United States customs laws define an antique(古董) as an object that is more than 100 years old. Properly, an antique must also be (47) by some degree of aesthetic or historic merit. An antique is usually both beautiful and decorative. It may also have (48) interest and value because of its relationship to a historical period or to some (49) person. George Washington’s teapot and dining room chairs, for example, are more (50) as antiques than those that belonged to most other 18th century Americans.
Antiques of all kinds are (51) valued for their intrinsic(本身的，本内在的) beauty, craftsmanship, and quality of design. They may also be made of (52) materials such as gold or silver, but they may also be made of ordinary materials such as wood or paper. Most antiques are things that were (53) used as household furnishings. These include furniture, silver, glass, ceramics, rugs, embroideries, and (54) kinds of metalware.
Antiques are studied by cultural and social historians, who see them as direct (55) to a people’s way of life. Washington’s teapot and dining room chairs are studied as examples of 18th century pottery and furniture . They are also studied for their roles in daily life at Washington’s home, Mount Vernon. Such material culture studies have benefited private collectors greatly because the results have (56) the associative or relic value of certain objects.
A) enlarged F) highly K) marginal
B) cines G) valuable L) adequate
C) various H) distributed M) originally
D) colleague I) additional N) enhanced
E) rare J) distinguished O) well-known