It cannot be judged which culture is better， for it is obvious that both American and Chinese cultures have their pros and cons.

As the American people’s concept of being polite is different from that of the Chinese， it is necessary to discuss the uses of “please”， “excuse me” and “thank you”. The Chinese people use “please” as often as they do on most occasions. But on some occasions they don’t use this word. For instance， Chinese teachers rarely say “Please sit down” when their students have answered to using “please” when they are on duty.

The Americans say “please pass me the salt” instead of stretching out their arms to reach for it. So don’t forget to say “please” whenever the situation requires it if you are in the United States.

The Americans say “excuse me” more often and on more occasions than the Chinese people. We say “Excuse me” when we need to pass in front of someone， to leave a party or the dinner table or when we want to excuse ourselves from company or find ourselves late for an appointment and so on.

“Thank you” means that you appreciate what someone has done for you， very often for very small and most ordinary things. So people in the West thank people all day long.

Comprehension Questions (True or False).

（ ）1. According to the passage， both American and Chinese cultures have their advantages and disadvantages.

（ ）2. The expression “excuse me” is more often used by the Chinese than by Americans.

（ ）3. In China， you will often hear teachers or traffic policemen say “please” to you.

（ ）4. “Thank you” is the most commonly used expression in Western countries.

【上期腦筋急轉(zhuǎn)彎答案】

1. With my hands， of course!2. Because it’s the beginning of everything!3. It’s the letter Y! 4. Because there is love between them!5. Santa Claus. 6. Wet!7. Easy. 8+8+8+8+88+888=1000!8. Two. The inside and the outside! 9. Because it can’t see both sides at once. 10. They planted peach trees!