TableManners1)Assoonasthehostesspicksuphernapkin(餐巾),pickyoursupandlayitonyourlap.Sometimesarollofbreadiswrappedinit;ifso,tokeitourandputitonyoursideplate.2)TheSoupCourseDinnerusuallybeginswithsoup.Thelargestspoonatyourplaceisthesoupspoon.Itwillbebesideyourplateattheright-handside.3)TheFishCourseIfthereisafishcourse,itwillprobablyfollowthesoup.Theremaybeaspecialforkforthefish,oritmaybesimilartothemeatfork.Oftenitissmaller.4)TheMeatCourseThemainCourseisusuallyservedbythehosthimself,especiallyifitisafowl(鸡禽）oraroastwhichneedtobecarved.Hewilloftenaskeachguestwhatpieceheprefers,anditisquitepropertostateyourpreferenceastoleanorfat,dark（红肉）orlight（白肉）.5)UsingKnifeandForkIfyouhaveEnglishandAmericanfriendsyouwillnoticeafewdifferencesintheircustomsofeating.Forthemainormeatcurse,theEnglishkeeptheforkinthelefthand;pointcurveddownward,andbringsthefoodtothemoutheitherbystickingthepointsontoitorinthecaseofsoftvegetables,byplacingitfirmlyontheforkinthispositionwiththeknife.Americanscarvethemeatinthesameposition,thenlaydowntheknifeandtakingtheforkintherighthandwiththepointturnedup,pushitunderasmallpieceoffoodwithoutthehelpoftheknifeandbringittothemothright-side-up.6)HelpingyourselfandRefusingIfaservantpassesfoodaround,hewillpassthedishinatyourlefthandsothatyoucanconvenientlyserveyourselfwithyourrighthand.Neverserveyourselfwhilethedishisonyourright;itisthentheturnofyourneighborontheright.Itispolitetotakesomeofeverythingthatispassedtoyou.Butifthereissomethingyoumaynotlike,youmayquietlysay:"Nothankyou."7)SecondHelpingsThehostessmayormaynotaskifyouwouldlikeasecondhelping,accordingtotheformalityofthemeal.Ifshedoesandyouacceptit,youshouldpassyourplatetoherortotheservantwiththeknifeandforkstilllyingonit.8)TheSaladCourseAsaladiseatenwithaforkonlyheldintherighthandwithpointsturnedup.Thereisusuallyaspecialoneforthesalad,alittlesmallerthanthemeatfork.9)BreadandButterBreadistakeninthefingersandlaidonthesideplateortheedgeofthelargeplate;itisnevertakingwithafork.Butteristakenfromthebutterdishwiththebutterknifeandplacedonthesideplate,notonone'sbread.10)OtherThingsontheTableWhentherearethingsonthemiddleofthetable,suchasbread,butter,jelly,pickles,nits,candies,youshouldnottakeanyuntilthehostessahssuggestedthattheybepassed.11)LeavingtheTableItisimpoliteforaguesttoleavethetableduringameal,orbeforethehostessgivesthesignalattheend.Whenthehostessindicatesthatthedinnerisover,shewillstarttorisefromherseatandalltheguestswillrisefromtheirsatthesametime.12)VariousrulesandSuggestionsSitupstraightonyourchair;Donotputmuchfoodinyourmouthatatime;Drinkonlywhenthereisnofoodinyourmouth;Trynottogetintoyourmouthanythingthatwillhavetobetakenout;Donotmakeanynosewhenyoueat;Donotcleanyourteethatthetableoranywhereinpublic,eitherwithyourfingeroratoothpick(牙签）,notevenwithyoutongue.
