WhenfamiliesgatherforChristmasdinner,somewillsticktoformaltraditionsdatingbacktoGrandma’sgeneration.Theirtableswillbesetwiththegooddishesandsilver,andthedresscodewillbeSunday-best.
Butinmanyotherhomes,thischina--and--silverelegancehasgivenwaytostoneware(粗陶)--and--stainlessinformality,withdressesassuminganequallycasual--Fridaylook.Forhostsandguests,thechangemeansgreatersimplicityandcomfort.FormakersoffinechinainBritain,itspellseconomichardtimes.
LastweekRoyalDoulton,thelargestemployerinStoke-onTrent,announcedthatitiseliminating1,000jobs--one-fifthofitstotalworkforce.Thatbringstomorethan4,000thenumberofpositionslostin18monthsinthepottery(陶瓷)region.Wedgwoodandotherpotteryfactoriesmadecutsearlier.
AlthoughastrongpoundandweakmarketsinAsiaplayaroleinthedownsizing,thelayoffsinStokehavetheirrootsinearthshakingsocialshifts.AspokesmanforRoyalDoultonadmittedthatthecompany“hasbeensomewhatslowincatchingupwiththetrend”towardcasualdining.Familieseattogetherlessoften,heexplained,andmorepeopleeatalone,eitherbecausetheyaresingleortheyeatinfrontoftelevision.
Evendinnerparties,iftheyhappenatall,havegonecausal.Inatimeoflongworkhoursanddemandingfamilyschedules,busyhostsinsist,rightly,thatit’sbettertoshareatakeoutpizzaonpaperplatesinthefamilyroomthantowaitfortheperfectmomentora“real”dinnerparty.Toooften,theperfectmomentnevercomes,Ironafine-pattenedtablecloth?Forgetit.Polishthesilver?Whohastime?
Yetthelossofformalityhasitsdownside.Thefinepointsofetiquette(礼节)thatchildrenmightoncehavelearnedatthetablebyobservationorinstructionfromparentsandgrandparents(“Chewwithyourmouthclosed.”“keepyourelbowsoffthetable.”)mustbepickedupelsewhere.Somecompaniesnowofferetiquetteseminarsforemployeeswhomaybecompetentprofessionallybutcluelesssocially.
Choosecorrectanswerstothequestion:
1.Thetrendtowardcasualdininghasresultedin______
A.bankruptcyoffinechinamanufacturers
B.Shrinkingofthepotteryindustry
C.restructuringoflargeenterprises
D.EconomicrecessioninGreatBritain
2.Whichofthefollowingmaybethebestreasonforcasualdining?
A.Familymembersneedmoretimetorelax.
B.Busyschedulesleavepeoplenotimeforformality.
C.Peoplewanttopracticeeconomyintimesofscarcity.
D.Youngpeoplewon’tfollowtheetiquetteoftheoldergeneration.
3.ItcanbelearnedfromthepassagethatRoyalDoultonis_______
A.aretailerofstainlesssteeltableware
4.Themaincauseofthelayoffsinthepotteryindustryis_______
A.theincreasedvalueofthepound
B.theeconomicrecessioninAsia
C.thechangeinpeople’swayoflife
D.thefiercecompetitionathomeandabroad
5.Refinedtablemanners,thoughlesspopularthanbeforeincurrentsociallife,_______
A.arestillamustoncertainoccasions
B.areboundtoreturnsoonerorlater
C.arestillbeingtaughtbyparentsathome
D.Canhelpimprovepersonalrelationships
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