Question

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 16^th 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 of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18^th 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 16^th century closed bath houses because     .

A. they lived healthily in a dirty environment.

B. they believed disease could be spread in public baths

C. they thought bath houses were too dirty to stay in

D. they considered bathing as the cause of skin disease

2.Which of the following best describes Henry IV’s attitude to bathing?

A. Approving.     B. Afraid..

C. Curious        D. Uninterested.

3.How does the passage mainly develop?

A. By providing examples.

B. By making comparisons.

C. By following the order of time.

D. By following the order of importance.

4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A. To stress the role of dirt.

B. To introduce the history of dirt.

C. To call attention to the danger of dirt.

D. To present the change of views on dirt.

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析:本文是一篇关于人们对身体上的污垢的态度变化的文章。16世纪的人们认为污渍是可以阻挡疾病的，所以那时候的人都很“脏”；18世纪开始人们又开始提倡洗洗干净；而到了现在，人们对于是否应该让孩子们在污渍的环境里锻炼免疫系统又有了新的争论。

1.B。细节理解题。由“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”可知，人们认为洗掉皮肤上的污渍会让疾病进入，因此躺在公共浴室里是非常危险的。因此国王下令关闭了公共浴室。故选B。

2.B。细节理解题。由“Henry IV, King of France, was famously dirty. ”和后面内容可以看出，亨利四世国王出了名的脏，而且对于那些洗了澡的贵族给以“不准出门”的惩罚。因此他对洗澡是很恐惧担心的。Approving赞成；Afraid担忧，恐惧；Curious好奇的； Uninterested不感兴趣的。故选B。

3.C。文章结构题。文章从16世纪讲到18世纪，又说到现在，因此是按时间顺序来行文的。故选C。

4.D。主旨大意题。文章介绍了人们在不同的时间里对身上的脏的不同态度，表现了人们的态度变化。故选D。

考点：考查社会生活类阅读。