English 9 - Listening Practice
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Nghe đoạn hội thoại và trả lời câu hỏi bên dưới.
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Alice: Hey Tom, are we ready for our presentation on the "Day of the Dead" festival?
Tom: I think so. I have the dates written down. It is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd.
Alice: Wait, I thought it was on October 31st, like Halloween?
Tom: No, that's a common mistake. October 31st is Halloween. The Day of the Dead starts specifically on November 1st.
Alice: Got it. Now, about the food. I saw a Mexican bakery downtown. We can buy some "pan de muerto" there.
Tom: We could, but my grandmother sent me her secret recipe. I think we should bake it ourselves. It will be more authentic and fun.
Alice: Okay, let's bake it then. What about decorations? I have some plastic skeletons from Halloween. They look really scary.
Tom: Actually, we shouldn't use scary ones. In this festival, skeletons are colorful and happy. They celebrate life, not death.
Alice: Oh, I see. I'll paint them with bright colors then. What else do people do?
Tom: Well, families usually go to the cemetery. They clean the graves of their ancestors and decorate them with flowers.
Alice: That sounds really beautiful. You know, I actually like this festival more than Halloween. It feels so much more meaningful.
Mr. Evans: Good morning class. Today we continue our "Global Manners" series. We are going to look at dining etiquette in France.
First, your hands. In the UK or USA, you are taught to keep your hands on your lap when you are not eating. But in France, you must keep your hands on the table, usually your wrists. It shows you have nothing to hide.
Second, the bread. In most countries, you put bread on a side plate or your main plate. However, in France, it is perfectly polite to place the bread directly on the table cloth next to your plate. No plate is needed for bread.
Third, the salad. If you have large leaves of lettuce, never cut them with a knife. It is considered rude. Instead, use your fork to fold the leaves into a small bundle before eating.
Fourth, paying the bill. In America, friends often "split the bill" or "go Dutch". In France, this is considered unsophisticated. Usually, the person who invited the others will pay the whole bill.
Finally, starting the meal. Even if you are hungry, do not start eating immediately when the food arrives. You must wait until the host gives a signal, usually by saying the phrase "Bon Appétit".
