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 advantage 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 believed disease could be spread in public baths

D.they considered bathing as the cause of skin disease

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

A.disapproving B.Curious. C.Approving. 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.C

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。在大多数人看来，摆脱污垢是一件好事。然而，对于肮脏的态度并不是一成不变的。本文主要按照时间顺序说明了人们对于污垢的看法是在不停地发生着变化。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段中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.可知在16世纪早期，人们认为皮肤上的污垢是一种阻挡疾病的手段，因为医学观点认为，用热水洗掉污垢会打开皮肤，让疾病进入。一种特别的危险被认为存在于公共浴池中。到1538年，法国国王已经关闭了国内的澡堂。由此可知，16世纪，法国国王和英国国王关闭了一些澡堂，因为他们认为疾病会在公共澡堂传播。故选C。

2.

推理判断题。根据第二段中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.可知法国国王亨利四世的肮脏是出了名的。听说有个贵族洗过澡，国王下令，贵族不得外出，以避免疾病的侵袭。由此可推知，亨利四世不赞成洗澡。故选A。

3.

推理判断题。根据第二段中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.(在16世纪早期，人们认为皮肤上的污垢是一种阻挡疾病的手段，因为医学观点认为，用热水洗掉污垢会打开皮肤，让疾病进入)；第三段第一句Though the belief in the advantage of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18th century.(尽管对污垢优势的信念由来已久，但从18世纪开始，污垢就不再被视为好邻居了)以及最后一段中Attitudes to dirt still differ hugely nowadays.(如今，人们对污垢的态度仍然差别很大)可知，文章从16世纪、18世纪到如今来说明人们对于污垢的看法，由此可推知，本文是按照时间的顺序来组织全文的。故选C。

4.

推理判断题。根据第一段Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing. However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt.可知在大多数人看来，摆脱污垢是一件好事。然而，对于肮脏的态度并不是一成不变的。结合本文主要按照时间顺序说明了人们对于污垢的看法是在不停地发生着变化。由此可推知，作者写这篇文章的目的是展示人们对污垢看法的变化。故选D。