新标准大学英语综合教程4教师用书(外研社)(10)

Background information

This is an informal and personalized account of an economics graduate who gets a job in a pub for a year and

then has an opportunity to be successful (a lucky break). She works in a London pub called “The Salisbury”

or “The Marquis Salisbury”, named after someone who was the British Prime Minister three times between

1885 and 1902 and whose family once owned the pub’s land. The 100 year old pub is in Leadenhall Street,

just off the Charing Cross Road and Leicester Square. Daytime customers can get a pub lunch and evening

customers include many office workers and theatre goers (the pub is near many West End theatres). The

interior of this pub is dazzling, with large mirrors, cut glass and a mahogany décor.

British pubs are often named after famous people (Robin Hood, The Duke of Wellington) or royalty (The

Queen’s Arms, the Prince of Wales) or historical symbols (The Rose and Crown to represent King Edward

III, The Royal Oak to represent King Charles II who once hid in a large oak tree). Other names often include

colours and animals (The Red Bull, The Black Horse, The Golden Lion, The Swan) or symbols of traditional

trades (The Compasses for carpenters, The Three Hammers for blacksmiths, The Three Tuns for winemakers).

As the pub is a social place to meet as well as a place to get a drink, people often play games like dominoes

or darts or join a quiz or competition. A common expression is to “go down the pub” or “go round to the

local” (both meaning to go to the local pub).

Culture points

pub in London: A pub is a place where people go for a drink and to meet friends and socialize. People can

play games – such as darts, cards, dominoes – in a pub and pubs often have quiz nights, with prizes for the

winners, and live music (See also Background information)

The Salisbury is a well-known pub in central London (See also Background information)

London School of Economics is a distinguished university in central London, famous for social sciences.

Language points