Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt.
In the early 16th century, people thought that dirt on the skin was a means to block out disease, as medical opinion had it that washing off dirt with hot water could open up the skin and let ills in. A particular danger was thought to lie in public baths. By 1538, the French king had closed the bath houses in his kingdom. So did the king of England in 1546. Thus began a long time when the rich and the poor in Europe lived with dirt in a friendly way. Henry IV, king of France, was famously dirty. Upon learning that a nobleman had taken a bath, the king ordered that, to avoid the attack of disease, the nobleman should not go out.
Though the belief in the merit(优点) of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18th century. Scientifically speaking, cleaning away dirt is good to health. Clean water supply and hand washing are practical means of preventing disease. Yet, it seems that standards of cleanliness have moved beyond science since World War II. Advertisements repeatedly sell the idea: clothes need to be whiter than white, cloths ever softer, surfaces to shine. Has the hate for dirt, however, gone too far?
Attitudes to dirt still differ hugely nowadays. Many first-time parents nervously try to warn their children off touching dirt, which might be responsible for the spread of disease. On the contrary, Mary Ruebush, an American immunologist(免疫学家), encourages children to play in the dirt to build up a strong immune system. And the latter position is gaining some ground.
1.The kings of France and England in the 16th century closed bath houses because .
A. they lived healthily in a dirty environment
B. they thought bath houses were too dirty to stay in
C. they considered bathing as cause of skin disease
D. They believed disease could be spread in public baths
2.Which of the following best describes Henry IV’s attitude to bathing?
A. Curious B. Afraid C. Approving D. Uninterested
3.How does the passage mainly develop?
A. By following the order of time. B. By making comparison.
C. By providing examples D. By following the order of importance.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passages?
A. To call attention to the danger of dirt.
B. To introduce the history of dirt.
C. To present the change of views on dirt.
D. To stress the role of dirt.
Technology makes listening to holiday music easier than ever. There are endless sources to help you find your favorite Christmas tunes and many other songs. People have explored how to listen to holiday music with high-tech devices.
Apple Music
This is the first year you can use Apple Music to listen to holiday songs. Apple Music has more than 30 million songs and is available in over 100 countries.
Tell voice assistant Siri to "play holiday music" to open the music program on your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. Apple Music app is available in the Google Play store, but not with a voice assistant.
For the first three months, you can use it for free. After that, users have to pay a subscription fee.
Google Play Music
Google Play Music is also in the holiday spirit. Go to the Google Play Music Holiday page and search for "holiday music."
Google Play Music is available for free if you don't mind the advertisements. If you do, buy a paid subscription to avoid them. Google Play Music offers more than 30 million songs from 58 countries.
Tune In Radio
Listen to radio stations with Tune In Radio. This is an online service and offers stations from all seven continents in the world, including Antarctica. Tune In Radio is available on your computer and is free to online users. In the United States, Britain and Canada, a paid subscription gives you more stations without advertisements.
1.What can we learn about Apple Music?
A.It is a new tool to listen to holiday music.
B.It is popular in over 100 countries.
C.It can only be used for three months.
D.It can only be used after the subscription .
2.According to the passage, Google Play Music _________.
A.is favored by young people B.can always be used for free
C.has the largest number of songs D.doesn't allow any advertisement
3.We can learn that Tune In Radio _________.
A.have over 30 million songs B.is available on our mobile device
C.offers stations from around the world D.is expensive in America and Canada
He went out of the room with few clothes on, only rather cold.
A.to feel B.feel C.feeling D.felt
Mother wanted to be a good provider, a role she ______ since her marriage to Father.
A.shoulders B.shouldered
C.is shouldering D.has been shouldering
_________ that Tom got inside the room to see what was going on.
A.So strangely did he feel B.So strangely he felt
C.So strange did he feel D.So strange he felt
I have had my bike ________, and I’m going to get somebody ________ my radio tomorrow.
A.repair; to repair B.repairing; to be repaired
C.repaired; to repair D.to repair; repairing
