【阅读理解WhenfamiliesgatherforChristmasdinnersomewillsticktoformaltraditionsdatingbacktograndma’sgeneration．Theirtableswillbesetwiththegooddishesandsilverandthedr】

　　阅读理解

　　WhenfamiliesgatherforChristmasdinnersomewillsticktoformaltraditionsdatingbacktograndma’sgeneration．TheirtableswillbesetwiththegooddishesandsilverandthedresscodewillbeSundaybest．

　　Butinmanyotherhomesthischinaandsilverelegancehasgivenwaytoastoneware(粗陶器)andstainlesssteelinformalitywithdressesassuminganequallycasualFridaylook．Forhostsandgueststhechangemeansgreatersimplicityandcomfort．FormakersoffinechinainBritainitspellseconomichardtimes．

　　LastweekRoyalDoultonthelargestemployerinStokeonTrent，announcedthatitiseliminating1000jobsonefifthofitstotalworkforce．Thatbringstomorethan4000thenumberofpositionslostin18monthsinthepottery(陶器)region．Wedgwoodandotherpotteryfactoriesmadecutsearlier．

　　AlthoughastrongpoundandweakmarketsinAsiaplayaroleinthedownsizingthelayoffsinStokinghavetheirrootsinearthshakingsocialshifts．AspokesmanforRoyalDoultonadmittedthatthecompany“hasbeensomewhatslowincatchingupwiththetrend”towardcasualdining．Familieseattogetherlessoftenheexplainedandmorepeopleeataloneeitherbecausetheyaresingleortheyeatinfrontoftelevision．

　　Evendinnerpartiesiftheyhappenatallhavegonecasual．Inatimeoflongworkhoursanddemandingfamilyschedulesbusyhostsinsistrightlythatit’sbettertoshareatakeoutpizzaonpaperplatesinthefamilyroomthantowaitfortheperfectmomentora“real”dinnerparty．Toooftentheperfectmomentnevercomes．Ironafinepatternedtablecloth?Forgetit．Polishthesilver?Whohastime?

　　Yetthelossofformalityhasitsdownside．Thefinepointsofetiquette(礼节)thatchildrenmightoncehavelearnedatthetablebyobservationorinstructionfromparentsandgrandparents(“Chewwithyourmouthclosed．”“Keepyourelbowsoffthetable．”)mustbepickedupelsewhere．Somecompaniesnowofferetiquetteseminarsforemployeeswhomaybeableprofessionallybutinexperiencedsocially．

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