填空题

Buckingham Palace and other (36)_________ residences open to the public do not accept euros at their gift shops and entry turnstiles. The new currency was launched in 12 European Union countries on January 1st, 2002, but Britain was not one of them. A Buckingham Palace (37)_________ said the decision not to accept the euro was (38)_________a business one and not a (39)_________statement. The retail outlets at the official residences have never accepted any other currencies. It is (40)_________ because as very small retail outlets, they don’’t have the (41)_________ for changing currencies. However, many retail outlets in Britain have prepared to accept the new currency since millions of (42)_________ are expected to visit the country every year. In 2002 alone, visitors from the Euro (43)_________ were estimated to spend more than 6. 55 billion euros in Britain. Major department stores Debenhams and Marks & Spencer and (44)_________________________. Twenty-nine of Marks & Spencer stores, primarily those in tourist locations, have at least one cash register on each floor to process euro transactions. Its other stores have at least one designated area—either a register or a customer service desk—where the currency is accepted. (45) _________________________. The British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain will only join the single currency if economic conditions are right. (46)_________________________.