When you are invited to a meal in Thailand（泰国），the words of the invitation mean "come and eat rice". In fact, nearly all Thai dishes are 1 with rice, which grows there very easily 2 the climate is warm and there is much rain.

    The food served is 3 cut into pieces, so there is no need to use knives and forks, but, instead, special spoons and forks are used. The Thais 4to eat with their hands and now there are still some people who eat this way. There is a special 5 of doing it. First they wash their 6 hands in a bowl of water—they only eat with their right hands. They are careful not to let the food 7the palms（手掌心）of their hands. After the meal, the 8are again carefully washed.

    The meal usually has several different dishes. They are all hot. They are served in bowls, which everyone shares, 9each person has their own bowl of 10. As Thailand has a long coastline（海岸线）, it is not surprising that fish and shellfish（贝类动物） play an important part in Thai cooking.

    If you go to Hong Kong by air, you will arrive at Kai Tak Airport. Because there was no enough land, it was built out into the sea. It is in the part of Hong Kong called Kowloon. Kowloon is one of the two big cities in Hong Kong.

    The other city is Hong Kong itself. It is on an island. You can get there by ship or through a tunnel under the sea. Much of Hong Kong is farmland and mountains.

    The population of Hong Kong is over 6 million. Most of them are Chinese. Chinese and English are spoken by many people there.

    Clothes, computers, radios and TVs are made in Hong Kong. You can watch dog—racing or motor—racing. Some places are quiet and beautiful. When you are hot and tired, there are small and cool gardens to rest in. There are also a lot of tall buildings to live in. Hong Kong is also a good place for Chinese cooking. You can enjoy many kinds of Chinese cooking, for example, fish, meat and vegetables. Beijing Roast Duck is famous as well. There is certainly a lot to see and to do in Hong Kong.

    In 1997, Hong Kong was returned to China. It's a part of China.

    Canton Porcelain (广彩) has a history of more than 300 years, dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911). Canton Porcelain became popular around the world1its beautiful colors.

Xu Enfu is known as a Canton Porcelain master. Xu Junru, his daughter, showed2great love for it when she was a little girl. She enjoyed staying with her father while he3the porcelain painting. They think it's necessary4them to add modern patterns into their pieces. They mix modern techniques5a traditional feel. Cartoon patterns, such as Hello Kitty and Doraemon6on the plates. This idea wins children's hearts. Their works are so wonderful7they attract many foreigners. They decide8this traditional skill to people around the world.

    A group of foreigners9to join this Canton Porcelain workshop held by GD Today. They were10to experience how to make Canton Porcelain.

    Mansha said, "It is my first time to paint on a plate or porcelain. It's difficult for me to do the black line." Foreigners had about just one hour to finish11patterns and colors for their own plates. Oxana challenged herself to paint the Canton Tower on12own to remember her time in Guangzhou. Simon painted a Chinese character13on the plate. It was a good idea that he made this plate for his grandma in U.K..

    14you are interested in it, you can attend the training class on making Canton Porcelain. It is really good for you15it to your family and friends as a gift!

Like two different worlds

    I come from London, a very big city! Over 81people live there, and it's always busy with tourists. So moving to a little town2only 15, 000 people is a big change for me! I am living in a little town in the countryside in Germany now.

    In the countryside, the towns are 3so everyone knows each other. At home in London, I don't even know my neighbours! Another nice thing about the countryside is that it's very green and there's lots of fresh air. I like nature, and it's nice to see4the seasons change the trees. My favourite thing about living in the countryside is that I can see thousands of 5 at night. At home I can hardly see any! That's because there's 6light in the city, but here everything is dark and the stars twinkle in the sky.

    One thing I do like about living in a city is that it's7to travel. We have the subways, buses and trains, and we even have buses that run all night. Here, the last train is before 9 pm, and there's only one an hour!  Another good thing about cities is that there are lots of 8, so you can usually find what you need. In my town here there aren't many shops, 9I have to go to the nearest city!

    I always thought I was a city girl, but now I like the countryside too. They are like two different worlds, but10feel like home!

    "Readers(《朗读者》"is a popular TV show. It invites1people to read aloud on the stage(舞台). Some are famous actors and actresses. Some are students. Some work in different places. The show also tells the moving stories behind those people. They can read everything, like poems, books, and letters. By reading aloud, the 2 on the paper come to life.

    Many people are fans of the show. They begin to 3 reading aloud at home. Now, the show gives people a special 4 to read across China. It is a reading pavilion( 朗读亭). They are in many cities, including Shanghai, Hangzhou and Xi'an.

    The pavilion is very small. Only one person can come into it each time. There is a microphone in it and it records(录下) people's voices. Everyone can read for three minutes in the pailion. They can read anything they like. The show will 5some of the readers to read on TV.

    People of all ages read in the pavilion. "Reading should be just like singing and talking," said Dong Qing, the host and producer(制作人) of the show." We can express our 6 feelings by reading aloud.