Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Tuesday, 1stSeptember I had mixed feelings today, nervous, worried, happy, excited... My heart went down when Miss Chan, our head teacher, said that Matthew and Beth, two students from England, would spend three months with us! I was worried that I had to speak English so much! But at the end of the school day, I was happier than I thought: the morning with them today was more enjoyable than I expected. Today is the most unforgettable first day I have had! Matthew is fantastic! His English is clearer and easier to listen to than I thought. The other English student, Beth, is the most helpful girl I've ever met. There were lots of things to do on the first day. Beth offered to help Miss Chan put up all the notices. Of course, some of the credit should also go to ME because I translated some of the notices for her. Miss Chan praised us! We finished all the preparations 10 minutes earlier than expected, then Beth and I talked for a while, Matthew sang several English songs and did some stand-up comedy at the party. We all praised him. When the bell rang to end the first school day, none of us wanted to leave. When I went back home, I had a little headache. I have probably spoken more English today than the whole of last year. It was really a happy day! I hope our friendship can continue, even after they gone back to England!

1. What is he worried about?
2. Who is going to visit?
3. For how long?
4. What are their names?
5. How does he feel about Matthew?
6. Can he understand him?
7. What language does Matthew speak?
8. What type of song did he perform?
9. Does he have any other talents?
10. What?
11. Where did he perform?
12. Did they think he did a good job?
13. How did they let him know?
14. What does he think of Beth?
15. Who did Beth assist?
16. How?
17. Who helped Beth?
18. How?
19. Was Miss Chan pleased?
20. How much time did they have to spare?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. that he had to speak English so much
2. two students from England
3. three months
4. Matthew and Beth
5. he is fantastic
6. yes
7. English
8. English
9. yes
10. stand-up comedy
11. at the party
12. yes
13. They praised him
14. she is helpful
15. Miss Chan
16. putting up notices
17. me
18. I translated some of the notices
19. yes
20. 10 minutes

Question: We are always using body language in our daily life. When we have a conversation with someone, we may be using more body language than words. However, the same body language may mean different things in different countries. That's why people sometimes do not understand each other correctly. Pointing to one part of the body can mean differently in different cultures. For example, in the USA people point to their heads when they think someone is clever. However, in Europe it means 'He or she is stupid or something is wrong with his or her head'. In our Chinese culture, nodding our head up and down means 'yes' and shaking our head from side to side means 'no'. However, in parts of India, Greece and Turkey, it means just the opposite . In England or the USA, when you raise your hand and make a circle with the thumb and the second finger, it means 'You're all right or Everything is OK'. However, if we do this in France or Belgium, it means 'You're worth zero'. In Greece or Turkey, we should not make this gesture . Or we are thought to be very rude. The meaning of gestures can also change over time. In the 1960s, the V sign meant 'peace'. However, during World War II, it meant 'victory'. In Greece, it is a very insulting sign. Though the meaning of body language is different, there are some expressions having the same meaning throughout the world, such as smiling and crying. 1. what do we use daily?
2. is it universally understood?
3. what's an example of body language?
4. is there another example?
5. are those universally understood?
6. What's an example of a non-universally understood gesture?
7. what does that mean in Europe?
8. does that differ from the USA?
9. what does it signify there?
10. What does nodding up and down mean in China?
11. and side to side?
12. in how many places does it mean the opposite?
13. what are those countries?
14. do meanings change over time?
15. what did the V sign mean in the 60's
16. and during the war?
17. is it a positive sign in Greece?
18. what is it then? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. body language
2. no
3. smiling
4. crying
5. yes
6. pointing to your head
7. someone is stupid
8. yes
9. someone is clever
10. yes
11. no
12. at least 3
13. India, Greece and Turkey
14. yes
15. peace
16. victory
17. no
18. insulting

Q: Yesterday I started the Year of Giving, my first day of a year-long journey into exploring the act of giving and the meaning of charity. I chose December 15 as the starting date, which marked three years since my mother died from heart disease. She was one of the most generous people that I have ever known. She always thought of others first and certainly serves as an inspiration to me.

I had a rather busy day yesterday, ironic for someone who is unemployed right now. In the morning I went to the gym, and unsuccessfully got the phone call from the unemployment office for some job searching. Before I knew it, it was noon. I grabbed a quick lunch and rushed down to a meeting. On my way to Connecticut, I wondered if I would see someone that I would feel forced to give my first $10 to. I was running late and decided to do it afterwards.

After the meeting I had about half an hour to find the first person of my Year of Giving! I decided to check out Dupont Circle. I had met a guy there named Jerry once and thought he would willingly accept my first $10. He wasn't there, but I did see a man sitting by himself who looked really lonely, so I approached him. Now I had to figure out what I was going to say. I think I said something like, "Hi, can I sit down here?" "I would like to know if I could give you $10?" He asked me to repeat what I had said. I did, then he looked at me funny, got up and left.

I then started walking south where I spotted a man standing by the bus stop on Connecticut Ave. He appeared to be in his 60s. I don't know what drew me to him, but I thought I would make my second attempt. I was a bit nervous and asked him which bus came by that stop. Then I explained that I was starting a year-long project to give $10 to someone every day and that I wanted to give my $10 for today to him. The gentleman, I later found out that his name was Ed, responded without hesitation that he could not accept my offer and that there were many people more deserving the money than him. This was exactly one of the things that I hoped would happen. People would think of others before themselves!

1. the Year of Giving
2. December 15
3. three years since their mother died from heart disease.
4. Busy
5. the gym
6. to a meeting
7. Connecticut
8. about half an hour
9. Dupont Circle
10. Jerry
11. a man sitting by himself
12. Yes
13. No
14. walking south
15. the bus stop on Connecticut Ave.
16. 60s.
17. That I was starting a year-long project to give $10 to someone every day and that I wanted to give my $10 for today to him.
18. Ed
19. No

Numbered questions:
1. what did the speaker start
2. on what day
3. what was special about that
4. did she have a pretty easy or busy day
5. where did she go first
6. where did she go after eating
7. where was she heading next
8. how much time did she have to find someone
9. where did she go
10. who had she met there before
11. who did she see insead
12. did she go up to the man
13. did he accept the money
14. where did she go next
15. to what
16. how old did he look
17. what did she ask him
18. what was his name
19. did he accept the offer right away