BELIEVE it or not, the color of the tie Barack Obama wears to the inauguration（就职典礼） is now a hotly debated topic. The level of public interest in Obama’s tie might seem strange but many people believe his choice will symbolize the type of government he plans to run, as the color of a politician's tie is thought to convey ideas of power, trustworthiness and more.

Polities of ties

It may be the least practical item of male dress, but it is arguably the most expressive. In the UK and many other countries around the world, conservative（保守的）politicians may wear a blue tie and their liberal opponents a red one. In America, the colors go the other way round. The Republicans have in recent years become associated with the color red, and the Democrats with blue. But in spite of this, Bush wears blue ties more often than any other color.

What they mean

According to Sharon Haver, editor of focusonstyle, com, in America the feelings associated with colors overrule （压制） their political significance. “A guy who wants to be regarded as strong and in charge would wear red,” Haver says. Unsurprisingly, the business tycoon Donald Trump is known for wearing red ties. But what about blue? According to Haver, “Blue is a softer color…Look at the sky. It's peaceful and calm and trustworthy.”

Selecting the right tie for the right occasion

● Perfect job interview tie

Perhaps no other tie-wearing occasion is as important as the job interview. Gilchrist, the fashion expert, advises playing it safe and choosing a conservative one. Best choices are solids, stripes or small patterns. An excellent color is burgundy（酒红色）or another serious color. Avoid pink or yellow, which suggest that the wearer lacks gravity.

Pattern ties, Gilchrist suggests, should be limited to a maximum of three colors. A striped tie is a safe choice as this is acceptable to everyone. Last, Gilchrist recommends saving the expensive “hip” tie for those applying for glamorous creative jobs.

● Date-night tie

When picking out the fight tie for taking a girl out on a date, spend more time considering color than pattern. According to studies, women are attracted to men wearing the color blue, because blue gives the image of a "stable, faithful, constant, always there" person. So what is the worst color to wear on a date? “flattened caterpillar（毛虫）yellow-green”, according to Gilchrist, “it will repel both sexes equally.”

1.Why are people interested in the tie that Obama wears to the inauguration?

    A．Because they think the tie he wears will enable them to know about his personalities and policies.

    B．Because they want to advise him on how to select an appropriate tie for such a big

occasion.

    C．Because they think the ties will tell if he is trustworthy as they expected when he assumes

office.

    D．Because they believe the tie is an essential part of dressing to a mature politician like

Obama.

2.What can we infer about Bush, the former president, from the passage?

    A．He was probably liberal in his policies when he was in power.

    B．He was a Republican when he served as president.

    C．He wore only blue ties and had no ties of alternative colors.

    D．He wanted to make himself unique by the tie that he wore.

3.The example of "the business tycoon Donald Trump" is given to           .

    A prove that color reflects people's feelings to a certain degree.

    B．show that Donald is so wealthy that he can afford expensive ties.

    C．tell that Donald is physically strong and can handle everything.

    D．explain that red is a popular color, especially with businessmen.

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?

    A．Ties can be ignored by politicians since it is the least practical item of male dress.

    B．Do choose ties carefully before dating, because it is the most important occasion.

    C．Why to avoid pink or yellow in job interviews is that they don't match the atmosphere.

    D．The more colorful the tie is, the more likely you'll get the job you want.

5.The underlined word "repel" in the last paragraph is most close to “       ”in meaning.

    A．puzzle   B．attract      C．delight D．disgust

Ties, or neckties, have been a symbol of politeness and elegance in Britain for centuries. But the casual Prime Minister Tony Blair has problems with them. Reports suggest that even the civil servants may stop wearing ties. So, are the famously formal British really going to abandon the neckties?

Maybe. Last week, the UK's Cabinet Secretary Andrew Turnbull openly welcomed a tieless era. He hinted that civil servants would soon be free of the costliest 12 inches of fabric that most men ever buy in their lives.

In fact, Blair showed this attitude when he had his first guests to a cocktail party. Many of them were celebrities （知名人士） without ties, which would have been unimaginable even in the recent past.

For some more conservative British, the tie is a must for proper appearance. Earlier, Labor leader Jim Callaghan said he would have died rather than have his children seen in public without a tie. For people like Callaghan, the tie was a sign of being complete, of showing respect. Men were supposed to wear a tie when going to church, to work in the office, to a party-almost even social occasion.

But today, people have begun to accept a casual style even for formal occasions.

The origin of the tie is tricky. It started as something called simply a "band". The term could mean anything around a man's neck. It appeared in finer ways in the 1630s. Frenchmen showed a love of this particular fashion statement. Their neckwear （颈饰） impressed Charles II, the king of England who was exiled （流放） to France at that time. When he returned to England in 1660, he brought this new fashion item along with him.

It wasn't, however, until the late 18th century that fancy young men introduced a more colorful, flowing piece of cloth that eventually became known as the tie. Then, clubs military institutions and schools began to use colored and patterned ties to indicate the wearer's membership in the late 19th century. After that, the tie became a necessary item of clothing for British gentlemen.

But now, even gentlemen are getting tired of ties. Anyway, the day feels a bit easier when you wake up without having to decide which tie suits you and your mood.

61. The tie symbolizes all of the following except      .  

A. respect.    B. elegance.    C. politeness.   D. democracy.

62. Why does Blair sometimes show up in a formal event without a tie?

A. Because he wants to make a show.

B. Because he wants to attract attention.

C. Because ties are costly.

D. Because he wants to live in a casual way.

63 Which of the following is NOT a social occasion?

A. Going to church.     B. Going to work in the office.

C. Staying at home.     D. Going to a party.

64 Who brought the Frenchmen's neckwear to Britain?

A. Tony Blair.        B. Charles II.

C. Jim Callaghan.    D. Andrew Turnbull.

65 When did British gentlemen begin to wear ties regularly?

A. After the late 19th century.     B. In the 1630s.

C. In 1660.                               D. In the late 18th century.