The traditional British pub is part of the scenery of British life. At a recent count, there are around 50, 000 of them in the UK.The oldest—Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St.Albans—was set up in about 793.
Because of their abundance, the names pubs take are designed to be memorable, but more than that, they are designed to be visual.Outside any traditional pub worthy of its title, you'll find a hanging signboard with an unusual and uncommon illustration(插图) that represents the name of the business.The practice is so well established that even new pubs copy it.But why do they exist at all?
The first British pub signs were created in the 12th century and were simple representations of beer containers and other brewing-related equipment used to tell passers-by that establishments sold beer.This was Britain in the dark ages, when education was in short supply.Since most of the population was unable to read, pub signs were used to inform would-be customers that they could find a drink inside.
The earliest uses of pub names would reference the sign directly.People would appoint to meet at "the sign of the Eagle and Child" rather than at "the Eagle and Child".
Today the tradition remains unchanged largely out of respect for the past, but many pub signs do have some functionality.Remote country pubs often use signboards to point the way to their doors.It's part of British culture that's rapidly disappearing— more than 20, 000 pubs have closed since 1980—but for now there are still more than enough.You can take a moment to appreciate the history and symbolism behind a pub's sign the next time you see one.
It was 7 in the morning.I was on a train to another city when I started a(n)1 with a young man sitting next to me.From what he said, I 2 that he came from a farming family and was now doing very well in the IT industry.He was 3 enough to give me a window seat, help a co-passenger when he dropped his coffee, etc.These small 4 showed what a good person he was!
I was lost in reading a biography(自传) on Arnold Schwarzenegger.Arnold Schwarzenegger has played a huge role in my life 5 I haven't met him.Reading a 6 about him is great fun.
Now my co-passenger 7 to see the book, so I handed it to him.Minutes passed into hours.From the train window, I 8 him reading the book carefully.Towards the end of the trip, I even saw him 9 everything about the book including the publishing house and code number.He turned to me and asked where he could buy this book.
"You can 10 it, " I said."This is the second time that I've read it anyway."
I was lying! Actually it was last weekend that I bought it.I loved it so much and how I 11 to hold on to it myself! 12, when I thought of his kindness, I thought I should do something too."Wow, " the man said to me."This is really 13.Thank you so much."
"No problem.Don't worry about it."
I got off the train and walked into the new city with a sense of 14.I did not regret giving the book to him as I believed 15 each other is really a good thing.
She looks like any other schoolgirl, fresh-faced and full of life.Sarah Thomas is looking forward to the challenge of her new A-level course.But unlike her school friends, 16-year-old Sarah is not spending half-term rest.Instead, she is earning ￡6, 500 a day as model in New York.
Sarah(tell) that she could be Britain's new supermodel (earn) a million dollars in the next year.Her father Peter, 44, wants her to give up school to model full-time.But Sarah, has taken part in shows along with top models, wants to prove that she has brains as well as beauty.She is determined to carry on with her (educate).
She has turned down several (invite) to star at shows in order to concentrate on her studies.After school she plans to take a year off to model full-time before going to university to get a degree engineering or architecture.
Sarah says, "My dad thinks I should take the offer now. at the moment, school comes first.I don't want to get too (absorb) in modeling.It is certainly fun that the lifestyle is a little (real).I don't want to have nothing else to fall back on when I can't model any more."
