Some British and American people like to invite friends and colleagues(同事）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 pm, and end at about 11.Ask your hosts what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a present.

    Do you want to be extra(特别的）polite? Say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember--not to ask how much things cost.

    You'll probably start the meal with soup, or something small as a “starter”(开胃菜),then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then a dessert, followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it. Some people eat bread with their meal, but not everyone does.

    Before they take out their cigarettes after the meal, most people usually ask, “Do you mind if I smoke here?” Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short “thank you” letter. Perhaps it seems funny to you, but British and American people say” thank you ,thank you, and thank you” all the time.

    Hi, my name is Murray Wenzel. But my friends call me Muz, Muzza, Wenz or even Moon. Yes, I have lots of nicknames. But in Australia, where I am from, that's quite common.

    In fact most men in Australia call their friends something other than their real name. It is part of our culture to shorten or make up names for those we know and love. For example, one of my friend's names is Alex, but we call him Al. Another is named Jayson, but everyone knows him as Jase. In Australia most men called William are known as Bill, while Jeremy is Jez, James is Jim and Joseph is Joey.

    Sometimes we use the person's surname in their nickname, like my friend Karl Schussig who we call Schuzza. Sometimes we combine them, like my friend Troy Cassels being called TC. And we sometimes make up a new name for our friends. My friend Nathan's nickname is “Prez”, because when we first met he joked that I should call him “El President”.

    Even more confusing is when we are given ironic(讽刺的) nicknames. For example, a man with red hair will be known as Bluey, a tall man will be called Shorty or a large man will be known as Slim.

    Most of my friends call me Muz, but those who I play hockey(曲棍球) with call me Moon. However, my parents still call me Murray.

    So, I have different names depending on who I am talking to. Nicknames are so popular that sometimes people forget what the person's real name is.

    I think it is our way of showing affection to those we are close to.

    Tea is an important part of Chinese tradition. Tea has very close relationship to Chinese culture.

    It is said that Chinese tea was discovered by King Shen Nong. People say that he lived 5，000 years ago. One summer day, while he was visiting a faraway part of his country, he felt very thirsty. The servants began to make water hot enough for him to drink. Dried leaves from a near plant fell into the water. The king drank some, and found it could make him feel less tired. Also as a scientist, Shen Nong was interested in the new drink. And so, tea was created in 2737 BC.

    Drinking tea has many advantages. It makes people feel less tired, clears heat inside the human body and helps people become slimmer. As you add a cup of tea to your daily life, please check the following helpful advice.

    Drink it hot. Tea oxidizes(氧化)quickly, so it is suggested that you drink it hot.

    Do not drink too much strong tea. It will probably be harmful to your stomach and make you feel sick if you make the tea too strong.

    The best time to drink tea is between meals. It may not make you have a strong wish to eat when your stomach is empty, or cause stomachache when your stomach is full.

    Do not drink with medicine. It may change the medical result. You can drink tea two hours after you take medicine.

    Green tea is the best choice for office workers. Why? Because green tea helps stop the bad result of the computer.

    At Christmas, different countries celebrate Christmas in different ways. Here are some interesting activities in different countries.

Australia

    ⒈Read poems and stories with Australian Christmas themes.

    ⒉List the traditional food eaten at Christmas at home.

    ⒊Ask five people what they think the meaning of Christmas is and record their answers.

Germany

    ⒈In German kitchens, lots of desserts are baked for the holidays!

    ⒉Traditionally on Christmas Eve, the father decorates the tree alone in the morning. The mother spends the morning decorating the home and cooking a small meal. Some choose to serve a salad or a potato salad with some meat.

    ⒊The family goes to church in the morning and comes home to have their Christmas dinner. Friends or relatives are often invited to join them. Those who could not be invited the day before can then come on this day to celebrate with the family.

Canada

    ⒈When you hear Christmas songs in public, smile and sing along.

    ⒉Put Christmas lights on your house. Hang mistletoe(槲寄生) and some flowers in the doorway.

    ⒊Go with your family to the local Christmas tree farm to cut down your own or buy a Christmas tree. Pick out a Christmas tree that fits your house.