In Canada and the United States, people enjoy entertaining(请客) at home. They often invites friends for a meal, a party or just for coffee and conversation.
Here are the kinds of things people say when they invite someone to their homes: “Would you like to come over for dinner this Saturday night?” “Hey, we’re having a party on Friday. Can you come?”
To answer an invitation, either say thank you and accept or say you are sorry and give an excuse. “Thanks, I’d love to. What time would you like me to come?” or “ Oh, sorry. I’ve tickets for a movie.”
Sometimes, however, people in the west use expressions(语句) that sound like invitation but which are not real invitation. For example, “Please come over for a drink sometime.” “Why not get together for a party sometime?” or “Why don’t you come over and see us sometime soon?” They are really polite ways of ending a conversation. They are not real invitations because they don’t mention(提到、涉及) a certain time or date. They just show that the person is trying to be friendly. To answer expressions like this, people just say, “Sure, that would be great!” or “OK! Thanks.”
So next time when you hear what sounds like an invitation, listen carefully. Is it a real invitation or is the person just being friendly?
小题1:Why do Canadians and Americans often invite friends for meals at home?
A．Because they have modern and beautiful houses.
B．Because they can spend less money.
C．Because they enjoy entertaining at home.
D．Because they can save time.小题2:Which of the following is NOT a real invitation?
A．Please go to the concert with me some day.
B．Would you like to have a cup of tea with us this evening?
C．I’ve two tickets here. Can you go to the cinema with me?
D．If you are free now, let’s go to Wang’s for a drink.小题3:If people say, “Why not get together for a party sometime?”, you just say “__________”
A．I’m glad to hear that.
B．How about this evening?
C．Oh, sorry. I’m very busy.
D．That’s great. Thanks.小题4:People use “an unreal invitation” in order to show __________.
A．they’re trying to be friendly
B．they’re trying to make friends with others
C．they have already got ready for a party
D．their spirit of generosity小题5: The passage is mainly about __________.
A．entertainment at home
B．real invitations or not
C．expressions of starting a conversation
D．ways of ending a conversation
