Whatever their chosen method, Americans bathe zealously. A study conducted found that we take an average of 4.5 baths and 7.5 showers each week and in the ranks of non-edible items purchased by store customers, bar soap ranks second, right after toilet paper. We spend more than $700 million annually on soaps, but all work the same way. Soap is composed of molecules that at one end attract water and at the other end attract oil and dirt, while repelling water. With a kind of pushing and pulling action, the soap loosens the bonds holding dirt to the skin.
Unless you're using a germicidal soap, it usually doesn't kill the bacteria — soap simply removes bacteria along with dirt and oil. Neither baths nor showers are all that necessary and unless you're in a Third World country where infectious diseases are common, or you have open sores on your skin, the dirt and bacteria aren't going to hurt. The only reason for showering or bathing is to feel clean and refreshed. There is a physiological basis for this relaxed feeling. Your limbs become slightly buoyant in bathwater, which takes a load off muscles and tension. Moreover, if the water is hotter than normal body temperature, the body attempts to shed heat by expanding the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, lessening the circulatory system's resistance to blood flow, and dropping blood pressure gently. A bath is also the most effective way to hydrate the skin. The longer you soak, the more water gets into the skin and because soap lowers the surface tension of the water, it helps you hydrate rapidly and remove dry skin flakes.
However, in a bath, all the dirt and grime and the soap in which it's suspended float on the surface. So when you stand up, it covers your body like a film. The real solution is to take a bath and then rinse off with a shower, however, after leaving a tub or freshly exposed skin becomes a playground for microbes. In two hours, you probably have as many bacteria on certain parts of the body, such as the armpits, as before the bath.
1.The statement "Americans bathe zealously" (Line 1, Para. 1) is closest to saying_______.
A.Americans bathe wastefully B.Americans are rather ambivalent to bathing
C.Americans bathe with intense enthusiasm D.Americans bathe too much
2.Which of the following is mentioned as one of the benefits of bathing?
A.Dry skins flakes will disappear from the body once you get out of the bathtub.
B.It kills bacteria better than showering.
C.It reduces your blood circulation if it is nice and warm.
D.The floating action can reduce the stress on your muscles.
3.According to the passage, bathing removes dry skin flakes because_______.
A.the soap draw it off the body
B.the skin hydrates
C.the circulation of blood expands skin particles
D.the change in blood pressure releases the film
4.A bath will not kill the bacteria from your body even if_______.
A.you use a germicidal soap B.use an anti-bacterial soap
C.you use soap to scrub it vigorously D.you are under special treatment for it
5.We can infer from this passage that the author believes_______.
A.the real benefits of bathing are psychological not hygienic
B.bathing is superior to taking shower
C.buying soap is a waste of money
D.we do not need to bathe as much as we do currently
长难例句分析
［长难例句］Moreover, if the water is hotter than normal body temperature, the body attempts to shed heat by expanding the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, lessening the circulatory system's resistance to blood flow, and dropping blood pressure gently.
