In Britain you may often hear “Drop in any time” or “Come to see me soon”，but you can't really do that. People just say those things to make you feel welcome. It is better to telephone before visiting someone at home. If you receive a written invitation to an event that says “RSVP”，you should reply to let the person who sent the invitation know whether or not you plan to go.

You should never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may refuse by saying，“Thank you for inviting me，but I will not be able to come.” If，after accepting，you are unable to go，be sure to tell those who are expecting you as soon as possible that you will not be there. Although it is not necessarily expected that you give a gift to your host，it is considered polite to do so，especially if you have been invited for a meal. Flowers，chocolate，or a small gift are all appropriate（合适的）。A thank-you note or telephone call after the visit is also considered polite and is an appropriate way to express your appreciation for the invitation.

Green is an important color in nature. It is the color of grass and the leaves on trees. It is the color of most growing plants, too.

Sometimes, the word green means young, fresh and growing. Sometimes, it describes something that is not yet finished or plants that are not ripe.

For example, a greenhorn is someone who has no experience, who is new to a situation. In the fifteenth century, a greenhorn was a young cow or ox whose horns had not yet developed. A century or so later, a greenhorn was a soldier who had not yet had any experience in war (战争). By the eighteenth century, a greenhorn had the meaning it has today a person who is new in a job.

About one hundred years ago, greenhorn was a popular expression in the American west. Old-timers used it to describea man who had just arrived from one of the big cities in the east. The greenhorn didn’t havethe skills that he would need to live in the hard,roughcountry.

Someone who has the ability to grow plants well is said to have a green thumb. The expression comes from the early nineteen hundreds.

A person with agreen thumb seems to have a magic touch that makes plants grow quickly and well. You might say that the woman next door has a green thumb if her garden continues to grow long after your plants have died.

The Green Revolution (革命) is the name which was given some years ago to the development of new kinds of rice and other grains. The new plants produced much larger crops. The Green Revolution was the result of hard work by agricultural (农业的) scientistswho hadgreen thumbs.

Gao Wenqi, 49, owner of a restaurant in Xi'an, Shanxi, started to offer a new service on April 13, 2013: suspended meals (待用快餐). Now many restaurants in China, such as in Henan, Chongqing and Yunnan, have joined the program.

   You can pay 10 yuan for a meal, which should be sold at 16, and leave it at the restaurant. Then other people in need, such as the disabled(残疾人), the poor elderly or homeless children, can have it without paying.

   This idea comes from the cafes(咖啡馆)in Naples, Italy. It's a tradition that someone there paysin advanceof an extra(额外的) cup or two. Then another coffee—drinker can take them for free.

   “The program is mean ingful. It offers help with dignity(尊严),”said Gao to Xinhua. However, people are worried that someone who is able to pay would also ask for the suspended meals, so there should be rules for this program.

When people talk to each other, write letters or make phone calls, words of the spoken form or the written form can send any message they want to pass on.

   But besides words, do you know any other ways you can use to communicate with people? Rich expressions on your face can be one of them. A smile on your face shows that you are happy. Teats in your eyes tell others that you are sad or excited. Body languages can do the same job. When you put your hand up in class, the teacher knows that you want to say something or you may have some questions to ask. You shake your head from side to side and people know you are saying "no" or refuse others' requirements. When you nod, people will understand that you are saying "yes" or agree to others' opinions or suggestions.

   Other forms can also carry different messages. For example, a sign at the bus stop gives passengers instructions on which bus to take. The flag language made by soldiers can pass different orders Sound from the school bell tells the students and the teachers when to begin or end a class. A photographer can use the photos he has taken to tell others about what he thinks of the world around him. Music and films also convey the feelings and ideas of the musicians and the directors. So next time when you see a piece of art or listen to some music, Lake it as communication with its creator and try to get the meaning behind it.

