【正文】 life in China between 1898 and 1945. It takes place in a teahouse in old Beijing and it tells us the story of Wang Lifa and his customers. It asks us to see the teahouse as the centre of the neighbourhood. Finally, it says goodbye to old Beijing and its people. The story starts in 1898 during the QingDynasty. It continues in 1916, and finally, it bringsthe audience to the end of the AntiJapanese War in1945. After the war, Wang loses the teahouse andhe dies.Lao She was born in Beijing in 1899. His parents sent him to the Teacher’s School in Beijing and he learned to teach. From 1924 to 1929 he taught Chinese to the English in London. He wrote many plays, novels and short stories. He wasnamed a amp。quot。 People’s Artist amp。quot。 and a amp。quot。Great Master of Language amp。quot。. He was one of thegreatest Chinese writers of the 20th century.In Lao She’s Teahouse today, waiters bring tea to the customers and sell them delicious Chinese food. If you like Beijing Opera, folk music, acrobatics or magic shows, you can enjoy them in the teahouse. Lao She’s Teahouse gives a wonderful wele to everyone from China and from all over the world. Module 11 Unit 1Betty: Hey, you lot! Don’t forget Lingling’s birthday next week.Tony: Yes, we’re going shopping for her present.Betty: It’s freezing, isn’t it?Tony: Yes, it’s really cold.Betty: What are you doing for Spring Festival, Tony?Tony: We’re going to England.Daming: Will it be snowy?Tony: You must be joking! It may not even be cold, just wet. And it might be windy. Are you going to the USA, Betty?Betty: We’re not sure. We might go to Australia.Tony: Sounds great! What will the weather be like?Betty: Not bad, I guess. At the moment, it’s summer there, so it’ll probably be hot and sunny. And what about you, Daming?Daming: We’re off to Hong Kong. It may be quite cool, but it’ll probably be dry. Betty, when’s the best time to visit the USA?Betty: When it’s not too cold ... or too hot!Tony: Come on, better get going!Daming: What are you going to buy for Lingling’s present?Betty: Something warm to wear!Module 11 Unit 2When’s the Best Time to Visit the USA?The USA is a very big country to visit, so choose carefully the places to see and the time to go. Bring a good map because you may want to travel around.New York and Washington . are good places to visit in May or October. It’s not too hot then. In winter there’s a lot of snow.The best plan is to arrive in New England in September. The weather starts to get cooler and the trees start to change colour. It’s a good idea to bring your camera because you may want to take photos of the autumn leaves.4,000 kilometres away in Los Angeles, California, the weather is fine all year. It’s nice to see the sun in December! Bring your swimsuit because you might want to swim in the sea.In the northwest, it isn’t very cold, but there’s a lot of rain, so bring an umbrella. It’s pleasant to visit Alaska in July and August but it might be cool in the evening. So remember to wear some warm clothes. But don’t e in winter. It’ll be dark all day and freezing cold.In Texas and the southeast, there are storms from time to time in summer and fall. It’s usually very hot and sunny pared to many other places.So when’s the best time to visit the USA? Any time you like! Module 12 Unit 1Betty: Stop chatting, everyone. Here she es! Happy birthday, Lingling.Lingling: Oh, you remembered!Daming: We’ve got you a present.Lingling: Oh, thank you.Tony: You can open it! Get a move on!Lingling: Oh no! I mustn’t open it now. Later!Betty: Hang on! In the USA, when someone gives you a present, you must open it immediately.Lingling: No, in China you must wait and open it later.Daming: And remember: When you accept a present, you must use both hands. Sally: Both hands! In Britain we can use one hand!Daming: That’s right. And you must wrap hongbao in red paper because it’s lucky. You can’t use white, blue or black.Lingling: You mustn’t do any cleaning on the first day of the Chinese New Year. Daming: And you can’t cut your hair.Sally: You can’t be serious!Lingling: And you mustn’t break anything. It’s bad luck! Anyway, relax! Traditions in England are strange, too!Tony: And you must eat lots of jiaozi!Sally: What’s jiaozi?Betty: Just wait and see! Module 12 Unit 2Advice for Visitors: Traditional Life in EnglandWhen I went to England, I enjoyed my stay. But I noticed so many different traditions.For example, you usually shake hands with people when you meet them for the first time. But after that, you can just say hello. You must say Mr and Mrs when you speak to older people, but you can use first names with your friends.One day we visited some friends and had tea. Tea is not just a drink but a light meal at around 4 . You can’t have tea—the meal—after 4:30. We ate sandwiches and a large fruit cake. You can only drink tea at a tea party, not coffee or juice. And you must drink tea with milk. You must pour the tea, then the milk—you can’t put the milk in first, then the tea.In buses or trains, the other passengers are very quiet, and you mustn’t talk too loudly. It’s very different from China! In some trains you can’t even use your mobile phones! And you don’t often hear people shouting in the street.I was very lucky—I even went to a wedding. It was very different from a Chinese wedding. For example, the man and the woman can’t see each other the nightbefore the wedding. Then the woman mustn’t arrive at the church on time but a few minutes late. And at the party after the wedding, the woman throws her flowers over her shoulder. The girl who catches them will be next to get married! It was all very strange but it was great fun!