1 Read the following text: In Japan it is possible for people to slurp loudly noodles and similar food Thus you demonstrate that you are enjoying the food There is no custom of tipping in Japan In China people usually leave a small amount of food uneaten on their plates If you leave an empty plate, you are sending an insulting message that not enough food was served to you In Egypt you can express your satisfaction and compliment the cook with a loud belch after a meal In Mexico it is considered rude to leave the table until a respectable amount of time has passed after a meal You are expected to keep your hands above the table at all times In Sweden, even on a date, it is customary to pay their share of the bill This is calculated precisely, it isn’t enough to estimate it roughly In Crete people seldom eat the last meal of the day until p.m Restaurants will be largely empty during what is considered the dinner rush in America In Brazil people have their dinner very late- at about 10 o’clock at night They never eat with their hands They always use a folk and knife They drink a lot of coffee and fruit drinks during the day They like eating with their friends and family In Germany it is polite to have both hands above the table at all times You shouldn’t rest your elbows on the table It is considered impolite to leave food on the plate Waiters expect a to 10 percent tip after serving a meal In Italy people take food seriously They prefer to dine in a leisurely fashion 2 Answer the questions: How can you demonstrate that you like the meal in Japan? What is impolite in Germany? What does it mean to leave an empty plate in China? Who pay for the meal in Sweden? Who never eats food without a folk and knife? Who takes food very seriously? What is rude in Mexico? Adapted from http://voices.yahoo.com/