When the guests sit down at a dinner table, it is customary for the men to help the ladies by pushing their chairs under them. Some Americans no longer do this, so the visitor must notice   1   do and do   2  . Until the meal is   3  , if the dinner is in a private home, a guest may avoid embarrassment by leaving the talking  4  someone else. Some families have a habit of offering a prayer of thanks before they eat.   5  . If a prayer is offered, everyone   6  quietly with bowed head until the prayer is over. If the family does not   7   the custom, there is no pause in the conversation.
      8  dinner, guests usually stay for two or three hours,   9   the thoughtful person is careful not to overstay his or her welcome. The host and hostess may  10  a guest to stay longer in order to be polite, but most dinner parties break up at about 11 o.clock.

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