📖 Reading Text: The History of Hello Kitty

Read the following text carefully, then answer the questions below.

Hello Kitty, one of the world's most recognisable characters, was born on 1st November 1974 in London, England - though she was actually created in Japan by designer Yuko Shimizu for the company Sanrio. The white bobtail cat with no mouth was originally designed to appeal to young girls and appeared on a small vinyl coin purse, which became Hello Kitty's very first product.

Sanrio, founded by Shintaro Tsuji in 1960, wanted to create characters that would bring happiness and friendship to people worldwide. The company chose the name "Hello Kitty" because they believed the English word "hello" was recognised internationally, making the character globally appealing. Kitty's full name is actually Kitty White, and according to her official biography, she lives in London with her parents George and Mary White, and her twin sister Mimmy.

The decision to give Hello Kitty no mouth was deliberate and meaningful. Yuko Shimizu explained that without a mouth, Hello Kitty could "speak from the heart" and people could project their own feelings onto the character. This simple design choice helped make Hello Kitty incredibly versatile and emotionally connective across different cultures.

By the 1980s, Hello Kitty had become a cultural phenomenon in Japan, appearing on everything from school supplies to household items. The character's popularity spread internationally in the 1990s, reaching Europe and America. Today, Hello Kitty generates billions of pounds in revenue annually and has become a symbol of kawaii (cute) culture, influencing fashion, art, and popular culture worldwide.

Interestingly, Sanrio officially states that Hello Kitty is not actually a cat, but rather a little girl who happens to look like a cat. This surprising fact was revealed in 2014, causing quite a stir amongst fans who had always assumed she was feline. Despite this revelation, Hello Kitty continues to be beloved by millions of people across all age groups, proving that good character design transcends simple categorisation.

🎯 Part 1: Multiple Choice Questions

✏️ Part 2: Short Answer Questions