[00:02.69]Dialogues A.We'd Be very Happy to Come
[00:09.53]Wang Tao is working in a joint venture.
[00:14.60]His colleague,Bob Anderson,is a technician.He comes from Britain.
[00:22.54]Wang Tao and his wife,Li Hui,
[00:27.51]would like to have Bob Anderson and his wife,Anna,over for dinner.
[00:34.74]Here is the dialogue between Wang Tao and Bob.
[00:41.01]Wang Tao:Are you doing anything Saturday evening?
[00:45.66]Nothing special,why?
[00:49.50]We'd like to have you and your wife over for dinner this Saturday evening.
[00:56.06]Would you be able to come?
[00:59.61]Bob:This Saturday evening?
[01:03.06]Wang Tao:Yes.We hope you'll be able to join us.
[01:08.52]Bob:Thank you for the invitation.We'd be very happy to come.
[01:14.27]Wang Tao:Good. Bob:What time shall we arrive?
[01:19.23]Wang Tao:How does 7:00 sound?
[01:22.78]Bob:7:00 is fine.We'll be looking forward to it.
[01:27.72]B.We Enjoyed Ourselves Very Much
[01:34.48]It's 10:00 p.m.,Bob Anderson and his wife, Anna,are about to leave.
[01:42.43]They express their thanks to Wang Tao and his wife,Li Hui.
[01:49.37]Here is the dialogue between Bob,Anna,Wang Tao and Li Hui.
[01:57.00]Li Hui:Here are your coats.
[02:01.23]Bob:Thanks,it's been a marvelous evening.
[02:06.69]It was very kind of you to invite us.
[02:11.13]Wang Tao:Don't mention it.It was nice to see you again.
[02:16.07]Anna:Well,we enjoyed ourselves very much.
[02:21.43]Wang Tao:I'm glad you could come.You must come again.
[02:26.78]Bob:Good night,and thanks again.
[02:30.44]Li Hui:Good night.Drive carefully.It's a very wet night.
[02:36.29]Passage Accepting an Invitation in America
[02:43.84]Once you accept an invitation,it is better not to change your mind.
[02:50.89]Americans arrange the table and food for the number of guests they have invited.
[02:58.44]Americans are particular about time.
[03:03.20]But they do not expect you to come "on time",
[03:08.13]rather 15 minutes later than the time specified.
[03:13.78]For instance,if you are invited to come at six,
[03:19.73]the host will expect you no earlier
[03:24.77]than that time and probably no later than fifteen minutes after six.
[03:31.62]It is an American custom to show guests around the house,
[03:37.05]but they do not expect you to touch everything you see.
[03:42.20]If you are interested in something you see,
[03:46.85]you should ask for permission to touch it.
[03:51.39]At the table,conversation
[03:56.15]is general,but you should comment about how good the food is.
[04:01.89]you may say something about how nice it looks or ask how it is prepared.
[04:10.64]Except on a very formal occasion,
[04:15.40]it is all right to help yourself to more food.
[04:20.26]Do not wait to be helped every time you finish something.
[04:26.21]If you truly want something,do not say "No" for the sake of politeness.
