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A Many people think that the rules for polite behavior are the same everywhere. They may not realize that B how you define politeness depends upon the culture that you grow up in.

For example, countries have different customs for offering and receiving food and drinks. C In Latin America, offering food or drink to all visitors is very important. If a visitor does not accept the food, it is considered rude, unless there is a health reason. C In the United States, on the other hand, it is appropriate for a guest to say “no” if he or she doesn’t want anything. Many hosts accept this refusal and are not offended by it.

D Politeness is also expressed by the way people speak to each other. Some cultures are more open and friendly; others are more reserved. C For example, in the United States, it is common for strangers to strike up a conversation. They may start talking on the bus, at a subway station, or in a supermarket. C On the other hand, in the United Kingdom, it is less common for strangers to talk. Many British people are more reserved than Americans, so talking to strangers is not always considered polite.

D Different customs can also be seen at restaurants. C In the United States, for example, people say “Excuse me” to call to a waiter or waitress. They do not snap their fingers because they think it is rude. C In some cultures, in contrast, people gesture with their hands or snap their fingers. Unlike in the United States, it is appropriate in those countries, and the server will not be offended.

Politeness is based on a desire to treat other people well, but E countries show politeness in different ways. E Each culture has its own customs and expectations. F If we understand this, we are less likely to be offended by customs that are different from our own.

Researchers have made an interesting discovery about A modern-day men: they spend a lot of time and money on their appearance. C Today, global sales of male grooming products are billions of dollars a year, and the industry is not expected to slow down. Is this a sign that the modern man is becoming more concerned about his appearance? B Some people might think that fashion-conscious men are a new phenomenon, but a look through history reveals that men have actually been concerned about their looks for thousands of years.

C The first documented cases of fashionable men occurred around 10,000 BCE in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians stressed the importance of good hygiene and health. Men applied oils and creams to their skin to protect themselves from the hot sun and dry winds of the desert. In addition to the perfumes they wore, men also had their own colored makeup, which they applied to their eyes, lips, cheeks, and nails. All of this was done not to impress others, but rather to keep their ancient gods happy.

D The ancient Greeks also valued male health and beauty, but in contrast to the Egyptians, the Greeks’ use of cosmetics was for purely aesthetic reasons. C Greek men applied flowerbased oils to their skin, and quickly adopted Egyptian oils after the Greek king Alexander the Great took over Egypt in 332 BCE. Alexander was the man responsible for making the use of oils common practice in daily Greek life. During his conquests, he would take plant cuttings and send them to Athens, where they were grown and made into perfumes and various skin oils for men to use before and after bathing.

D Around 100 AD, the Romans took men’s grooming products to a whole new level. C Like the Greeks, Roman men used skin oils before and after bathing, but they were also passionate about the beauty of their face and hair. They used nail polish and frequently dyed their hair blond to make themselves look younger. They had their own versions of eye shadow, blush for the cheeks, and powder for whitening the face. Vanity did not have a negative connotation, but instead was viewed as a natural consequence of health and beauty.

D In 16th century England, the emphasis on male beauty was directly tied to financial status. Rich English men would use face-whitening powder because they believed a pale face was a sign of wealth. Keeping their skin healthy was an elaborate procedure that consisted of bathing in wine, applying oils to the skin, and using an egg and honey mask on the face to hide wrinkles. On formal occasions, men further enhanced their appearance by using lipstick, bleaching their hair, and wearing wigs.

D Men today, and especially young men, are equally concerned about their appearance and body image, and this trend is not necessarily culture-specific. C In 2006, American men spent $4.8 millions on male grooming products; in parts of Asia, the male cosmetic industry is just as strong, if not stronger. [These] men are rejecting the modern-day “masculine” stereotype which says that men aren’t supposed to care about their appearance. In today’s world, that assumption is simply not true. Modern-day society is becoming more liberal, and no longer expects all men to fit one definition of “masculinity.”

F It is often said that history repeats itself—trends come and go as people’s beliefs and values change over time and cultures interact with one another. E Modern man’s interest in grooming and cosmetic products is not a new phenomenon. The eye creams, facial masks, and moisturizers that men are buying today are simply different versions of the same idea, one that began 12,000 years ago.