Lipstick plays an important role in attraction and can even protect the lips from drying out in harsh weather. No wonder it’s the most important thing in a women’s cosmetics(化妆品) bag.

　　Colouring the lips is certainly not a new idea. It was practiced as early as 3500 BC.

　　In the past, a natural dye was used to paint lips, It was not until the 17th century that lipstick manufacturing really took off. The lipstick was made of mixtures that included pig fat and red sandalwood. It was kept in tiny pots and applied with a colouring stick.

　　Lipstick was invented and first presented by Parisian perfumeries(香料商) in Amsterdam. But these “little red sausages” were less than practical. They were wrapped in silk paper and the ends had to be broken off before each use. They also did not come cheap.

　　Over the years the sticks became less expensive and new colours were developed. But it was not until 1950 that lipstick accidentally was re-invented—this time by the Americans.

　　Today there are so many types of lipsticks and shades that it is hard to keep track of them. Faced with many choices in the cosmetic departments, it is easy to forget that there is a whole science to manufacturing them.

　　The basic materials are colours, oils and waxes. But they can contain up to 30 different materials. Lipstick manufactures have to achieve a careful balance. “You need a thicker oil to make the lipstick last longer, but a thinner one to make it easy to apply,” says Cornelis Riedel, product developer at Nivea Beaute in Hamburg.

　　Different oils also provide protection for lips, preventing them from drying up. The waxes used in lipsticks must strike the right balance between strength and elasticity(弹性). And up to nine different colouring matters could be needed to find the right shade.

　　No one today need fear dangerous materials in lipsticks. A study by a leading German consumer organization found dangerous materials such as lead or cadmium, are hardly a problem any more—even in the cheapest products.

　　Today, the question is whether to choose between a conventional lipstick or the newer, long-lasting variety.

　　1. Lipstick plays an important role in women’s life because_______.

　　A. it can show they are rich B. it can show they are healthy

　　C. they want to keep their body temperature D. they want to be more attractive

　　2. It can be inferred from this passage that_______.

　　A. Americans were the first to use lipsticks B. lipsticks were colour less at first

　　C. modern lipsticks came out by chance D. lipsticks have been made from the same materials

　　3. The underlined phrase “keep track of” in this passage means_______.

　　A. find B. follow C. use D. store

　　4. We know from this passage that_______.

　　A. lipsticks are much softer than before B. lipsticks are much harder than before

　　C. lipsticks are more dangerous than before D. lipsticks are much safer than before

　　【答案解析】本文介绍了唇膏产生的历史过程及现代唇膏的特点。

　　1. D。细节题。根据 Lipstick plays an important role in attraction…No wonder it’s the most important thing in a women’s cosmetics bag 可知女士们想增加吸引力，据此选 D。

　　2. C。推断题。根据 But it was not until 1950 that lipstick accidentally was re-invented… 可知答案选 C。(注：句中的 accidentally 与 by chance 同义)

　　3. B。词义猜测题。 根据 Today there are so many types of lipsticks and shades that it is hard to keep track of them. Faced with many choices in the cosmetic departments, it is easy to forget that there is a whole science to manufacturing them 可知前面一直在谈论唇膏的产生的历史过程，现在由于产品种类的增多，已很难追根溯源，由此猜测此词义为追寻，据此答案选B。

　　4. D。推断题。阅读全文可知B、C与原文意思不符，A项原文没有提到，再根据No one today need fear dangerous materials in lipsticks. A study by a leading German consumer organization found dangerous materials such as lead or cadmium, are hardly a problem any more — even in the cheapest products 可知现在的唇膏比以前更加安全了，据此选 D。