Задание
Прочитай текст и выполни задания 12–18. В каждом задании запиши в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному варианту ответа.
Challenging the fashion for feathers
Settled into a comfortable married life in Didsbury, then a leafy part of Manchester, Emily Williamson held a succession of afternoon teas in 1889. Yet, while serving tea and fruitcake in her drawing room filled with ladies, Williamson, by all accounts a gentle and compassionate person, would become furious. Her purpose in these afternoon teas was to tell her society guests about the worldwide violent killing of birds that provided every fashionable lady with hats flowing with ostrich and egret plumes, entire birds of paradise or sets of tiny, jewel-coloured hummingbirds.
In the late 19th century, London was the epicentre of the world feather trade, its docks receiving huge quantities of bird skins, heads, wings and an enormous array of feathers. Sales attracted international buyers. At least 200 million birds were being killed every year worldwide.
As a result of her afternoon tea meetings, Williamson co-founded the Society for the Protection of Birds (SPB). A letter of 1890 to Punch magazine fired up that publication's enthusiasm for her cause; its editorials argued that giving up feathers was far from "a severe, self-denying ordnance" for ladies. But by no means everyone was supportive. Williamson had failed in her attempt to join the British Ornithologists' Union (BOU), then a bastion of exclusively male membership, which held that women could not be serious ornithologists. And, while Punch magazine might have supported Williamson's cause, most publications were critical.Despite this, within six months the SPB had 5,000 members, a number that doubled by 1893.
By the autumn of 1892, it seemed they had achieved some success; while hats adorned with birds and feathers were still on sale, they were no longer in every milliner's shop. But the SPB needed to address another issue. Most influential ornithologists in Britain were male and the plumage trade, the fashion industry and the press were all still run by men. Yet the SPB, despite its growing numbers, had few men as members. The solution was to invite influential men to join the SPB as "Life Associates" — and many did.
By 1899 membership had reached 20,000 and that year Queen Victoria — who disliked cruelty towards animals — confirmed an order to prohibit the wearing of egret feather sprays by her military; they were replaced with farmed ostrich feathers. Despite this small victory, by the 20th century, the SPB's campaigning had still not substantially reduced the demand for feathers, while its membership growth had levelled off. With limited political success, the SPB decided it should direct its energies instead to getting royal support for a ban: the SPB became the "Royal" SPB.
In 1906, Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII, wrote to the society expressing her disapproval at the wearing of plumes. A fashion leader, a pin-up of the day and extremely popular, Alexandra's support proved a substantial boost to gaining parliamentary influence. Yet advances continued to face resistance. Every argument put forward by conservationists for a ban was opposed by the millinery trade and its supporters, who claimed that such impacts were wrong — and that the birds would have died anyway.
Real political progress finally came in 1920, when Colonel Sir Charles Yate introduced a plumage bill in the House of Commons. It was defeated, but in July 1921 the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act was passed by Parliament. It became law the following year, 33 years after Williamson's original initiative. A few species, including farmed ostriches and eider ducks, whose feathers were used in bedding, were exempted, a fraction of those the millinery trade had pressed for. The Act prevented the importation of feathers, bird skins and bird parts into Britain. With London the centre of international trade, the Act was a mortal blow.
Despite her role, Williamson has been largely forgotten. It is only in recent years, after much prompting, that the RSPB has paid sufficient attention to its female founders. Williamson's drive, determination — and afternoon teas — ended a multi-million-pound global trade and put bird conservation on Britain's political map, where it has remained ever since.
12.What do we know about Emily Williamson from the first paragraph?
1) She was an ecologist.
2) She was a fashionable young woman.
3) She was a true tea admirer.
4) She wanted to save birds.
13.The Society for the Protection of Birds…
1) was sponsored by Punch magazine.
2) helped Emily Williamson join the British Ornithologists' Union.
3) was supported by many people.
4) was supported by famous ornithologists.
14.After the great success of the Society for the Protection of Birds in 1892, what was still a problem?
1) The participants were mostly women.
2) Hats with feathers were still in the shops.
3) Famous ornithologists did not respect Emily Williamson and her society.
4) The press did not write about the success of the Society for the Protection of Birds.
15.Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
1) Queen Victoria wasn't interested in saving birds very much.
2) In the early 20th century, the Society was able to considerably reduce the demand for feathers.
3) Throughout most of the 19th century, soldiers had feathers on their uniforms.
4) The Society for the Protection of Birds was politically influential.
16.What does the word "a pin-up" (paragraph 6) mean?
1) A thin piece of metal with a sharp point at one end and a round head at the other.
2) A person to whom glamorous qualities are attributed.
3) Something attached to a wall.
4) A picture of a famous person wearing little clothing.
17.What was NOT the consequence of the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act?
1) The traders lost a lot of money.
2) A large number of birds were saved.
3) Britain started importing fewer feathers.
4) People no longer regarded London as the centre of world trade.
18.What is the author's main idea in the last paragraph?
1) People should protect animals and birds.
2) Britain now plays an important role in protecting birds worldwide.
3) Emily Williamson has been unjustly forgotten.
4) The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds had a great impact on global trade.