[originaltext] An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You’v

An American friend has invited you to visit his family. You’ve never been to an American’s home before, and you’re not sure what to do. (33) Should you take a gift? How should you dress? What time should you arrive? What should you do when you get there? Glad you asked. When you’re the guest, you should just make yourself at home. That’s what kindness in welcoming guests is all about: making people feel at home when they’re not.
    The question of whether or not to bring a gift often makes guests puzzled. Giving your host a gift is not just a social nicety in some cultures—it’s expected. (34) But in American culture, a guest is not obligated to bring a present. Of course, some people do bring a small token of appreciation to their host. Appropriate gifts for general occasions might be flowers, candy or toys. (34)If you choose not to bring a gift, don’t worry. No one will even notice.
    American kindness in welcoming guests begins at home—especially when it involves food. Most Americans agree that good home cooking beats restaurant food any day. When invited for a meal, you might ask, "Can I bring anything?" Unless it’s a potluck, where everyone brings a dish, the host will probably respond, "No, just yourself. " For most informal dinners, you should wear comfortable, casual clothes. Plan to arrive on time, or else call to inform your hosts of the delay. During the dinner conversation, it’s customary to praise the hostess on the wonderful meal. (35) Of course, the biggest praise is to eat lots of food!
33. What is the main topic of this passage?
34. What does the speaker say about bringing a gift to an American host?
35. What is the best way to praise the hostess according to the speaker?