Name: Steven Age: 23 Sex: Male Ethnicity: Guess

American Manners
2. You are invited to a small dinner to celebrate the graduation of a friend. Do you bring along something to eat or drink?
YES
Explain: Actually, I would ask my friend if I should bring something. You probably wouldn’t have to bring something, but since it is a small party if you
did bring something it would for sure be noticed and appreciated. At a big party, you may be asked to bring something, however since there are so many
people the hosts might not really notice what you have brought.

3. You bring your friend a gift for his graduation. Will he open it during the party?

NO

Explain: People can be a little anxious about opening presents in front of others, so he may or may not open it. The smaller the party, the more chance he
might open it. For Christmas or birthday parties though, people usually do open presents in front of everyone else.

4. At the party, your friend introduces you to his female cousin, a doctor who is about 30 years old. Do you call her by her first name?

NO

Explain: To play it safe, I would call her Dr. Last Name if I knew the last name, or just Dr. First Name if I only knew the first name. If she doesn’t want
me to call her Dr., she’ll say something.

5. Your friend’s cousin invites you to a party at her house next week, but you know that you will be busy then. Do you tell her you will come any-
way, just to be polite?

NO

Explain: Generally it’s not good to say you are coming to come to a party and then not show up.

6. Do you ask your host for a drink if you are thirsty?

NO

Explain: Maybe if I know the host well, but otherwise I would wait until someone offers me a drink or to get a drink.

7. Do you light up a cigarette if you feel like smoking?

NO

Explain: Go outside if you need to smoke.

8. Your friend has a very nice house. Do you ask him how much it cost?

NO

Explain: Generally no, but depends on how good of a friend they are. If he’s your best friend, then maybe you can ask. But be careful. If you’re not
sure, don’t ask.

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 9. Dinner is served and everyone sits down. Do you begin to eat?

NO

Explain: Wait for the host.

10. The food is delicious, but you are not really hungry. Do you eat anyway, to be polite?

YES

Explain: You should try a little bit of the food, but you don’t have to eat a lot. People like to know that their cooking is appreciated and that you enjoy it.

11. One of the dishes is wonderful, and you would like to try a little more. Do you ask for it?

YES

Explain: As long as you ask politely and everyone else has already had some.

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12. If your host asks you if you want more to eat, do you first say no to be polite?
NO

Explain: If you say no, you’re probably not going to get any more. So be honest.

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13. After dinner, do you help your host take the dishes out to the kitchen, to be polite?
YES

Explain: Helping out is considered polite, although not everyone does this.

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14. After eating, everyone leaves the table to relax. Are you shocked when your host sits down and puts his feet up on a nearby chair?

NO

Explain: This is the time to relax, not be formal. Plus it’s the host, so it’s their house. However, you probably shouldn’t put your foot up on a chair.

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15. Several days after the party, you want to tell your friend what a good time you had. Would you stop by his house without calling first?

NO

Explain: Call first. Most people don’t want people to just “drop in.”

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