King Juan Carlos of Spain once insisted “kings don’t abdicate, they die in their sleep.” But embarrassing scandals and the popularity of the republican left in the recent Euro-elections have forced him to eat his words and stand down. So, does the Spanish crisis suggest that monarchy is seeing its last days? Does that mean the writing is on the wall for all European royals, with their magnificent uniforms and majestic lifestyles?

The Spanish case provides arguments both for and against monarchy. When public opinion is particularly polarised, as it was following the end of the Franco regime, monarchs can rise above “mere” politics and “embody” a spirit of national unity.

It is this apparent transcendence of politics that explains monarchs’ continuing popularity as heads of state. And so, the Middle East excepted, Europe is the most monarch-infested region in the world, with 10 kingdoms (not counting Vatican city and Andorra). But unlike their absolutist counterparts in the Gulf and Asia, most royal families have survived because they allow voters to avoid the difficult search for a non-controversial but respected public figure.

Even so, kings and queens undoubtedly have a downside. Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be, their very history—and sometimes the way they behave today—embodies outdated and indefensible privileges and inequalities. At a time when Thomas Piketty and other economists are warning of rising inequality and the increasing power of inherited wealth, it is bizarre that wealthy aristocratic families should still be the symbolic heart of modem democratic states.

The most successful monarchies strive to abandon or hide their old aristocratic ways. Princes and princesses have day-jobs and ride bicycles, not horses ( or helicopters). Even so, these are wealthy families who party with the international 1 %, and media intrusiveness makes it increasingly difficult to maintain the right image.

While Europe’s monarchies will no doubt be smart enough to survive for some time to come, it is the British royals who have most to fear from the Spanish example.

It is only the Queen who has preserved the monarchy’s reputation with her rather ordinary (if well-heeled) granny style. The danger will come with Charles, who has both an expensive taste of lifestyle and a pretty hierarchical view of the world. He has failed to understand that monarchies have largely survived because they provide a service—as non-controversial and non-political heads of state. Charles ought to know that as English history shows, it is kings, not republicans, who are the monarchy’s worst enemies. 

1.Which of the following is the best title of the text?

A Carlos, Glory and Disgrace Combined

B Charles, Anxious to Succeed to the Throne

C Carlos, a Lesson for All European Monarchs

D Charles, Slow to React to the Coming Threats

解析：选C。C 文章标题题。本文以西班牙国王胡安·卡洛斯尴尬结束政权下台为引子，切入到对欧洲王室命运的历史而又辩证的分析，即西班牙国王胡安·卡洛斯带给整个欧洲王室的一个深刻教训。故选C。

2.According to the first two paragraphs, King Juan Carl of Spain_______.

A eased his relationship with his rivals

B used to enjoy high public support

C was unpopular among European royals

D ended his reign in embarrassment

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。题干意为：根据前两段可知，西班牙国王胡安·卡尔_______。根据第一段第一二句King Juan Carlos of Spain once insisted “kings don’t abdicate, they die in their sleep.” But embarrassing scandals and the popularity of the republican left in the recent Euro-elections have forced him to eat his words and stand down.可知西班牙国王胡安·卡洛斯(Juan Carlos)尴尬地结束了他的统治。故选D。 

3.Monarchs are kept as heads of state in Europe mostly_______.

A to give voters more public figures to look up to

B to achieve a balance between tradition and reality

C owing to their undoubted and respectable status

D due to their everlasting political embodiment

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。题干意为：在欧洲，君主被保留为国家元首，大部分是_______。 根据第三段最后一句But unlike their absolutist counterparts in the Gulf and Asia, most royal families have survived because they allow voters to avoid the difficult search for a non-controversial but respected public figure. 大多数王室之所以能存活下来，是因为他们让选民不必费力地寻找一个没有争议但受人尊敬的公众人物，即皇室在选民心中的地位不容置疑，值得尊敬。故选C。

4.Which of the following is shown to be odd, according to Paragraph 4?

A Aristocrats’ excessive reliance on inherited wealth.

B The role of the nobility in modem democracies.

C The simple lifestyle of the aristocratic families.

D The nobility’s adherence to their privileges.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。题干意为：根据第四段，下列哪项被认为是奇怪的? 第四段最后一句中的it is bizarre（奇异的） that wealthy aristocratic families should still be the symbolic heart of modem democratic states.（富有的贵族家庭仍然是现代民主国家的核心象征，这是很奇怪的）即是本题答案出处，也就是贵族在现代民主制度中的作用是让人觉得奇怪的。故选B。

5.The British royals “have most to fear” because Charles_______.

A fails to adapt himself to his future role

B fails to change his lifestyle as advised

C takes republicans as his potential allies

D takes a tough line on political issues

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。题干意为：英国王室“最害怕”，因为查尔斯_______。答案出处定位到最后一段。本段指出英国王室的危险来源于查尔斯王子，因为他的生活奢侈、等级观念严重，并且他未曾意识到君主制之所以能幸存下来，很大程度上是因为它们提供了一种服务——即一位无争议的、非政治性的国家元首。 可见，英国王室的危机感来自查尔斯王子“没能调整自己去适应未来君主角色”。故选A。