United States customs laws define an antique(古董) as an object
that is more than 100 years old. Properly, an antique must also be (47)
by some degree of aesthetic or historic merit. An antique is usually
both beautiful and decorative. It may also have (48)
interest and value because of its relationship to a historical period or to some
(49) person. George Washington’s teapot and dining room
chairs, for example, are more (50) as antiques than those
that belonged to most other 18th century Americans. Antiques of
all kinds are (51) valued for their intrinsic(本身的，本内在的)
beauty, craftsmanship, and quality of design. They may also be made of
(52) materials such as gold or silver, but they may also be
made of ordinary materials such as wood or paper. Most antiques are things that
were (53) used as household furnishings. These include
furniture, silver, glass, ceramics, rugs, embroideries, and (54)
kinds of metalware. Antiques are studied by cultural
and social historians, who see them as direct (55) to a
people’s way of life. Washington’s teapot and dining room chairs are studied as
examples of 18th century pottery and furniture making. They are also
studied for their roles in daily life at Washington’s home, Mount Vernon. Such
material culture studies have benefited private collectors greatly because the
results have (56) the associative or relic value of certain
objects. A) enlarged
F) highly
K) marginal B) cines
G) valuable
L) adequate C)
various
H) distributed
M) originally D) colleague
I) additional
N) enhanced E) rare
J)
distinguished O)
well-known