【明報專訊】Dr Panda has scheduled a meeting for 10 am today at which the Smarties will discuss what strategies they will use in their next battle against Eason. However, the other Smarties seem to have different ideas of being "punctual".

「 Dr Panda: It's ten to ten. I'm on time! But where are the others? 」

「 MoMo: It's only five past ten. Luckily I've come in good time. 」

「 Bill: It's just half past ten. I think I'm on time! 」

「 Dr Panda: ALL OF YOU ARE LATE! 」

■ Culture tips

How people perceive time differs vastly from country to country. In general, Germans, Japanese and South Koreans are very strict with time. In Germany you are expected to show up ten minutes in advance for a meeting. People in other countries are more flexible. In China, one who arrives within ten minutes after the scheduled time is not regarded as late. It is common for a Mexican or Saudi Arabian (沙特阿拉伯人) to show up half an hour after the scheduled time!

■ English highway﹕Expressing time

9:45 (a quarter to ten)

10:00 (ten o'clock)

10:10 (ten past ten)

10:35 (twenty-five to eleven)

■ Glossary

punctual (adj) 準時的

strategy (n) 策略

perceive (v) 意識、理解

vastly (adv) 極大地