Fans of the British royal family around the world are making plans for April 29th, 2011. That’s the date that Prince William and Catherine Middleton are to tie the knot at Westminster Abbey in London.
A royal wedding is a rare and unique event in Britain so for many it’s something worth celebrating, particularly if you are in the business of making memorabilia (收藏品).
Producers of these souvenirs are wasting no time in manufacturing key rings, mugs, teapots and tea towels, mostly with the faces of the happy couple emblazoned on the front. These are the must buy items that royal followers want to get their hands on.
Some people may argue the royal wedding is a huge public cost but production and sale of memorabilia is good for business. Former politician, Lord Archer, has mented that, “In this age when we are trying to balance the books, the royal family are a great benefit to Great Britain Limited.”
A porcelain-making pany, called Royal Crown Derby, is already manufacturing souvenir pottery. Louise Adams from the pany says “we started designing, truly, about two years ago.” It is big business for China too, where much of the merchandise that marks the big event is made.
But why are people so keen to get their hands on a memorative mug, so much so that one British supermarket has already seen them flying off the shelves?
Obviously, we like to remember an event like this and maybe it makes us feel as though we are part of the occasion. However their monetary value is likely to be low. Eric Knowles from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow claims, “The vast majority of it will be worthless.”
Modern day souvenirs tend to be mass-produced making them cheap and easy to find. However limited edition or high-end items tend to keep their value and could be a better investment for the future.
But there is one thing we can guarantee that won’t be mass-produced and cheap. That’s the wedding dress for Princess Catherine, as Catherine Middleton will be known.
【小题1】. From the first three paragraphs we can learn that .A．many fans of the British royal family will be invited to London on April 29th, 2011B．Prince William and Catherine Middleton are getting married at Westminster Abbey on April 29th,
2011C．many fans of the royal family will tie the knot on the same day in LondonD．fans of the royal family will join in making souvenirs 【小题2】. The obvious feature of the souvenirs mentioned in the passage is that .A．they are all tiny and easy to carryB．some of them are linked with teaC．all of them are marked with dates and picturesD．most of them display the pictures of the couple 【小题3】. It can be inferred from the passage that .A．the production of souvenirs has begun long before the big eventB．the sale of souvenirs has not begun yetC．people buy souvenirs mainly for their monetary valueD．production of souvenirs has little profit 【小题4】. Which of the following is a better investment according to the passage?A．Souvenirs that fly off the shelves.B．Best-selling souvenirsC．Mass-produced souvenirs.D．Souvenirs released limitedly. 【小题5】. What’s the writer’s attitude towards producing and selling souvenirs?A．Supportive.B．Negative.C．Uninterested.D．Indifferent..B
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(答案→).B
解析：
【小题1】根据第一段making plans for April 29th, 2011. That’s the date that Prince William and Catherine Middleton are to tie the knot(结婚) 描述可知选B。
【小题1】根据mostly with the faces of the happy couple emblazoned on the front. These are the must buy items that royal followers want to get their hands on.描述可知选D。
【小题1】根据Louise Adams from the pany says “we started designing, truly, about two years ago.”描述可知纪念品的生产早在这件事情发生之前就已经开始了。故选A。
【小题1】根据However limited edition or high-end items tend to keep their value and could be a better investment for the future.及上文描述可知选D。
【小题1】通过阅读短文我们可以知道作者对纪念品的销售持支持态度，故选A。