难度较大的阅读文章含答案.docx

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第一篇 IstheTieaNecessity?

Ties,orneckties,havebeenasymbolofpolitenessandeleganceinBritainforcenturies.ButthecasualPrimeMinisterTonyBlairhasproblemswiththem.Reportssuggestthateventhecivilservantsmaystopwearingties.So,arethefamouslyformalBritishreallygoingtoabandontheneckties?

Maybe.Lastweek,theUKsCabinetSecretaryAndrewTurnbullopenlywelcomedatielessera.Hehintedthatcivilservantswouldsoonbefreeofthecostliest

12inchesoffabricthatmostmeneverbuyintheirlives.

Infact,Blairshowedthisattitudewhenhehadhisfirstgueststoacocktailparty.Manyofthemwerecelebrities(知名人士)withoutties,whichwouldhavebeenunimaginableevenintherecentpast.

ForsomemoreconservativeBritish,thetieisamustforproperappearance.Earlier,LaborleaderJimCallaghansaidhewouldhavediedratherthanhavehischildrenseeninpublicwithoutatie.ForpeoplelikeCallaghan,thetiewasasignofbeingcomplete,ofshowingrespect.Menweresupposedtowearatiewhengoingtochurch,toworkintheoffice,toaparty-almosteverysocialoccasion.

Buttoday,peoplehavebeguntoacceptacasualstyleevenforformaloccasions.Theoriginofthetieistricky.Itstartedassomethingcalledsimplyaband.

Thetermcouldmeananythingaroundamansneck.Itappearedinfinerwaysinthe1630s.Frenchmenshowedaloveofthisparticularfashionstatement.Theirneckwear

(颈饰)impressedCharlesII,thekingofEnglandwhowasexiled(流放)toFranceatthattime.WhenhereturnedtoEnglandin1660,hebroughtthisnewfashionitemalongwithhim.

Itwasnt,however,untilthelate18thcenturythatfancyyoungmenintroducedamorecolorful,flowingpieceofcloththateventuallybecameknownasthetie.Then,clubsmilitaryinstitutionsandschoolsbegantousecoloredandpatternedtiestoindicatethewearersmembershipinthelate19thcentury.Afterthat,thetiebecameanecessa