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UNIT 10 :Welcome!
Integrated Skills Development
Dialogues
A. We'd Be Very Happy to Come
Wang Tao is working in a joint venture. His colleague, Bob Anderson, is a technician. He comes from Britain. Wang Tao and his wife, Li Hui, would like to have Bob Anderson and his wife, Anna, over for dinner. Here is the dialogue between Wang Tao and Bob.
Wang Tao: Are you doing anything Saturday evening?
Bob: Nothing special, why?
Wang Tao: We'd like to have you and your wife over for dinner this Saturday evening. Would you be able to come?
Bob: This Saturday evening?
Wang Tao: Yes. We hope you'll be able to join us.
Bob: Thank you for the invitation. We'd be very happy to come.
Wang Tao: Good.
Bob: What time shall we arrive?
Wang Tao: How does 7:00 sound?
Bob: 7:00 is fine. We'll be looking forward to it.
B. We Enjoyed Ourselves Very Much
It's 10:00 p.m., Bob Anderson and his wife, Anna, are about to leave. They express their thanks to Wang Tao and his wife, Li Hui. Here is the dialogue between Bob, Anna, Wang Tao and Li Hui.
Li Hui: Here are your coats.
Bob: Thanks, it's been a marvelous evening. It was very kind of you to invite us.
Wang Tao: Don't mention it. It was nice to see you again.
Anna: Well, we enjoyed ourselves very much.
Wang Tao: I'm glad you could come. You must come again.
Bob: Good night, and thanks again.
Li Hui: Good night. Drive carefully. It's a very wet night.
Passage Accepting an Invitation in America
Once you accept an invitation, it is better not to change your mind. Americans arrange the table and food for the number of guests they have invited.
Americans are particular about time. But they do not expect you to come "on time", rather 15 minutes later than the time specified. For instance, if you are invited to come at six, the host will expect you no earlier than that time and probably no later than fifteen minutes after six.
It is an American custom to show guests around the house, but they do not expect you to touch everything you see. If you are interested in something you see, you should ask for permission to touch it.
At the table, conversation is general, but you should comment about how good the food is. If you truly do not like the food, you may say something about how nice it looks or ask how it is prepared.
Except on a very formal occasion, it is all right to help yourself to more food. Do not wait to be helped every time you finish something. If you truly want something, do not say "No" for the sake of politeness.
New Words and Expressions
colleague
n. 同事，同行
comment
v. 注釋；評論，提意見
finish
v. 完成，結束
host
n. 主人；節目主持人
