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 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.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】本文主要讲述的是在历史的发展过程中，人们对于dirt的看法是在不停地发生着变化。

1.D 细节题。根据第二段2，3行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.说明他们认为在浴室里还传染疾病的，所以才下令关闭浴室。故D正确。

2.B 推理题。根据第二段最后3行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. 说明他很害怕疾病的传播，所以才把这位贵族驱逐出去，故B正确。

3.A 推理题。根据第二段In the early 16th century和 did the king of England in 1546. 以及Henry IV, King of France, was famously dirty. 说明本文是按照时间的顺序来组织全文的。故A正确。

4.C 主旨大意题。根据文章主题段第一段Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing. However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt. 和最后一段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.都说明人们对于dirt的看法是在不停地变化之中的，故C项正确。

【名师点睛】

本文是关于人们对dirt的看法的变化，要求考生在理解原文表面文字信息的基础上，做出一定判断和推论，从而得到文章的隐含意义和深层意义。推理题所涉及的内容可能是文中某一句话，也可能是某几句话，但做题的指导思想都是以文字信息为依据，既不能做出在原文中找不到文字根据的推理，也不能根据表面文字信息做多步推理。比如第2小题，根据第二段最后3行中to avoid the attack of disease,（为了避免疾病的攻击）说明他很害怕疾病的传播。所以很容易看出，Henry IV对洗浴的态度是“害怕”。