come over in the evening to see the children's presents) Pudding is a kind of dessert in western food;like a heavy cake.It is served after the main food of a dinner.Puddings are usually boiled or steamed.Christmas pudding is a special pudding made with dried fruit,which is served at dinner on Christmas day (2)Old People in the West Most people retire from work between the ages of 60-65.This has two main consequences,one economic and the other psychological Economically:Although retired people receive a pension from the goverment or from their past employers,it is often significantly less than they eamed when they were working.Unless people have managed to save money during their years at work their standard of living may decline dramatically when they retire Psychologically:Old people in Western countries are generally considered useless,a burden on their families and on the public purse.They are hardly held in respect.On the other hand,most of them used to focusing on work,simply do not know how to relax or pursue other interest now that they have time to do so.They feel they "should"be working and contributing,because work was where they were respected and their skills recognized.As retired people,their self-confidence is diminished.The longer they are away from the work place:the keener grows a sense of being superfluous. (3)Free Samples Stores use free samples as a"come-on"in competing for customers.If a store provides free samples of products,it's likely that more people will shop there. Samples,usually of new foods and drinks,are given with the understanding that if you like them,you will buy them.It is not socially acceptable to continue to sample the same product time and time again without making a purchase. 3.Introductory Remarks Here is a simple story with neither complicated plot nor intriguing characterization.It describes a brief encounter of a young man with an elderly gentleman in a store during the Christmas season.In reading the story,however,we have a chance to see one aspect of life in the West.If we read more carefully,we maycome over in the evening to see the children’s presents) Pudding is a kind of dessert in western food; like a heavy cake. It is served after the main food of a dinner. Puddings are usually boiled or steamed. Christmas pudding is a special pudding made with dried fruit, which is served at dinner on Christmas day. (2) Old People in the West Most people retire from work between the ages of 60 — 65. This has two main consequences, one economic and the other psychological. Economically: Although retired people receive a pension from the government or from their past employers, it is often significantly less than they earned when they were working. Unless people have managed to save money during their years at work, their standard of living may decline dramatically when they retire. Psychologically: Old people in Western countries are generally considered useless, a burden on their families and on the public purse. They are hardly held in respect. On the other hand, most of them used to focusing on work, simply do not know how to relax or pursue other interest now that they have time to do so. They feel they “should” be working and contributing, because work was where they were respected and their skills recognized. As retired people, their self-confidence is diminished. The longer they are away from the work place; the keener grows a sense of being superfluous. (3) Free Samples Stores use free samples as a “come-on” in competing for customers. If a store provides free samples of products, it’s likely that more people will shop there. Samples, usually of new foods and drinks, are given with the understanding that if you like them, you will buy them. It is not socially acceptable to continue to sample the same product time and time again without making a purchase. 3. Introductory Remarks Here is a simple story with neither complicated plot nor intriguing characterization. It describes a brief encounter of a young man with an elderly gentleman in a store during the Christmas season. In reading the story, however, we have a chance to see one aspect of life in the West. If we read more carefully, we may