【ForthousandsofyearsthemostimportanttwobuildingsinanyBritishvillagehavebeenthechurchandthepub.Traditionallythechurchandthepubareattheheartofanyvillageortownwherethepeoplegathertogethertosocializeand】

　　ForthousandsofyearsthemostimportanttwobuildingsinanyBritishvillagehavebeenthechurchandthepub.Traditionallythechurchandthepubareattheheartofanyvillageortownwherethepeoplegathertogethertosocializeandexchangenews.

　　AsaresultBritishpubsareoftenoldandwellpreserved.Manyofthemhavebecomehistoricsites.ThemostfamousexampleisthepubinthecityofNottinghamcalled“TheOldTriptoJerusalem”whichdatesbacktotheyear1189ADandisprobablytheoldestpubinEngland.

　　HoweverBritishpubsarenotjustforkingsandqueens;theywelcomepeoplefromallclassesandpartsofsociety.Onacoldnightthepub’slandlordorlandladycanalwaysfindawarmplaceforyoubythefire.Thereisalwayshonestandheartyfoodandplentyofdrinkavailableatanaffordableprice.

　　That’showthingsusedtobe.Thingsarebeginningtochange.Itissaidthatthecreditcrunch(信贷紧缩)iscausing39Britishpubsaweektogooutofbusiness.Peopledonothaveenoughsparemoneytospendonbeer.RecentlytheUKgovernmentbannedsmokinginallpubsandthatmayalsohaveaffectedthenumberofcustomersgoingtopubs.

　　Thisdeclineishappeningdespitethefactthatin2005theUKgovernmentstartedtoallowpubstostayopenafter1lpm.Previouslywith1lpmasclosingtimecustomerswouldhavetodrinkquitequicklymeaningtheysometimesgotmoredrunkthantheywouldifallowedtodrinkslowly.TheBritishhabitofdrinkingalotveryquicklyisknownas“bingedrinking”anditcauseslong-termhealthproblemsforpeopleandproblemswithviolentcrimeforcommunities.

　　Inordertosavetheirbusinessespubsaretryingtochangewiththemarket.Britishpubsnowoffersomethingforeveryone.Alotofpubsusedtobe“WorkingMen'sClubs”meaningthatwomencouldnotusuallyenter.Todayhoweverwomencanfreelyenter99%ofpubswithoutexperiencinganyproblems.Perhapsthingsarechangingforthebetterafterall.

　　1.Thepassagemainlytellsussomethingabout______.

　　A.thepastandpresentofBritishpubs

　　B.thedeclineofBritishpubs

　　C.thelonghistoryofBritishpubs

　　D.theimportanceofBritishpubs

　　2.WhichmaynotbethecauseofthedeclineofBritishpubs?

　　A.Thecreditcrunch.

　　B