How to Hold a Dinner Party Types of dinner party: Su

In this section, you will hear a short passage. For questions 21 -30, complete the notes using three words or fewer for each blank. The passage will be read twice. Remember to write the answers on the answer sheet.
    There are only two types of dinner party: successes and failures. If you get it right, you will have the satisfaction of being considered a social success by all your acquaintances: if you get it wrong, you will encourage the sort of silences that will explore the full meaning of the word " awkward".
    The most sensible course of action is never to be a host. But you’ re a show-off and you want the attention, so here goes.
    Although it may seem as if it’ s a contradiction in terms, wherever possible, avoid having dinner parties in your own home. An alternative location that has a number of distinct advantages is a restaurant. Firstly, it enables you to conceal your domestic lifestyle. Secondly, you don’t have to worry about your cooking. Thirdly, and most satisfyingly, you split the cost of the evening with your guests.
    If, however, like most people you don’t have the gall to invite your friends to a dinner party in a restaurant, you should ensure there’ s an interesting line-up of guests. Therefore your party should comprise three or four couples and a single person.
    It is this unfortunate person’ s role to be patronized and pitied by the couples present. Naturally, you should not be this person. Do not entertain if you’ re partnerless. Instead, with your arm reassuringly entwined in your partner’ s, introduce your single friend with a witty line.
    Because you’ re at home, there’ s no getting round it, you’ 11 have to cook at least some of the food. However, you can tell your guests it’ s an old Tibetan custom to bring a course, and simply everyone is doing it nowadays.
    Talking of talk, there’ re certain conversational conventions which must be obeyed. Appropriate subject matters are: money, jobs, the relationships of those not present. It is rude to talk politics , philosophy unless you’ re French or in any informed way about anything.
    Still, if after all your efforts, and your conscientious abstention from your ninth glass of wine, it’ s still a disaster, you can quietly leave the table and go to bed. And, your guests will let themselves out. Anyway, you won’ t be inviting them again.