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四级阅读理解
WhenfamiliesgatherforChristmasdinner,somewillsticktoformaltraditions
datingbacktoGrandma’sgeneration.Theirtableswillbesetwiththegooddishes
andsilver,andthedresscodewillbeSunday-best.
Butinmanyotherhomes,thischina--and--silverelegancehasgivenwayto
stoneware(粗陶)--and--stainlessinformality,withdressesassuminganequally
casual--Fridaylook.Forhostsandguests,thechangemeansgreatersimplicityand
comfort.FormakersoffinechinainBritain,itspellseconomichardtimes.
LastweekRoyalDoulton,thelargestemployerinStoke-onTrent,announcedthat
itiseliminating1,000jobs--one-fifthofitstotalworkforce.Thatbringstomore
than4,000thenumberofpositionslostin18monthsinthepottery(陶瓷)region.
Wedgwoodandotherpotteryfactoriesmadecutsearlier.
AlthoughastrongpoundandweakmarketsinAsiaplayaroleinthedownsizing,
thelayoffsinStokehavetheirrootsinearthshakingsocialshifts.Aspokesman
forRoyalDoultonadmittedthatthecompany“hasbeensomewhatslowincatching
upwiththetrend”towardcasualdining.Familieseattogetherlessoften,he
explained,andmorepeopleeatalone,eitherbecausetheyaresingleortheyeat
infrontoftelevision.
Evendinnerparties,iftheyhappenatall,havegonecausal.Inatimeoflong
workhoursanddemandingfamilyschedules,busyhostsinsist,rightly,thatit’
sbettertoshareatakeoutpizzaonpaperplatesinthefamilyroomthantowait
fortheperfectmomentora“real”dinnerparty.Toooften,theperfectmoment
nevercomes,Ironafine-pattenedtablecloth?Forgetit.Polishthesilver?Whohas
time?
Yetthelossofformalityhasitsdownside
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