Mail carriers will be delivering some good news and some bad news this week.

The bad news: Stamp prices are expected to rise 2 cents in May to 41 cents, the Postal Regulatory Commission announced yesterday. The good news: With the introduction of a “forever stamp,” it may be the last time Americans have to use annoying 2-or-3-cent stamps to make up postage differences.

Beginning in May, people would be able to purchase the stamps in booklets of 20 at the regular rate of a first-class stamp. As the name implies, “forever stamps” will keep their first-class mailing value forever, even when the postage rate goes up.

The new “forever stamp” is the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) answer to the complaints about frequent rate increases. The May increases will be the fifth in a decade. Postal rates have risen because of inflation (通货膨胀), competition from online bill paying, and the rising costs of employee benefits, including healthcare, says Mark Saunders, a spokesman for USPS.

The USPS expects some financial gain from sales of the “forever stamp” and the savings from not printing as many 2-or-3-cent stamps. “It’s not your grandfather’s stamp,” says Mr. Saunders. “It could be your great-grandchildren’s stamp.”

Other countries, including Canada, England, and Finland use similar stamps.

Don Schilling, who has collected stamps for 50 years, says he’s interested in the public’s reaction. “This is an entirely new class of stamps.” Mr. Schilling says. He adds that he’ll buy the stamps because he will be able to use them for a long period of time, not because they could make him rich — the volume printed will be too large for collectors. “We won’t be able to send our kids to college on these,” he says, laughing.

The USPS board of governors has yet to accept the Postal Regulatory Commission’s decision, but tends to follow its recommendations. No plans have been announced yet for the design of the stamps.

The main purpose of introducing a “forever stamp” is ______.

   A. to reduce the cost of printing 2-or-3-cent stamps

   B. to help save the consumers’ cost on first-class mailing

   C. to respond to the complaints about rising postal rates

   D. to compete with online bill paying

By saying “It could be your great-grandchildren’s stamp”, Mr. Saunders means that forever stamps ________.

   A. could be collected by one’s great-grandchildren

   B. might be very precious in great-grandchildren’s hands

   C. might have been inherited from one’s great-grandfathers

   D. could be used by one’s great-grandchildren even decades later

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   A. The investment in forever stamps will bring adequate reward.

   B. America will be the first country to issue forever stamps.

   C. The design of the “forever stamp” remains to be revealed.

   D. 2-or-3-cent stamps will no longer be printed in the future.

What can be concluded from the passage?

   A. With forever stamps, there will be no need to worry about rate changes.

   B. Postal workers will benefit most from the sales of forever stamps.

   C. The inflation has become a threat to the sales of first-class stamps.

   D. New interest will be aroused in collecting forever stamps.

The Winter Olympics is also called the White Olympics. At this time, many colorful stamps are published to mark the great Games. The first stamps marking the opening came out on January 25, 1932 in the United States for the 3rd White Olympics. From then on, publishing stamps during the White Olympics became a rule. During the 4th Winter Olympic Games a group of stamps were published in Germany in November 1936. The five rings of Olympics were drawn on the front of the sportswear. It was the first time that the rings appeared on the stamps of the White Olympics. In the 1950’s, the stamps of this kind became more colorful.
When the White Olympics came, the host countries(东道国) as well as the non-host countries published stamps to mark those Games. China also published four stamps in February 1980, when the Chinese sports men began to take part in the White Olympics. Japan is the only Asian country that has ever held the White Olympics. Altogether 14,500 million stamps were sold to raise money for this sports meet. Different kinds of sports were drawn on these small stamps. People can enjoy the beauty of the wonderful movements of some sportsmen.
【小题1】The White Olympics and the Winter Olympics _______.

A.are the same thingB.are different games
C.are not held in winterD.are held in summer
【小题2】The world made it a rule to publish stamps to mark the great world games _______.
A.after the year 1936B.after the 3rd White Olympics
C.before the 3rd White OlympicsD.before the year 1932
【小题3】The Winter Olympics is held once _______.
A.every two yearsB.every three years
C.every four yearsD.every five years
【小题4】Which of the following is true?
A.Only the host countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.
B.Only the non-host countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.
C.All the countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.
D.Japan can’t publish stamps to mark those Games
【小题5】What may appear on the stamps of the White Olympics?
A.Basketball.B.Table tennis.C.Football.D.Skating.

The Winter Olympics is also called the White Olympics. At this time, many colorful stamps are published to mark the great Games. The first stamps marking the opening came out on January 25, 1932 in the United States for the 3rd White Olympics. From then on, publishing stamps during the White Olympics became a rule. During the 4th Winter Olympic Games a group of stamps were published in Germany in November 1936. The five rings of Olympics were drawn on the front of the sportswear. It was the first time that the rings appeared on the stamps of the White Olympics. In the 1950’s, the stamps of this kind became more colorful.

When the White Olympics came, the host countries(东道国) as well as the non-host countries published stamps to mark those Games. China also published four stamps in February 1980, when the Chinese sports men began to take part in the White Olympics. Japan is the only Asian country that has ever held the White Olympics. Altogether 14,500 million stamps were sold to raise money for this sports meet. Different kinds of sports were drawn on these small stamps. People can enjoy the beauty of the wonderful movements of some sportsmen.

1.The White Olympics and the Winter Olympics _______.

A.are the same thing                      B.are different games

C.are not held in winter                    D.are held in summer

2.The world made it a rule to publish stamps to mark the great world games _______.

A.after the year 1936                      B.after the 3rd White Olympics

C.before the 3rd White Olympics             D.before the year 1932

3.The Winter Olympics is held once _______.

A.every two years                        B.every three years

C.every four years                        D.every five years

4.Which of the following is true?

A.Only the host countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.

B.Only the non-host countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.

C.All the countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.

D.Japan can’t publish stamps to mark those Games

5.What may appear on the stamps of the White Olympics?

A.Basketball.         B.Table tennis.       C.Football.          D.Skating.

 

The Winter Olympics is also called the White Olympics. At this time, many colorful stamps are published to mark the great Games. The first stamps marking the opening came out on January 25, 1932 in the United States for the 3rd White Olympics. From then on, publishing stamps during the White Olympics became a rule.

During the 4th Winter Olympic Games a group of stamps were published in Germany in November 1936. The five rings of Olympics were drawn on the front of the sportswear. It was the first time that the rings had appeared on the stamps of the White Olympics.

In the 1950’s, the stamps of this kind became more colorful. When the White Olympics came, the host countries as well as the non-host countries published stamps to mark those Games. China also published four stamps in February 1980, when the Chinese sports men began to take part in the White Olympics.

Japan is the only Asian country that has ever held the White Olympics. Altogether 14,500 million stamps were sold to raise money for this sports meet.

Different kinds of sports were drawn on these small stamps. People can enjoy the beauty of the wonderful movements of some sportsmen.

1. We can infer from the passage that ______.

A. No stamps were printed in the first two White Olympics        

B. The first stamps marking the opening came out for the 3rd White Olympics

C. The 3rd White Olympics was in the USA

D. The 3rd White Olympics were held in 1932

2. The world made it a rule to publish stamps to mark the great world games _____.

A. after the year 1936                 B. after the 3rd White Olympics

C. before the 3rd White Olympics        D. before the year 1932

3. The Winter Olympics is held once _______.

A. every two years                B. every three years

C. every four years               D. every five years

4.Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Only the host countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.

B. Only the non-host countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.

C. All the countries can publish stamps to mark those Games.

D. Japan can’t publish stamps to mark those Games

5. What may appear on the stamps of the White Olympics?

A. Basketball.          B. Table tennis.   C. Football.   D. Skating.

 

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