Some British and American people like to invite friends for a meal at home. You should not be upset  1 your English friends don't invite you home. 2 doesn't mean they don't like you. Dinner parties usually start 3 7 and 8 p.m. and end at about 11 p.m.

    Ask your hosts what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine 4 a gift.

    Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks. If you want to be extra polite, say how much you like the room, or the 5 on the wall. But remember－it's not polite to ask how much things 6.

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

    You'll probably start the meal with soup or something small, then you'll 7 meat or fish with vegetables, and then dessert, followed by 8. It's polite to finish 9 on your plate and to take more if you want it.

    Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, 10 write them a short "thank you" letter. British and American people like to say "thank you" all the time!

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.

    Many people like to travel(旅行 ) on vacations. Now more and more travellers in the United States are spending nights at small houses 1inns instead of (代替) hotels. They get a2 for the night and the breakfast for the next morning.

    In the past five3 ten years, these bed-and-breakfast places have become popular in the United States. Many of these America's bed-and-breakfast inns 4old historic(历史上著名的) buildings. Some bed-and-breakfast inns have only5 rooms. Others are much larger. Some inns do not provide(提供) telephones or televisions in the rooms while(而)6do.

    Staying at a bed-and-breakfast inn is much different 7staying at a hotel. Usually the cost is much lower. Staying at an inn is like visiting  8 home. The owners are  9to tell about the interesting places to visit. Many travellers say10 enjoy the chance (机会) to meet local families.

    It's very interesting to study names of different countries. Chinese names are different1foreign names. Once an English lady came to2me. When I was introduced to her, she said, "Glad to meet you, Miss Ping." Then she gave me her name card with three words on it: "Betty J. Black". So I said "Thank you, Miss Betty." We looked at each other and laughed heartily. Later I found that the English people3their family names last and the given names first, while their middle names were not used very much. I explained to her that the Chinese put family names first, the given names last, so she should4call me Miss Ping. She asked if we Chinese had a middle name. I told her we didn't.5people may often find three words on a Chinese name card. In this case, the family name still comes first, the other words after it was a two-word given name. It is quite usual in China. My sister is Li Xiaofang. She has two words in her given name instead of just one6   mine.

    There's a hotel in northern Sweden. It is1. It's open only from the middle of December to late April. The name of the hotel is the Ice Hotel. The hotel is completely made2ice and snow. Every year, more and more visitors want to stay at this very cold hotel.

    In the first year, the Ice Hotel had3one room, Now the hotel has 37 rooms and 6, 500 overnight guests every year. The hotel has a reception desk, a main hall, a cinema, and hotel rooms. There's an ice4for weddings(礼), too!

    In early October, artists and workers prepare the hotel. They use5snow equipment(设备)to prepare snow and ice. In November, builders bring ice from a very clean river. In December, the outside part of the hotel is finished.

    The rooms are6as there are no telephones and no televisions. The Ice Hotel visitors can use computers to send e-mail messages to friends and family.

    In late April, the last guests leave the hotel. The weather becomes warmer, and the beautiful Ice Hotel begins to melt. In June, the Ice Hotel is a water hotel.