［结构分析］本句中，主干是the body attempts to shed heat by expanding the blood vessels near the surface of the skin，前面if引导的是条件从句。lessening the circulatory system's resistance to blood flow和dropping blood pressure gently是并列现在分词短语作状语。
［参考译文］而且，如果水温高于正常体温，身体会舒张皮下血管来散热，从而减少循环系统对血流的阻力，慢慢地降低血压。
全文参考译文
不论选择何种方式，美国人对洗澡有种狂热。一项研究发现，我们每周平均洗澡4.5次，淋浴7.5次，并且在商店顾客购买的非食物商品中，条形肥皂位居第二，仅次于卫生纸。我们每年买肥皂的花费超过7亿美元，但是用途都一样。肥皂的分子一端吸水，一端吸油、吸尘，排斥水分。由于斥力和引力的双重作用，肥皂缓释了污垢在皮肤上的附着。
除非使用除菌皂，否则肥皂通常不能杀死细菌，只是让细菌和污垢、油渍一起洗掉。洗澡和淋浴都没有那么必要，如果你不是在传染病流行的第三世界国家，或者皮肤上没有外露的疮口，污垢和细菌不会伤人。淋浴或洗澡的唯一理由是感觉清爽。这种放松的感觉有生理基础。在洗澡水中四肢微微浮起，使肌肉和身体的紧张状态得到松弛。而且，如果水温高于正常体温，身体会舒张皮下血管来散热，从而减少循环系统对血流的阻力，慢慢地降低血压。洗澡也是让皮肤吸水的最为有效的方式。在水中浸泡时间越长，进入皮肤的水分就越多。因为肥皂能减轻水的表面张力，所以有助于皮肤迅速水合，从而去除干燥的皮屑。
但是，在洗澡时，所有污垢和悬浮着污垢的肥皂都浮于水面。所以当你起身时，这些东西像一层薄膜一样覆盖全身。真正的解决方法是，先洗澡，但出浴缸后用淋浴冲洗，否则出浴的皮肤就成了微生物的活动场所。两小时后，在身体的某些部位，如腋窝处细菌数量可能和洗澡前一样多了。
题目答案与解析
1.与句子“Americans bathe zealously”（第一段第一行）最接近的意思是_________。
A.美国人洗澡不经济 B.美国人对洗澡相当矛盾
C.美国人对洗澡极其狂热 D.美国人洗澡太频繁
【答案】C
【解析】从第一段可知，美国人洗澡频繁，对肥皂的消费巨大，因此题中该词应理解为“狂热地”。
2.以下提及的项目中，哪项是洗澡的益处？
A.当你出浴缸时干燥的皮屑会从身上消失。 B.比起沐浴来，洗澡更能杀菌。
C.如果水温良好，洗澡可减少血液循环。 D.漂浮动作能够减少肌肉的压力。
【答案】D
【解析】A项的说法不正确，第三段开头讲到：“在洗澡时，所有污垢和悬浮着污垢的肥皂都浮于水面。所以当你起身时，这些东西像一层薄膜一样覆盖全身。”B项不正确，第二段指出：“除非使用除菌皂，否则肥皂通常不杀菌，只是让细菌和污垢、油渍一起洗掉。”可见，洗澡和淋浴都不杀菌。C项不正确，第二段同时指出：洗澡“减少循环系统对血流的阻力，慢慢地降低血压，”说明洗澡可增加血液循环。只有D项正确，因为第二段指出：“在洗澡水中四肢微微浮起，使肌肉和身体的紧张状态得到松弛。”
3.根据本文，洗澡能够去掉皮屑的原因是_________。
A.肥皂把它从身体上去掉 B.皮肤吸水
C.血液循环使皮肤粒子扩张 D.血液压力的改变去掉了薄膜
【答案】B
【解析】从第二段末尾一句可知，因为肥皂能减轻水的表面张力，所以有助于皮肤迅速吸水，从而去除干燥的皮屑。因此B项为正确答案。
4.洗澡不能杀死人体上的细菌，即使_________。
A.你用了杀菌肥皂 B.你用了抗菌肥皂
C.你用力地用肥皂擦身体 D.你处于特殊的治疗之下
【答案】C
【解析】从第二段可知，肥皂通常不杀菌。因此C项为正确答案。
5.我们从文中可以推断出，作者认为_________。
A.洗澡的益处不在于卫生方面而在于心理方面
B.洗澡比淋浴好
C.购买肥皂浪费钱
D.我们洗澡并不需要像现在这样频繁
【答案】A
【解析】从第二段可知，洗澡不能杀菌，而且污垢和细菌一般情况下不会伤人。同时又谈到：“淋浴或洗澡的唯一理由是感觉清爽。”所以，作者认为洗澡的真正好处不在卫生方面，而在心理方面。因此A项为正确答案。
