Is the Tie a Necessity?
Ties, or neckties, have been a symbol of politeness and elegance in Britain for centuries. But the casual Prime Minister Tony Blair has problems with them. Reports suggest that even the civil servants may stop wearing ties. So, are the famously formal British really going to abandon the neckties?
Maybe. Last week, the UKs Cabinet Secretary Andrew Turnbull openly welcomed a tieless era. He hinted that civil servants would soon be tree of the costliest 12 inches of fabric that most men ever buy in their lives.
In fact, Blair showed this attitude when he had his first guests to a cocktail party. Many of them were celebrities without ties, which would have been unimaginable even in the recent past.
For some more conservative British, the tie is a must for proper appearance. Earlier, Labor leader Jim Callaghan said he would have died rather than have his children seen in public without a tie. For people like Callaghan, the tile was a sign of being complete, of showing respect. Men were supposed to wear a tie when going to church, to work in the office, to a party - almost every social occasion.
But today, people have begun to accept a casual style even for formal occasions.
The origin of the tie is tricky. It started as something called simply a band. The term could mean anything around a mans neck. It appeared in finer ways in the 1630s. Frenchmen showed a love of this particular fashion statement. Their neckwear impressed Charles II, the king of England who was exiledto France at that time. When he returned to England in 1660, he brought this new fashion item along with him.
It wasnt, however, until the late 18th century that fancy young men introduced a more colorful, flowing piece of cloth that eventually became known as the tie. Then, clubs military institutions and schools began to use colored and patterned ties to indicate the wearers membership in the late 19th century. After that, the tie became a necessary item of clothing for British gentlemen.
But now, even gentlemen are getting tired of ties. Anyway, the day feels a bit easier when you wake up without having to decide which tie suits you and your mood.
1 The tie symbolizes all of the following except
A respect
B elegance
C politeness
D democracy
2 Why does Blair sometimes show up in a formal event without a tie?
A Because he wants to make a show,
B Because he wants to attract attention.
C Because ties are costly.
D Because he wants to live in a casual way.
3 Which of the following is NOT a social occasion?
A Going to church.
B Going to work in the office.
C Staying at home.
D Going to a party.
4 Who brought the Frenchmens neckwear to Britain?
A Tony Blair.
B Charles ll.
C Jim Callaghan.
D Andrew Turnbull.
5 When did British gentlemen begin to wear ties regularly?
A After the late 19th century.
B In the 1630s.
C In 1660.
D In the late 18th century.
参考答案
1 D 2 D 3 C 4 B 5 A
五点注意事项帮你破解雅思听力陷阱
雅思听力地理场景常用词汇整理
雅思听力考试的三个答题要点
雅思听力租房场景备考:题型+词汇
提高雅思听力的备考方法指导
雅思听力场景分析及解题技巧
雅思听力经典词组10个
雅思听力常见的三类信号词
攻克雅思听力数字考点的绝招
雅思听力技巧:熟悉留学生活场景
雅思听力和写作的备考方法指导
雅思听力场景分析:学习生活困难
雅思听力考试需警惕的十二大问题
雅思听力易得分的冷门知识点
常见雅思听力陷阱大盘点
雅思听力提分及填空题解题的方法
雅思听力备考全方位指导
雅思听力考试的五点注意事项
雅思听力选课场景词汇及例题讲解
雅思听力教学中的社会情感策略
详解雅思听力考试中的观点题
五大策略搞定雅思听力考试
雅思听力备考需从听力之外下功夫
雅思听力考试的冷门得分点
13个小贴士助你雅思听力拿高分
浅谈如何提高雅思听力水平
雅思听力场景词汇:交通工具
教学交流:提高雅思听力成绩的五个阶段
雅思听力考试的四大特点及备考建议
突破雅思听力四类题型的答题方法
| 不限 |
| 英语教案 |
| 英语课件 |
| 英语试题 |
| 不限 |
| 不限 |
| 上册 |
| 下册 |
| 不限 |