Unit 7 WELCOME

Background information: Dinner at the home of an American family is likely to be an easy and informal occasion. You will be served “family style”. Members of the family of all ages eat together. You don’t necessarily do the dishes and should try to “make yourself at home”. How about a Chinese dinner? Are there any differences between an American dinner and a Chinese one?

Dialogue 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.)a joint venturehave Bob Anderson and his wife, Anna, over for dinner W: Are you doing anything Saturday evening?Are you doing anything B: Nothing special, why?special W: We’d like to have you and your wife over for dinner this Saturday evening. WouldWould you be able to come?

B: This Saturday evening? W: Yes. And we hope you’ll be able to join us.hope B: Thank you for the invitation. We’d be very happy to come. W: Good. B: What time shall we plan to arrive? W: How does 7:00 sound?sound? B: 7:00 is fine. We’ll be looking forward to it.looking forward to

Can you answer the questions? 1. Where does Wang Tao work? 2. What’s the relationship between Wang Tao and Bob Anderson 3. What do Wang Tao and his wife want to do? 4. Does Bob have anything special to do on Saturday evening? 5. What time will Bob and his wife arrive?

Dialogue 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.) are about to leave L: Here are your coats. B: Thanks, it’s been a marvelous evening. It was very kind of you to invite us.It was very kind of you to invite us. W: Don’t mention it. It’s nice to receive you again.Don’t mention it. receive

A: Well, we enjoyed ourselves very much. W: I’m glad you could come, and you must come again. B: Good night, and thanks again. L: Good night. Drive carefully. It’s very muddy outside.

Can you answer the questions? 1. When did the Andersons leave? 2. They expressed thanks to Wang and his wife, didn’t they? 3. How did the Andersons go home? 4. What does the sentence “It’s a very wet night” imply? 5. Did Bob and his wife enjoy themselves?

Passage A: Accepting an Invitation in America Once you have accepted an invitation, it is Once better not to change your mind. Americanschange your mind arrange the table and food for the number of guests they have invited. Americans are particular about time. But theyBut they do not expect you to come “on time”, rather 15 minutes later than the time specified. 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. 美国人请客一般都要事先约定，按照人 数安排饭菜以避免浪费。所以一旦接受 邀请，就要设法前往。

It is an American custom to show guestscustom around the house, but they do not expectbut they do not expect you to touch everything you seeyou to touch everything you see. If you are interested in something you see, you shouldyou should ask for permission to touch it. At the table, conversation is general but you should comment on how good the foodcomment on 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 Except on a very formal occasion 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.for the sake of

Passage B: Useful Advice for Inviting Friends to Dinner When you plan to invite some friends to dinner at a Western restaurant, you should first of all first of all consider making a reservation.making a reservation That is to say, a table should be booked in advanceadvance. If not, you risk having to wait for a long time for a table. It would be embarrassing to both you and your guests.

When eating, the Japanese and some Chinese are in the habit of slurping theirin the habit of food. By doing so, they show their host howBy doing so they enjoy the food. However, Westerners find eating soup this way unpleasant. They also consider picking one’s teeth and putting on make up at the table no nos. And when itwhen it comes to tippingcomes to tipping, they just leave some money on the table. The amount of the tip is up to you, but it is usually 15 to 20up to you percent of the check.

have sb. over for dinner: 邀请某人吃晚饭 = have sb. to dinner Last night, we had some friends to dinner. have sb. do sth: =tell sb. to do sth. I had my wife throw the rubbish away. 我让我太太把垃圾扔了。 have sth. done: =cause sth to be done by someone else I had my watch repaired yesterday. 昨天我去修表了。（表是被人修）

special adj. 特殊的，格外看重的 She’s a very special friend. 她是我特别要好 的朋友。 especial adj. 格外的，特殊的 a matter of especial importance 格外重要的 especially adv. 尤其，特别 I like flowers, especially red rose. particular adj. 特别的，特指的，挑剔的 We must pay particular attention to this. He is particular about clothes.

look forward to 期待，后加 doing or n. I’m looking forward to your coming. I’m looking forward to receiving your letter. 当 to 为介词的时候，后面都要加 n. or doing 的 形式 类似的表达有： be used to doing( 渐渐习惯于 做某事）,be accustomed to doing, object to doing( 反对做某事 ), etc. I am used to the weather in Shanghai now. She is accustomed to getting up early. They still object to calling off the meeting.

It is +adj. + for sb. to do 此句型表示对某人来说，做某事时怎样的； adj. 主 要来形容做这件事对某人来说如何 It’s difficult for him to serve so many people. (difficult 修饰对他来说为这么多人服务难，而不是他 很难。） It is possible for him to do it alone. （ possible 修饰对他来说，独自做这件事是可能的， 而不是他是可能的。） 所以，这个句型不可做改动。 A foreigner is hard to learn Chinese.(× ） It is hard for a foreigner to learn Chinese.

如何回答 “thank you” A: Thank you very much for everything. You’ve been so helpful. B: The pleasure is all mine.  除了 "The pleasure is all mine." 之外，你还可以说 : "It’s my pleasure." 或是更简单地说 : "My pleasure.“ 另外还有 Don’t mention it. （请勿挂齿），带点旧时代的客气 ; Not at all. （一点都不用谢），似乎有点纾尊降贵意味，例如： Thank you for your hospitality. （谢谢你热情招待）、 Don’t mention it. （请勿挂齿）、 "That’s all right." 或 That’s okay. 都 可译做 “ 没关系 ” ，语气随便而友善，例如： "Thanks for your help, Tom. " "That’s all right. " (“ 汤姆，谢谢帮忙。 ”“ 别客 气。 ”)  It was nothing. （那不算什么。）、 It was no trouble. （举手 之劳而已。）都是谦称自己没给人什么恩惠，例如： I don’t know what I’d have done without you. （没有你，我当时真不  知怎么办。）、 It was nothing. ( 那算得什么。）

change one’s mind/ make up one’s mind 改变主意 / 下定决心 Once he makes a decision, it’ll be very hard for him to change his mind. Have you made up your mind to marry him? 关于 mind 的表达： keep sth/sb. in mind 将 … 记在心里 bring sb/sth to mind 想起来，记起来 have a mind of your own 要有自己的主意 lose your mind 发疯

on time vs. in time on time 准时地 Be sure to come here on time. in time 及时地，最后 He completed his job in time. They learned to accept their stepmother in time. rather…than 是 … 而不是 …, 应 … 而不应 … His age would be rather over 40 than under it. He was rather a friend than a teacher to me. would rather… than… 宁愿 I would rather stay here than go with you. I would rather you came tomorrow.

custom, habit, practice custom n. 风俗，习俗 It’s the custom in that country for women to marry young. n. (formal, literal) 个人习惯 =habit/ practice It was her custom to rise early. habit n. 习惯 He has developed many bad habits recently. practice n. 通常做法，惯例 It’s a common practice for the school to expel those who cheated in the tests.

occasion n. 场合 The manager has said this on several occasions. occasionally adv. 偶尔 Occasionally he would come to visit me. 表示 “ 偶尔 ” 的词语： once in a while

first of all: 首先，第一 The content of any article needs, first of all, to be relevant to the reader. above all 最重要的是，尤其是 Above all, make sure you keep in touch. in all 总共，共计 There were twelve of us in all for dinner. not …at all 根本不 He doesn’t like English at all.

Thank You for Your Attention!