In Canada and the United States, people enjoy entertaining at home. They often invite friends over for a meal, a party, or just for coffee and conversation.

    Here are the kinds of things people say when they invite someone to their home:

    "Would you like to come over for dinner Saturday night?"

    "Hey, we're having a party on Friday. Can you come?"

    To reply to an invitation, either say thank you and accept, or say you're sorry and give an excuse:

"Thanks. I′d love to. What time would you like me to come?" or "Oh sorry,

I′ve tickets for a movie."

    Sometimes, however, people use expressions that sound like invitations but which are not real invitations. For example:

    "Please come over for a drink sometime."

    "Why not get together for a party sometime?"

    "Why don't you come over and see us sometime soon?"

    They are really just polite ways of ending a conversation. They are not real invitations because they don't mention a specific time or date. They just show that the person is trying to be friendly. To reply to expressions like these, people just say "Sure, that would be great!" or "OK. Yes, thanks."

     So next time when you hear what sounds like an invitation, listen carefully. Is it a real invitation or is the person just being friendly?

1. Why do Canadians and Americans often invite friends for meals at home?

    A. Because they can save time.    B. Because they can spend less money.

    C. Because they enjoy entertaining at home.

    D. Because they have modern and beautiful houses.

2. Which of the following is a real invitation?

    A. "lf you′re free, let′s go for a drink sometime."

    B. "Please go to the cinema with me someday."

    C. "Would you like to have a cup of tea with us sometime?"

    D. "I′ve two tickets here. Can you go to the concert with me?"

3. If people say "Let's get together for lunch some day." You just say, "     ″

    A. That would be nice.               B. How about this weekend?

    C. Oh, sorry. I′m very busy.          D. That′s great. I′ll be there on time.

4. People use "an unreal invitation" in order to show that                 .

    A. they′re trying to be friendly          B. they′re trying to be helpful

C. they′re trying to make friends with others 

D. they haven′t got ready for a party yet

5. The passage is mainly about                     .

    A. entertainment at home                  B. real invitations or not

    C. expressions of starting a conversation D. ways of ending a conversation