It seems that Chinese people have always loved to discuss ____differences between northerners and southerners. Now, another difference has drawn wide attention: the way northerners and southerners shop ____ food at markets.

    People from southern China normally buy ____they need for just one or two meals at a time. It's normal for them to buy just half a Chinese cabbage, two ____(potato) and 25 grams of beef at a time. ____, a person may be laughed at if they do this in the north. Instead, buying enough vegetables and meat for a week ____ (be) normal.

    The different could be because of the different climates. Food can ____ (keep) for a long time in the north, as it's ____ (usual) cold and dry there. Many northerners have the habit of ____ (store) food for a long time. But due to the hot and wet weather in the south, southern Chinese people prefer ____(buy) just enough food for one meal or one day. Otherwise, the food may go bad.

    Maybe these debates about different customs help us to understand each other better.