My father is Chinese and my mother is American． I lived in China first． Then I moved to the United States when I was （1）

twelve

twelve

（twelfth） years old． I was able to see the （2）

differences

differences

（different） between Chinese and American customs（风俗）．
    （3）

For

For

example， if Chinese people go to others' houses， they （4）

will buy

will buy

（buy） gifts for their friends． Americans will not usually buy gifts． They only buy gifts on their friends' birthdays or for some other big celebrations． The Chinese feel it is not polite（有礼貌的） （5）

if

if

people don't give gifts， but Americans think it is very strange（奇怪的） to give gifts．
    If you ask Chinese people （6）

to sit

to sit

（sit）， you must ask them many times， （7）

or

or

they will not sit at all． Chinese people believe that if they are not asked a few （8）

times

times

（time）， then accepting something will make them look bad．
    Because I grew up in both cultures， I believe （9）

that

that

I can get on well with both Chinese people （10）

and

and

American people．