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.
( ) 小题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( ) 小题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( ) 小题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( ) 小题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.( ) 小题5:. What’s the writer’s attitude towards producing and selling souvenirs?
A．Supportive.
B．Negative.
C．Uninterested.
D．Indifferent.
