英语听力精选进阶版 6360（在线收听）

What have former French President Nicholas Sarkozy, ex-Beatles singer John Lennon and female tennis champion Maria Sharapova got in common? They all share a passion for philately, or stamp collecting.

As fewer people send letters to one another, the hobby of stamp collecting has steadily been in decline. But, in tough economic times, the market for desirable stamps has been booming.

A rare stamp in mint condition can hold real value. Collectable or limited-edition stamps can sell for many times their original value. Stamps can even attract serious investors: the Treskilling Yellow, a Swedish stamp originally printed in 1855, was sold at a private auction in 2010 for the sum of $2.3 million (14.6 million yuan).

Stamp memorabilia is also a flourishing business, as they provide great souvenirs for important occasions. They can commemorate important anniversaries, such as Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, or celebrate enduring cultural icons, like The Beatles. Some argue that stamp collecting is also a great way to learn about other nations and their cultures.

Interest in stamp collecting has also grown in emerging economies, such as India and Brazil, as it provides a sound and stable investment opportunity for collectors. In China, where stamp collecting was once seen as a potentially subversive activity, it is now a thriving hobby for millions. Chinese stamps produced in the 1960s during the Cultural Revolution are especially highly-prized, compared with European stamps from the same period.

In the UK, the Royal Mail recently issued a variety of stamps to honour each gold medal winner from Great Britain's successful Olympic team. Stamps are therefore used as a way to venerate national heroes.

Although she herself appears on many UK and Commonwealth stamps, one of the largest collections belongs to Queen Elizabeth II, as she inherited the treasured set from her father, King George V. He amassed a huge compendium after visiting many countries around the world.

So, while some people see stamp collecting as a boring sideline for grey-haired men, it can prove to be an educational and financially astute pastime.

Quiz 测验

What other name can be used to describe stamp collecting?

philately

What phrase describes an item in a perfect form?

in mint condition

What is the collective term for souvenirs and collectables?

memorabilia

What verb means to honour or revere?

to venerate

What other word in used to describe a collection?

compendium

Glossary 词汇表

philately 集邮，集邮者

desirable 抢手的，中意的

in mint condition 崭新的

collectable 可收集物，珍藏物

limited edition 限量版

memorabilia 纪念品

flourishing 繁荣兴旺的

souvenirs 纪念品

commemorate 纪念

enduring 持久的

icons 偶像人物

sound 明智的，可靠的

subversive 颠覆性的

thriving 繁荣兴旺的

highly-prized 被视为珍宝的

issued 发行

honour （以示）纪念

venerate 尊敬

inherited 继承的

treasured 珍视的

amassed 积聚，收集

compendium 概略（成套的邮票）

sideline 副业

astute 精明的