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King JuanCarlos ofSpain once insited” kings don’t abdicate, they die in their sleep.” But embarrassing scandals and the popularity of the republican leftin the recenet Euro-elections have forced him to eat his words and stand down.So does the Spanish crisis suggestthat monarchy is seeing its last days? Doesthat mean the writing is on the wall for all European royals, withtheirmagnificent uniforms andmajestic lifestyles?
The Spanish caseprovides arguments both for and against monarchy. When public opinion isparticularly polarized, as it was following the end of the Franco regime,monarchs can rise above” mere”politics and “embody” a spirit of national unity.
Itis thisapparenttranscendence of politics that explains monarchs continuing popularityas heads of state. And so, the Middle East excepted, Europe is the mostmonarch-infested region in the world, with 10 kingdoms (not counting Vatican City andAndorra).But unlike their absolutist counterpartsin the Gulf and Asia, mostroyal families have survived because they allow voters to avoid the difficultsearchfor a non-controversial but respected public figure.
Even so, kings andqueens undoubtedly have a downside. Symbolic of national unity as they claim tobe, their very history-and sometimes the way they behave today-embodiesoutdated and indefensible privileges and inequalities. At a time when ThomasPiketty and other economists are warming of rising inequality and theincreasing power of inherited wealth, it is bizarre that wealthy aristocraticfamilies should still be the symbolic heart of modern democratic states.
The most successfulmonarchies strive to abandon or hide their old aristocratic ways. Princes andprincesses have day-jobs and ride bicycles, not horses(or helicopters). Evenso, these are wealthy families who party with the international 1%, and mediaintrusiveness makes it increasingly difficult to maintain the right image.
While Europe’s monarchies will no doubt be smartenough to survive for some time to come, it is the British royals who have mostto fear from the Spanish example.
It is only the Queenwho has preserved the monarchy’sreputation with her rather ordinary (if well-heeled) granny style.The dangerwill come with Charles. Who has both an expensive taste of lifestyle and apretty hierarchical view of theworld. He has failed to understand thatmonarchies have largely survived because they provide a service- asnon-controversial and non-political heads of state. Charles ought to know thatas English history shows, it is kings, not republicans, who are the monarchy’s worst enemies.
21.According to thefirst two paragraphs, King Juan Carlos of Spain
[A] used to enjoyhigh public support
[B] was unpopularamong European royals
[C] eased hisrelationship with his rivals
[D] ended his reignin embarrassment
22.Monarchs are keptas heads of state in Europe mostly
[A] owing to theirundoubted and respectable status
[B] to achieve abalance between tradition and reality
[C] to give votersmore public figures to look up to
[D] due to theireverlasting political embodiment
23.Which of thefollowing is shown to be odd, according to Paragraph 4?
[A] Aristocrats’ excessive reliance on inherited wealth
[B] The role of thenobility in modern democracies
[C] The simplelifestyle of the aristocratic families
[D] The nobility’s adherence to their privileges
24. The Britishroyals ”have most of fear” because Charles
[A] takes a toughline on political issues
[B] fails to changehis lifestyle as advised
[C] takes republicansas his potential allies
[D] fails to adapthimself to his future role
25.Which of the followingis the best title of the text?
[A] Carlos, Glory andDisgrace Combined
[B] Charles, Anxiousto Succeed to the Throne
[C] Carlos, a Lessonfor All European Monarchs
[D] Charles, Slow to React to the Coming Threats
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