There’s a significant reason behind the four standard colors found on passports, but there are some unusual shades, too. Take a closer look at that small, rectangular booklet in your hand. Depending on where you’re from, its color could tell you a lot about the country you call home.
“Although there are no strict international guidelines for passport colors, the shades are by no means random. Countries typically choose colors that can best show their culture, politics, or faith.” Claire Burrows of De La Rue, a British passport-making company, told the Economist.
For example, Islamic countries often use green passport covers because the color is important in their religion. Member countries of ECOWAS(the Economic Community of West African States) cover their passports with various shades of green, too. Members of the European Union, on the other hand, use burgundy-colored passports, as do countries who would like to join the EU, such as Turkey.
The United States tends to march to the beat of its own drum, and its passport’s color is no different. While the country shifted between pale brown, green, and a variety of reds into the latter half of the 20th century, it finally settled on blue in 1976. As for the shade? It matches the blue on the American flag, according to the Economist. Citizens of many Caribbean and South American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, also carry blue passports.
But why all of the dark shades? According to Bill Waldron of Holliston, a Tennessee-based passport-printing firm, darker colors are preferred because they can hide dirt, provide a nice contrast with the country crest, and appear more official.
【小题1】What is the principle of a country’s choosing colors of passports?| A．Picking a popular color at random. | B．Considering the likes of its people. |
| C．Matching the image of the country. | D．Following the international guidelines. |
| A．Turkey tries to seek a sense of belonging to the EU. |
| B．Member countries of ECOWAS are religious countries. |
| C．Green receives great popularity among Asian countries. |
| D．Members of the EU issue passports with a unique color. |
| A．To follow the trend of the times. | B．To behave in an individual manner. |
| C．To act differently to draw attention. | D．To display its strengths on purpose. |
| A．Why Your Passport Is in Dark Shades |
| B．What Your Passport Color Really Means |
| C．What Your Passport Can Tell about You |
| D．Why Your Passport Is Connected with Colors |