Have you ever thought about how you answer a compliment (恭维)? I didn’t see the cultural differences of a compliment until I moved toBeijingfrom the US about four months ago.

From my personal experience, it’s usually polite to say thank you, smile, change the subject or give that person a compliment too. I found this is not usually the way people accept (接受) a compliment in China.

I’ve seen that Chinese are very humble (谦虚的) when receiving a compliment. In China, people might say a quick thank, disagree with the compliment or even belittle(轻视) themselves.

One example of this is speaking the Chinese or English language. I’m trying to learn Chinese, and I’m honestly not good. However, sometimes when I say a simple word like “thank you” in Chinese, people tell me my Chinese is so good! This seems very silly to me becausexiexieis usually the second phrase people learn.

  China has some traditional festivals like Mid-autumn Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Double Ninth Festival, The Lantern Festival and so on. I like the Lantern Festival best. It has a long history. People celebrate it on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar(农历的) year. The Lantern Festival is one of the biggest holidays in China. Some days before the Lantern Festival, people begin to make lanterns. People make lanterns in the shapes of different animals, vegetables, fruits and many other things. Usually people also write riddles(谜语) on the lanterns. It's very interesting. Then on the evening of the Lantern Festival, all the lanterns are hung up(悬挂).

   On the Lantern Festival, people usually eat sweet dumplings. And they go outside to have a look at the lanterns and guess the riddles on the lanterns. Often you can see some nice performances like the dragon dance and the lion dance. Everything is very interesting and everyone is very happy.

 If someone says to you "'give me five", do not look for five yuan for him ill your wallet! The person is not asking for your money, but your band.

   In America, "give me five" or "give me the high five" is very popular. You can often see it everywhere like China or on TV. It means clapping(拍击) of each other's right hands together.

   People sometimes do it when they celebrate something good For example, the football players will give the high five to everyone around to celebrate when their team wins the first ill the game.

   "Give me five" may come from the old Rome. The person should raise his right arm for tile emperor(皇帝) It show's that the person has nothing dangerous m his band

   Well what are you waiting for? Try "'give me five" with your friends.

Different countries celebrate the New Year in different ways. Many countries still follow the lunar calendar, meaning that their new year often starts in late January or in February. New Year celebrations for some countries (like China, Vietnam, and Korea) last not one day, but up to two weeks!

In the US, many people attend New Year parties. They drink, dance, and cheer at midnight.

In the southern US, many people eat black­eyed peas for good luck in the new year.

In Mexico and Venezuela, many people wear red or yellow for good luck.

In Brazil, people wear white clothes for good luck, and in China, they wear red clothes and give children red envelopes with money in them.

In Iran, people wear brand new clothes on the first day of the New Year.

In Scotland, people open the front door at midnight to let in the New Year, and open the back door to let out the old year.

In Switzerland, people kiss each other three times at midnight.

In Japan, they ring a bell 108 times to get rid of(除掉) the 108 bad desires.

In Korea, they ring a bell 33 times for 33 old soldiers(士兵).

A well－known poem by Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu tells of a scene in early April:“Rains fall heavily as Qingming comes, and passers－bywith lowered spirits go.”

This scene takes place on Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival. Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival. It began in Zhou Dynasty, over 2，500 years ago. Chinese people celebrate it to remember and honor their ancestors. This year, it falls on April 4. Tomb Sweeping Day became a public holiday in Chinese mainland in 2008. People have one day off for that day.

On this day, families bring flowers, food and wine to the grave sites (墓地) of their ancestors. They place cakes and fruits in front of the grave, and some may burn joss paper, as money for the dead. After that, they sweep the tombs and cherish (怀念) the memories of their dead family members.

Tomb Sweeping Day gives us a chance to show respect to our ancestors and family members who have passed away and show that we miss them. This tradition shows that family values are an important part of Chinese culture.

Tomb Sweeping Day is also the beginning of the time for gardening and outdoor activities in China. Families often get together for outings or to fly kites at this time.