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 (禮節) 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)

　　這篇材料講的是生活方式的改變對精制陶瓷業的沖擊。從這個核心內容出發，在布局時首先應該介紹的當然是生活方式的改變情況。作者也是這么做的，在開頭兩段，作者先是敘述了原有生活方式的狀況：以圣誕節晚餐為例，人們遵循著奶奶那輩的傳統，桌上擺放了精美的陶瓷器具和銀器，衣著華麗。作者在這里雖然使用的是一般現在時，也就是說這一情況在現在依然存在，但從第二段所使用的But一詞來看，這種情況應該是少數情況或者并非那么流行了。而后，又講述如今很多家庭的做法：瓷器換成了粗陶，銀器換成了不銹鋼器具(a stoneware -and-stainless informality)，衣服也成了便裝。這樣做的目的是出于簡樸和舒適(greater simplicity and comfort)。然而這一變化卻給精瓷制造商們帶來了“艱難時世”(it spells economic hard times)。這第二段的最后一句恰好起到了承上啟下的作用，預示著下文要開始討論精瓷制造商們的苦處。