阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空。
The question “How are you?” seems simple, but _____ can actually make people feel very strange.
Last month, Alina Simone wrote in The New York Times about the difficulty ________ Russians have with this question. _______ same question, in Russian language and culture, is always answered in a negative manner. In Russia, when people are asked “how are you?”, they usually complain ________ health, weather or things that  _____ (happen) recently. So when they’re asked “How are you?” in English, they don’t know what to do.
In English-speaking countries, “How are you?” has one standard answer: “Fine, and you?” It is not _______ (actual) about getting information --- it’s a greeting. If a native English-speaking friend really wants to know _______is going on in your life, he or she is more likely to ask: “What have you been up to?” or “What’s new?”
But I understand why people are so ______(confuse). When we learn second languages, we have to learn ________(rule) for using words. How can you learn them?  ________(watch) English-language TV shows is a good place to start. If you can, try to make a native English-speaking friend and talk to him or her directly.