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 commented 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 company, called Royal Crown Derby, is already manufacturing souvenir pottery. Louise Adams from the company 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 commemorative 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.
( ) 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, 2011
B. Prince William and Catherine Middleton are getting married at Westminster Abbey on April 29th,
2011
C. many fans of the royal family will tie the knot on the same day in London
D. fans of the royal family will join in making souvenirs
( ) 2.. The obvious feature of the souvenirs mentioned in the passage is that .
A. they are all tiny and easy to carry
B. some of them are linked with tea
C. all of them are marked with dates and pictures
D. most of them display the pictures of the couple
( ) 3.. It can be inferred from the passage that .
A. the production of souvenirs has begun long before the big event
B. the sale of souvenirs has not begun yet
C. people buy souvenirs mainly for their monetary value
D. production of souvenirs has little profit
( ) 4.. Which of the following is a better investment according to the passage?
A. Souvenirs that fly off the shelves. B. Best-selling souvenirs
C. Mass-produced souvenirs. D. Souvenirs released limitedly.
( ) 5.. What’s the writer’s attitude towards producing and selling souvenirs?
A. Supportive. B. Negative. C. Uninterested. D. Indifferent.
Dear Students,
Thank you for your interest in helping with the investigation into mumps(腮腺炎) at University of East Anglia(UEA).
Part 1: What will the oral fluid/saliva sample be tested for?
The oral fluid sample you provide will be tested for mumps antibodies and mumps virus. We will not be reporting results back to individual students. The information gathered will be used to guide public health control of mumps. We will update you via emailing the final outcome to acknowledge your contribution. If you think you have mumps, you will still need to see your GP as per routine.
Part 2: What is involved in the investigation?
(1) We will be contacting you by post to request two oral fluid/saliva samples a few weeks apart and possibly a third sample.
(2) We will contact your GP to collect information on your vaccination records.
What if you change your mind and what safeguards are in place?
Participation is voluntary.
You can withdraw anytime without having to give a reason. Withdrawal will not affect your routine care.
As a public health body, the HPA data collection role is strictly governed. All data will be collected and handled in accordance with strict medical confidences.
Part 3: What to do next if you would like to enroll?
All you have to do now is:
(1)Follow the instructions on the box with regards to taking an oral fluid/saliva swab(棉签).
(2)Complete the request form. If you are unable to complete the vaccination history section, you can leave it blank.
(3)Confirm your consent by signing below.
(4)Send everything (sample form, signed consent and swab sample) back in the prepaid envelope —a stamp is not required.
If you have any queries, please contact Dr. Chee Yung on 0208 327 7603.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
|
I consent to take part in the oral fluid/saliva investigation of mumps at UEA by the HPA. Signature: Full name: Date: |
( ) 1.. This passage is written mainly to .
A. find the virus that leads to mumps B. raise funds for HPA
C. guide public health control of mumps D. encourage students to help investigate mumps
( ) 2.. It can be inferred from the passage that GP refers to .
A. parent B. doctor C. colleague D. classmate
( ) 3.. According to the passage, the following statements are true EXCEPT that .
A. all the students at University of East Anglia have to take part in the investigation
B. you don’t need to explain why you want to withdraw from the investigation
C. individual students will not be informed of the test results
D. your routine care will not be affected if you withdraw from the investigation
( ) 4... The data of the investigation will be .
A. sent to the GP by the HPA B. collected by individual students
C. managed according to strict medical confidences D. strictly secret to the HPA
( ) 5.. To enroll the investigation, you have to .
A. complete the vaccination history section of the request form
B. send the sample form, the signed consent and the swab sample back at your own expense
C. do as the instructions on the box about how to take an oral fluid/saliva swab
D. contact Dr. Chee Yung on 0208 327 7603
The iPhone, the iPad: each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad(一时的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” —and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer —which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet —adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear —popular in the US and UK—that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”.
A slimmed-down version of London’s Independent newspaper was launched last week under the name “i”.
