《综合教程》第二版课后练习答案 第一单元：永不说再见

Woman: Clothing -- even things like ties -- are too personal. Only good friends give them.

Man: Huh? I never thought of a tie as being personal ... just uncomfortable. What should you bring?

Woman: I don't know. Maybe something for the house.

Number 3: Switzerland

Man: We're meeting Mr. Mertz and his wife for dinner. Maybe I should take flowers or something ... Yeah, I'll pick up some red roses.

Woman: You'd better not give them roses. In Switzerland, they could be a symbol of love and romance.

Man: Oh, I didn't know that.

Woman: I think candy or chocolate might be better.

Number 4: Italy

Woman: I'd like some flowers. Uh ... those. About ten, I guess.

Man: Ma'am, I don't think you should give ten flowers. In Italy, even numbers -- 2, 4, 6, and so on -- are bad luck.

Woman: Even numbers are bad luck? OK, I'll take nine flowers then.

Number 5: Japan

Woman: May I help you?

Man: I'm going to stay with a family in Japan. I need to get something for them.

Woman: Pen sets are always a good gift.

Man: Oh, that's a good idea. Let's see ... There are sets with a pen and pencil ... and bigger sets with four pens.

Woman: You said you're going to Japan?

Man: Yeah.

Woman: Don't give a set of four pens -- in fact, don't give four of anything.

Man: Why not?

Woman: The Japanese word for "four" sounds like the word for "death." It's bad luck. Man: Thanks for telling me. I'll take the pen and pencil set.

Woman: Good choice. These sets make very good gifts. After all, pens write in any language! Man: Uh ... yeah. Right.