Then finally, listening to others, I began to pick up the phrases that __5__ relationships and sent people off not only successfully but also skillfully.

__6__ for the Chinese includes a lot of necessary habitual practice. Although as a __7__ , I'm not expected to observe or even know all the rules, I've had to learn the expressions of politeness and __8__ at a leave-taking.

The Chinese feel they __9__ see a guest off to the farthest possible point-down the flight of stairs to the street below or perhaps all the way to the __10__ bus stop. I've sometimes waited half an hour or more for my husband to return from seeing a guest off, __11__ he's gone to the bus stop and waited for the __12__ bus to arrive.

That's very well, but when I'm the guest being seen off, my protests are always __13__. My hostess or host, or both, insists on __14__ me down the stairs and well on my way, with my repeating the "Don't __15__ to see me off at the every landing". If I try to go fast to __16__ them from following, they are simply out to the discomfort of having to run after me. Better to accept the inevitable (不可避免的事).

Besides, that's going against Chinese __17__ , because haste (doing things quickly) is to be avoided. What do you say when you __18__ someone? Not "Farewell or Godspeed (祝福)", __19__"Go slowly". To the Chinese it means "Take care" or "Watch your __20__ ", or some such caution(谨慎), but translated literally (字面上地) it means "Go slowly".

1. A. easy B. difficult C. unable D. effective