In general, single-letter prefixes(前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came to use..
Most “i” products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College. London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines.” Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he says.
“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now associated with portability(轻便),” adds Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared.
( ) 1.. People use iPlayer to .
A. listen to music B. make a call
C. watch TV programs online D. read newspapers
( ) 2.. We can infer that the Independent’s “i” is aimed at .
A. young readers B. old readers C. fashionable women D. engineers
( ) 3.. The underlined word “ambiguous” means .
A. popular B. uncertain C. definite D. unique
( ) 4.. Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products which are .
A. portable B. environmentally friendly C. advanced D. recyclable
( ) 5... The writer suggests that .
A. “i” products are often of a high quality
B. the popularity of “i” products may not last long
C. the letter “b” replaces letter “i” to name the products
D. iTeddy is a live bear
Brownie and Spotty were neighbor dogs who met every day to play together. Like pairs of dogs you 36 find in most any neighborhood, these two loved each other and played 37 so often that they had worn a path through the grass of the field between their own houses.
One evening, Brownie’s family 38 that Brownie hadn’t returned home. They went looking for him with no 39 .Brownie didn’t appear the next day, and, despite their 40 to find him, by the next week he was still missing.
Curiously, Spotty 41 at Brownie’s house alone, barking. Busy with their own lives, they just ignored(不理睬)the 42 little neighbor dog.
Finally, one morning Spotty 43 to take “no” for an answer. Spotty followed Ted about, barking strongly, then running towards a nearby wood, as if to say “ 44 me! It’s urgent!”
Finally, Ted followed the anxious Spotty. The little dog led the man to a 45 spot a half mile from the house. There Ted found his beloved Brownie 46 , one of his hind legs stuck in a steel leg hold trap. Horrified, Ted now wished he’d taken Spotty’s earlier requirement 47 .Then Ted noticed something quite remarkable.
Spotty had done more than simply 48 Brownie’s human owner to his trapped friend. In a circle around the 49 dog. Ted found some dog food---which was later 50 as the remains of every meal Spotty had been fed that 516 !
Spotty had been visiting Brownie 52 , in a single-minded quest to keep his friend alive by offering his own comfort. Spotty had obviously stayed with Brownie to protect him from being hurt, snuggling(依偎) with him at night to keep him 53 and touching him gently with its nose to keep his spirits up.
Brownie’s leg was treated by a veterinarian and he re-covered. For many years afterward, the two 54 watched the faithful friends frolicking(嬉戏) 55 chasing each other down that well-worn path between their houses.
( ) 1... A. must B. should C. can D. need
( ) 2.. A. together B. wildly C. separately D. happily
( ) 3.. A. watched B. heard C. feared D. noticed
( ) 4.. A. hope B. success C. failure D. information
( ) 5.. A. wishes B. demands C. efforts D. worries
( ) 6.. A. showed up B. showed off C. turned out D. turned off
( ) 7.. A. nervous B. eager C. angry D. clever
( ) 8.. A. decided B. refused C. wanted D. pretended
( ) 9... A. Love B. Hit C. Forgive D. Follow
( ) 10... A. beautiful B. distant C. wild D. clean
( ) 11.. A. alive B. dead C. brave D. sleepy
( ) 12.. A. immediately B. seriously C. directly D. honestly
( ) 13.. A. asked B. ordered C. informed D. led
( ) 14.. A. injured B. defeated C. fightened D. worried
( ) 15... A. regarded B. determined C. recognized D. showed
( ) 16... A. month B. day C. evening D. week
( ) 17.. A. particularly B. regularly C. usually D. especially
( ) 18.. A. fearless B. well C. warm D. hopeful
( ) 19.. A. families B. parents C. neighbours D. friends
( ) 20.. A. but B. or C. so D. and
Whether you believe it or not, it is that causes your illness.
A．due to your overweight B．because you are overweight
C．you are overweight D．your being overweight
— no means shall we let out the secret.
—No, no case shall we.
A. In; in B. By; with C. In; by D. By; in
