Chinese porcelains (瓷器)that made their way to George Washington's residence at Mount Vernon not only showed his own personal taste but also reflected a popular fashion among the American celebrities. Elegantly furnished dining and tea tables were common among the upper class in eighteenth-century England and France, and Americans eagerly imported similar luxury goods both before and after the Revolution.
.Porcelains satisfied the basic need of table and tea ware while displaying the fashion sense of their owner. Dinner parties were a popular means of socializing, and Chinese porcelains had been used to serve guests in America's most wealthy families. Washington was one of many who expressed a desire to be fashionable, adding “pray let them be neat and fashionable or send none". Washington made his first purchases of porcelains in his bachelor years at Mount Vernon. He would continue to acquire Chinese porcelains throughout his life.
Although Chinese porcelains were available in the colonies as early as the seventeenth century, they did not become mundane until after 1730. Before the Revolution, porcelain was exported to the colonies mainly by British and Dutch traders. - European traders sailed to Can- ton (Guangzhou) in southern China, exchangers their goods for Chinese products, and then returned to sell porcelain and other Chinese imports on the European and colonial markets. In addition to porcelains, teas and silks were also exported from China in large quantities. Blue and white china was typical of the fashionable porcelains in the eighteenth century, George Washington received his first shipment of porcelains from England in 1758 from a London merchant. Washington was fond of this type of porcelain and ordered it on at least nine occasions.
To assure Americans continued access to Chinese porcelains and other desirable imports, a new trade route was necessary in the post-revolutionary era. In 1784, an American ship, the Empress of China, captained by John Green, set sail from New York City for Canton on Washington's birthday, February 22. By 1790, America had sent twenty-eight ships to Canton. The first direct trade relationship between the United States and China had been established.
28. What's the author's purpose of writing the first paragraph?
A. To promote Chinese porcelains.
B. To tell us Amcrican celebrities' hobby.
C. To explain Washington^ love for Chinese porcelains.
D. To show how popular Chinese porcelains were in Europe and America.
29. What can we infer from paragraph 2?
A. Chinese porcelains were popular throughout the USA.
B. People often displayed Chinese porcelains in dinner parties.
C. Washington liked neat and fashionable Chinese porcelains a lot.
D. Most Americans purchased Chinese porcelains in Mount Vernon.
30. What does the underlined word “mundane" in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Rare. B. Ordinary. C. Frequent. D. Modern.
31. What can be the best title for the text?
A. Chinese porcelains： Washington's favourite
B. Chinese porcelains： American celebrities* property
C. Chinese porcelains： necessities in American dinner parties
D. Chinese porcelains： bond of trade between China and America
答案
.Porcelains satisfied the basic need of table and tea ware while displaying the fashion sense of their owner. Dinner parties were a popular means of socializing, and Chinese porcelains had been used to serve guests in America's most wealthy families. Washington was one of many who expressed a desire to be fashionable, adding “pray let them be neat and fashionable or send none". Washington made his first purchases of porcelains in his bachelor years at Mount Vernon. He would continue to acquire Chinese porcelains throughout his life.
Although Chinese porcelains were available in the colonies as early as the seventeenth century, they did not become mundane until after 1730. Before the Revolution, porcelain was exported to the colonies mainly by British and Dutch traders. - European traders sailed to Can- ton (Guangzhou) in southern China, exchangers their goods for Chinese products, and then returned to sell porcelain and other Chinese imports on the European and colonial markets. In addition to porcelains, teas and silks were also exported from China in large quantities. Blue and white china was typical of the fashionable porcelains in the eighteenth century, George Washington received his first shipment of porcelains from England in 1758 from a London merchant. Washington was fond of this type of porcelain and ordered it on at least nine occasions.
To assure Americans continued access to Chinese porcelains and other desirable imports, a new trade route was necessary in the post-revolutionary era. In 1784, an American ship, the Empress of China, captained by John Green, set sail from New York City for Canton on Washington's birthday, February 22. By 1790, America had sent twenty-eight ships to Canton. The first direct trade relationship between the United States and China had been established.
28. What's the author's purpose of writing the first paragraph?
A. To promote Chinese porcelains.
B. To tell us Amcrican celebrities' hobby.
C. To explain Washington^ love for Chinese porcelains.
D. To show how popular Chinese porcelains were in Europe and America.
29. What can we infer from paragraph 2?
A. Chinese porcelains were popular throughout the USA.
B. People often displayed Chinese porcelains in dinner parties.
C. Washington liked neat and fashionable Chinese porcelains a lot.
D. Most Americans purchased Chinese porcelains in Mount Vernon.
30. What does the underlined word “mundane" in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Rare. B. Ordinary. C. Frequent. D. Modern.
31. What can be the best title for the text?
A. Chinese porcelains： Washington's favourite
B. Chinese porcelains： American celebrities* property
C. Chinese porcelains： necessities in American dinner parties
D. Chinese porcelains： bond of trade between China and America
答案
苏19057182-3号