The weather is something no one can control. It affects( 影响 ) everyone--- rich or poor, young or old in every part of the world. Maybe that is 1 there are so many expressions about the weather, especially about 2 . Sometimes, when you 3 rain, you do not get any. Other times, you get rain when you don’t need it. 4 a baseball game for example. A sudden rainstorm can stop an exciting game, forcing the players and the 20,000 persons watching the game to run for 5 . If the game cannot continue, people who bought the tickets are given “rain checks”. These are 6 tickets that will let them see a 7 game for free. “Rain Check” now means a second chance at something. Often, a rain check has 8 to do with rain. Stores may offer “rain checks” when they sell out all of a product--- a television set, for example, 9 a special low price. 10 all the TV sets are gone, the store gives rain checks to those who wanted to buy one. The rain check allows a person to buy the TV set later at the 11 low price after the store receives some 12 from the factory. “Rain Check” is also used in social situations. It’s a way of 13 an invitation, but for a later time. You may ask for a “Rain Check” if you are invited to a friend’s house for dinner, but can’t be there. You say, “I would love to 14 you for dinner, but I’m busy. Could I have a rain check?” You are asking, in other 15 , if you could join your friend for dinner at another time.