Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shifts. A spokesman for Royal Doulton admitted that the company “has been somewhat slow in catching up with the trend” toward casual dining. Families eat together less often, he explained, and more people eat alone, either because they are single or they eat in front of television;
Even dinner parties, if they happen at all, have gone casual. In a time of long work hours and demanding family schedules, busy hosts insist, rightly, that it’s better to share a takeout pizza on paper plates in the family room than to wait for the perfect moment or a “real” dinner party. Too often, the perfect moment never comes. Iron a fine-patterned tablecloth? Forget it. Polish the silver? Who has time?
Yet the loss of formality has its down side. The fine points of etiquette (礼节) that children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (“Chew with your mouth closed.” “Keep your elbows off the table.”) must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.
31. The trend toward casual dining has resulted in ________.
A) bankruptcy of fine china manufacturers
B) shrinking of the pottery industry
C) restructuring of large enterprises
D) economic recession in Great Britain(B)
32. Which of the following may be the best reason for casual dining?
A) Family members need more time to relax.
B) Busy schedules leave people no time for formality.
C) People want to practice economy in times of scarcity.
D) Young people won’t follow the etiquette of the older generation.(B)
33. It can be learned from the passage that Royal Doulton is ________.
A) a retailer of stainless steel tableware
B) a dealer in stoneware
C) a pottery chain store
D) a producer of fine china(D)
34. The main cause of the layoffs in the pottery industry is ________.
A) the increased value of the pound
B) the economic recession in Asia
C) the change in people’s way of life
D) the fierce competition at home and abroad(C)
35. Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life ________.
A) are still a must on certain occasions
B) axe bound to return sooner or later
C) are still being taught by parents at home
D) can help improve personal relationships(A)
这篇材料讲的是生活方式的改变对精制陶瓷业的冲击。从这个核心内容出发，在布局时首先应该介绍的当然是生活方式的改变情况。作者也是这么做的，在开头两段，作者先是叙述了原有生活方式的状况：以圣诞节晚餐为例，人们遵循着奶奶那辈的传统，桌上摆放了精美的陶瓷器具和银器，衣着华丽。作者在这里虽然使用的是一般现在时，也就是说这一情况在现在依然存在，但从第二段所使用的But一词来看，这种情况应该是少数情况或者并非那么流行了。而后，又讲述如今很多家庭的做法：瓷器换成了粗陶，银器换成了不锈钢器具(a stoneware -and-stainless informality)，衣服也成了便装。这样做的目的是出于简朴和舒适(greater simplicity and comfort)。然而这一变化却给精瓷制造商们带来了“艰难时世”(it spells economic hard times)。这第二段的最后一句恰好起到了承上启下的作用，预示着下文要开始讨论精瓷制造商们的苦处。
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