从无家可归到年入千万 英国老兵靠马克杯翻身
He served his country in the war–and then, like many other veterans, found life after the military difficult, becoming homeless and penniless. But just seven years after reaching rock bottom, Paul Rowlett now drives a Ferrari, has a £1 million home and enjoys holidays on Sir Richard Branson’s private Caribbean island of Necker. Remarkably, his transformation is all down to the Queen–or rather 500 porcelain mugs that marked her Diamond Jubilee.
Mr Rowlett left the Navy in 2004 and, after a series of jobs, hit the bottom in 2011 when his house was lost, forcing him to live with friends and to survive on benefits of just £75 a week. He said, “The Navy was good to me and taught me about myself but when I left, I had to work for myself–it was the only option.”
He told he wanted to be like Branson and create his own business empire from his base in Leicester. Using a cheap laptop he got free with a new phone, Mr Rowlett launched his own online business selling mugs and key rings for companies to spread their brand.
Working from friends’ homes for 20 hours a day, he struggled to find success. Then his life changed in 2012 when Leicester City Council asked him to supply mugs for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee visit to the city. The businessman was so delighted to have been given the opportunity that he decided to give away thousands of pounds’ worth of commemorative items, including 500 mugs.
Won over by his generosity, the council rewarded Mr Rowlett by making him the city’s preferred supplier for the Queen’s Jubilee products–and this led to a trickle of clients becoming a flood. Once a one-man band, his Leicester-based company, everythingbranded.co.uk, now employs 120 people and makes £17 million a year.
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1.The underlined word “veterans” may refer to ______.
A the people who were once homeless
B the people who were not rich
C the people who once were soldiers
D the people who had difficulty
解析：选C。词义猜测题。根据第一段第一句的He served his country in the war和after the military可知他曾经是个士兵，故选C。
2.What did Mr Rowlett do after he hit the bottom in 2011?
A He took a number of jobs.
B He taught him about himself.
C He sold his own house soon.
D He decided to work for himself.
解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句的I had to work for myself–it was the only option.可知在他的人生触底后他决定自己创业，故选D。
3.Why did some companies buy Mr Rowlett’s mugs and key rings?
A Mr Rowlett was very generous.
B Mr Rowlett was delighted all the time.
C They were moved by his deeds.
D They wanted to advertise their companies.
解析：选D。推理判断题。根据第三段最后一句的Mr Rowlett launched his own online business selling mugs and key rings for companies to spread their brand.可知Rowlett先生在网上把他的马克杯和钥匙环售卖给那些想传播他们的品牌的公司，因此这些买他商品的公司是为了给自身做广告，故选D。
4.How much did he charge the 500 mugs?
A Nothing.
B £75.
C £1 million.
D £17 million.
解析：选A。细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句的he decided to give away thousands of pounds’worth of commemorative items, including 500 mugs可知他捐赠出了500个马克杯，故选A。