banker and have a "heart to heart" talk. Be open and honest about your situation. The bank may have a "change of heart" and agree to lend you the money. Then you could stop worrying and "put your heart at rest".

    Silk production has a long history and colourful history unknown to most people. Scientific discoveries have shown that silk production began in China around 2,500 B.C., although it could be much older. For hundreds of years, China kept the secret of silk to itself as one for the most closely protected secrets in history. Anyone telling the secret of silkworms or trying to take silkworm eggs out of ancient China was punished in prison.

    At one time silk was served only for the Chinese emperor. Step by step, others began wearing silk. In addition to being used for clothing, silk was used to make musical instruments, fishing lines, ropes and even paper. During the Han Dynasty silk became a form of money.

    However, the Chinese finally lost their monopoly(垄断) on silk production. It reached Korea in around 200 B.C. when some Chinese people arrived there. Silk production came to India in 300 A.D. In 500 A.D., silk production came to Europe when travelers smuggled(偷运) out silkworms in empty pipes of bamboo. These were used to set up silk factories in Rome, although Chinese silk was still considered to be the best.

    Silk was brought to Rome from China by means of the Silk Road. There were actually two Silk Roads, one over land and one on the sea. Especially the land route had a huge effect in history. All sorts of trade goods were passed along this road. Ideas travelled the Silk Road, too. For example, the religion of Buddhism(佛教) was carried to China from India by traders on the Silk Road. The Silk Road created the first international culture, showing many people the ideas and treasures of both Western and Chinese cultures.

    Shadow puppet play(皮影戏), also called “shadow play”, is a traditional Chinese art of storytelling. Dramas were played out in screen or walls for thousands of years to entertain(娱乐) and instruct. It was very popular in many parts of China during the Tang (618—907) and Song(960—1279) periods.

    Shadow puppets are made of hard leather(皮革). The leather is cut out in the shape of a person, an animal or an object. Each puppet is painted in bright colors and put on a stick. Different colors are used to show good and bad of persons in the drama. Some puppets have movable arms and legs. They're reflected(反射，映出) on the white screen through the light.

    During a shadow puppet play, the players stand behind a white screen with lights behind it

    The audience sit in front of the screen. The players hold the puppets very close to the screen so the audience can see the puppets' shadows clearly. Then they move the puppets around and do the voices of the different roles.

    Now with TV and films, shadow puppet plays are not as popular as before. But the basic principle(愿望) and ways of shadow performance played an important leading role in the invention of the modern movie and the development of the movies and cartoons. Nowadays, the

    Chinese shadow puppet plays have been collected by the museums of many countries in the world. It is the treasure in the world culture and art family.