Reading Comprehension

Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions below.

He isn't a new fashion icon wearing a bright yellow jumpsuit, white face paint, and a long-sleeved red and white shirt. His bright red hair, nose, and mouth make him a natural in his position as the Chief Happiness Officer for McDonald’s Corporation. As the mascot for the company, Ronald McDonald is easily recognized by 96 per cent of school children in the US. For the most part, this “spokesclown” is loved and helps improve company recognition, which translates into increased profits.

Mascots have existed for thousands of years. Historically, they have been animals that men admired. Native American Indians carved mascots into their totem poles, hoping to attain a cheetah’s speed or a bear’s strength. Even now, mascots are symbolic of the qualities we would like to possess.

For the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China has chosen mascots known as the Five Friendlies. Each of the four animals(fish, panda, antelope, and swallow) represents a unique athletic ability and offers a special blessing from China to the world. At the centre of the group stands Huanhuan, the Olympic flame, representing passion for sport and the unity of all nations through the Olympic Games.

In sports, teams treasure their mascots and often view them as lucky charms. In business, mascots are used to attract attention and impact a customer’s perception of a company. Fast-food icon Ronald McDonald can attest to this fact.

Recently, Taipei began searching for a mascot. Which animal would best represent this progressive capital city? With its extensive system of underground tunnels and more than two million inhabitants bustling through its streets, offices, and apartments, Taipei’s mascot would have to be the busy, intelligent, and hardworking ant.