Treating disease by taking bathing has been popular for centuries. Modern medical bathing first became popular in Europe and by the late 1700’s has also become popular in the United States.
For many years frequent(经常的) bathing was believed to be bad for one’s health. Ordinary bathing just to keep clean was avoided(避免), and perfume was often used to cover up body smells!
By the 1700’s doctors began to say that soap and water were good for health. They believed that it was good for people to be clean. Slowly, people began to bathe more frequently. During the Victorian Age of the late 19th century, taking a bath on Saturday night became common.
In the United States ordinary bathing was slow to become popular. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, many Americans were know as “The Great Unwashed!” In one American city , for example, a person was only allowed to take a bathe every thirty days! That was a law!
Frequency of bathing today is partly a matter of habit. People know that bathing for cleanliness is important to health, Doctors know that dirty bodies increase the chance of diseases. As a result, in the United States, people generally bathe often. Some people bath once a day at least. They consider a daily bath essential (=necessary) to good health.
1. A water system for baths was built by ______over 3,000 years ago.
A. the Romans B. the Greeks C. the Americans D. the Europeans
2. Dirty bodies can ______.
A. ruin one’s business B. cause disease
C. drive customers away D. cause good health
3. In the 18th century doctors believed that being clean was ______.
A. unimportant B. good for health C. harmful D. important
4. The underlined word perfume probably means ______.
A. a sweet smelling substance B. good health
C. a strange smelling substance D. large wealth
5. Which of the following gives the main idea of the passage?
A. Everybody in America takes a daily bath.
B. A bath a day keeps the doctor away.
C. Taking baths has become popular in the world.
D. Bathing has become easier and cheaper.
答案：1B 2 B 3 B 4 A 5 C
