[originaltext]M: So, Sophie, is this your first visit to the United States?W:

M: So, Sophie, is this your first visit to the United States?
W: Yes, it is. It’s all a bit confusing. Some friends invited me to have dinner next week. What should I take as a gift?
M: Well, (23)it’s probably best to take some flowers or maybe a small gift, like something typical from your country.
W: Yes, in France, flowers are a good idea, too, or some good chocolates. And in France, it’s polite to arrive a little early. Is it the same here?
M: In the US, we don’t arrive exactly on time, but you should arrive no more than 15 minutes late. And if you’re late, they think you’ve gotten lost or forgotten to come.
W: I wouldn’t want that.
M: In France, how do you greet your host or hostess when you arrive?
W: (24)Well, when you arrive, it’s normal to kiss your hostess on both cheeks. If you’re a man, you should shake hands with the host instead of kissing him.
M: OK, well, here we sometimes kiss our hostess on one cheek, not both. Generally, we don’t kiss our host. It kind of depends on how well you know your host and hostess.
W: Oh, another thing in France, you shake hands with all the other guests. If you don’t, you’re considered impolite. What about here?
M: Well, it’s usually OK just to say hello here. (25)It’s so important to look people in the eye when you talk to them. People may think you’re unfriendly if you don’t. And use their first names.
W: In the past, people were formal—they didn’t use first names. Now we generally use first names as well. You know, if someone is close enough to you.
23. What gift is suggested if you’re invited to an American home?
24. How should a man greet the host and hostess if he is invited to a French home?
25. What can be inferred from the conversation?