A

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.

56.Thepassagemainlytellsussomethingabout______.

A.thepastandpresentofBritishpubs

B.thedeclineofBritishpubs

C.thelonghistoryofBritishpubs

D.theimportanceofBritishpubs

57.WhichmaynotbethecauseofthedeclineofBritishpubs?