At some time in your life you may have a strong desire to do something strange or

　　terrible. However. chances are that you don't act on your impulse, but let it pass instead

　　You know that to coininit the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not

　　accept your behavior.

　　Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon oitahoo behavior is how it

　　can change over the sears within the same society, how certain behavior and attitudesonce considered tabootime. Topics such asunpleasant that it wcan become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point ineath. for example. were once considered so upsetting andaboo to talk about them No认with the publication ofunportant books such as On Death and Dying and Learning to Goodbye. people havebecome more aware of the importance of expressing feelings alwut death and. as a resuluare more willing to talk about this taboo subject/

　　One of the newest taboos in American society is the topic offal. Unlike many other

　　taboos, fat is topic that Americans talk about constantly. It's not taboo to talk about fat:

　　its taboo to be fat. The "in" looki is thin, not fat. In the work world, most companiesprefer youthful-looking. trim executives to sell their image as well as their products to the

　　public. The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success. The fat person. on the

　　other hand, is thought of as lazy and lacking in energy, self-discipline. and self-respect. In

　　an image-conscious society like the U.S., thin is "in". fat is "out'

　　It's not surprising. then, that millions of Americans have become obsessed with staying slim and "in shape". The pursuit of a youthful physical appearance is nothowever. the sole reason for America's fascination with diet and exercise. Recentresearch has shown the critical importance of diet and exercise for personal health. As inmost technologically developed nations. the life-style of North Americans hasdramatically during the course of the last century. Modem machines do all thelabor that people were once forced to do妙hand. Cars and buses transport u:from point to pointchangedphysicalquicklyAs a result of inactivity and disuse, people's bodies canbecome weak and vulnerable to diseaseeasihIn an effort to avoid such a fate. millions of

　　Americans are spending more of their time exercising

　　1. From the passage we can infer taboo is

　　A. a strong desire to do something strange or terrible

　　B. a crime committed on impulse

　　C. behavior considered unacceptable in society's eyes.

　　D. an unfavorable impression left on other people.

　　2. Based on the ideas presented in the passage we can conclude "being fat' ——in American society

　　A will always remain a taboo B. is not considered a taboo by most people

　　C. has long been a taboo. D. may no longer be a taboo some day.

　　3. The topic of fat is- many other taboo subjects

　　A. the same as B. different from

　　C. more popular than D. less often talked about than

　　4. In the U.S.. thin is "in". fat is "out". this means_

　　A. thin is 'inside'", fat is-outside".

　　B. thin is "diligent", fat is "lazy

　　C. thin is "youthful", fat is "spiritless‘

　　D. thin is "fashionable", fat is "unfashionable

　　B5. Apart from this new understanding of the correlation between health and exercise. the

　　main reason the passage gives for why so many Americans are exercising regularly

　　A. their changed life-style

　　B. their eagerness to stay thin and youthful

　　C. their appreciation of the importance of exercise.

　　D. the encouragement they have received from their companies

　　【答案】1-5 CDBDB