If you watch British television on Friday March 15, you might be surprised to see celebrities wearing funny red noses and joking around. But don’t worry, they’re not mad, it’s all part of a biennial fund-raising event called Red Nose Day.
Organized by the charity Comic Relief, founded in 1985 by two British edians, the aim of the event is to raise money to fight poverty and injustice in the UK and Africa.
Celebrities and public figures support the event by making appearances on ic TV shows broadcast by the BBC. This year, for example, UK Prime Minister David Cameron appeared in a music video by One Direction, which the band produced for the event.
But Britons don’t just raise money for charitable causes on one day a year, they do it all year round. One way of doing so is by shopping in charity shops.
These small, inconspicuous shops sell clothes, books and household goods just like any other shop. But there’s one big difference—it’s all secondhand.
There are nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK, according to the Charity Retail Association. Their business model is simple: Anybody who has things they don’t want anymore can donate them to a charity shop, where they are checked for damage, cleaned and priced. Most items go back on sale at a small part of their original price and the money that is made by selling them is used for a charitable cause.
The idea of buying used clothes may sound off-putting, but for shoppers who have less spending money, such as the elderly or those in low-paying jobs, it has been a wele option for years.
Now, “thrifting”—shopping at charity shops— is also being popular with young people looking for alternative fashion.
“I love shopping at thrift stores. You can find very unique clothes for a very cheap price. It doesn’t bother me that other people may have worn them, I simply wash them before I wear them,” said Anne Marie, a 19-year-old Internet user from the US, in a ment on a Yahoo forum.
So next time you spot a charity shop, why not go inside? Who knows, you might find a lovely dress for just a few pounds. Even better, you can enjoy wearing it in the knowledge that your money helped a good cause.
【小题1】What do famous people in Britain do in support of the Red Nose Day event?A．Appear on ic TV shows.B．Donate large sums of money.C．Donate expensive clothes to charity shops.D．Play in a music video with the Prime Minister.【小题2】What do we learn from the passage about Comic Relief?A．It was founded in 1985 by two British edians in Africa.B．It organizes the Red Nose Day fund-raising event.C．It runs nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK.D．It is financially supported by the UK government.【小题3】One reason for the popularity of the thrift shops is that .A．they sell a wide variety of goodsB．their business model is simpleC．their goods are carefully checked, cleaned and pricedD．they provide things, sometimes special, at low prices【小题4】The passage is written mainly to .A．inspire more people to join in charitable causes in the UKB．introduce the traditions of the Red Nose DayC．analyze why charity shops are popular in the UKD．explain how charity shops work in the UKA
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(答案→)A
解析：本文主要讲述的是英国的慈善事业，特别是英国出生二手产品的慈善店“thrifting”—shopping at charity shops的受欢迎。呼吁人们都取做慈善事业。
【小题1】A 细节题。根据第三段1,2行Celebrities and public figures support the event by making appearances on ic TV shows broadcast by the BBC.可知这些名人出席在英国的电视节目里，通过这种方式来进行慈善活动。故A正确。
【小题2】B 细节题。根据文章1,2段But don’t worry, they’re not mad, it’s all part of a biennial fund-raising event called Red Nose Day.和Organized by the charity Comic Relief, founded in 1985 by two British edians, the aim of the event is to raise money to fight poverty and injustice in the UK and Africa.可知Comic Relief组织了the Red Nose Day fund-raising event的活动。故B正确。
【小题3】D 细节题。根据文章倒数2,4段Most items go back on sale at a small part of their original price and the money that is made by selling them is used for a charitable cause.和I love shopping at thrift stores. You can find very unique clothes for a very cheap price.可知这种商店里的东西都很便宜，这是它受欢迎的主要原因。故D正确。
【小题4】A 主旨大意题。本文主要讲述的是英国的慈善事业，特别是英国出生二手产品的慈善店“thrifting”—shopping at charity shops的受欢迎。呼吁人们都取做慈善事业。故A正确。