One custom that gives insight into people’s history and values is the way they greet one another. There is a wide range of greetings around the world. These range from the common handshake to other strange rituals found in some countries. Let’s take a look at how the simple action of greeting someone differs greatly from place to place. In the United States and Canada, for example, a simple handshake or nod is the norm. The handshake has an interesting origin: it started long ago as a way of showing people that you weren’t carrying a weapon. Shaking the person’s right hand while looking him or her in the eye is the usual method. Handshakes are also common in other parts of the world, including Britain and Russia. In Russia, males grasp other men’s hands very strongly during the handshake. Handshakes are also how most people in New Zealand greet each other. However, the native Maori people of that country display more physical contact: they press their noses together in a sign of trust and closeness. In other countries, such as France and Belgium, hugging and kissing are more common when two people meet. In those cultures, people kiss each other on the cheeks. The number of times varies depending on the particular country. In Saudi Arabia, men might hug and kiss each other (but not a woman) on the cheek. Men will also shake hands with other men there. In some Eastern countries, including Korea and Japan, bowing is the traditional greeting. In Japan, the deeper the bow, the deeper the respect shown. The strangest custom, though, is likely in Tibet. People there opt to stick out their tongue to greet others. 1. What is this reading mainly about ? A. The importance of handshakes all around the world B. The origins and histories of various greetings C. The strangest types of greetings on Earth. D. The wide range of greeting customs in the world 2. Which of the following sentence is TRUE ? A. People in Russia, but not England, shake hands B. The number of times people kiss on the cheek varies C. In the past, people nodded If they weren’t carrying a weapon D. You shouldn’t look at people when shaking their hands in the United States 3. How do most people in New Zealand greet each other ? - ....................................................... A. With a handshake B. By pressing noses together C. With a kiss on the cheek D. By sticking cut their tongue 4. Which type of country is NOT mentioned in the reading ? A. A North American country B. A European country C. A South American country D. An Asean country 5. What can be inferred about getting customs in Saudi Arabia ? A. Men shake hands with women when meeting them for the first time B. It’s not proper for men to kiss women when they meet C. Women do not kiss other women when they meet D. Women can kiss men, but men can’t kiss women when they meet. V. Give the correct form of the words in brackets: 1. The ................................ ceremony is one of the 3 stages of a Vietnamese traditional wedding ( propose ) 2. Before a wedding ceremony, there must be an ........................................ ceremony ( engage ) 3. As a rule of thumb, a number of superstitious people choose a ............................... date before starting something ( favour ) 4. It is believed that meeting a black cat is lucky , but it is ............................. to walk under a ladder or break a mirror ( luck ) 5. Working as a volunteer provides you with opportunities to know more about cultural .............................................. ( diverse ) VI. Complete the sentences with the comparative and superlative of the adjectives in brackets. 1. A cut is _________________________ (painful) than an insect bite. 2.The weather this summer is even (bad) __________________________ than last summer. 3. Apartments are usually _________________________ (cheap) than separate houses. 4. A tumour is _________________________ (bad) of all diseases. 5. He was the (clever) _____________________ thief of all. 6. Which is the (dangerous) ___________________ animal in the world?