阅读理解。
Neatness and personal cleanness have been around for ages and have become an important part of everyone's
daily routine. You might think that all modern societies would have the same neatness and personal cleanness
practices. After all, doesn't everybody take baths? Most people do recognize the need for cleanness, which is
the basis for health. Neatness practices include all the little things people do to make themselves look their best,
such as combing their hair and putting on makeup. However, while most modern people agree that these things
are important, people in different cultures take care of themselves in different ways.
There used to be an old joke in America that people should take a bath once a week, whether they need one
or not. In fact, though, Americans generally take a bath or more commonly, a shower every day. But in contrast
to some cultures, most Americans get their shower in the morning so that they can start the day frcsh.
Americans are known for having very sensitive noses. In America, body smell is socially unacceptable. For that
reason, Americans consider it a must to use special lotion (浴液) to prevent the smell. Ladies often add a touch
of perfume. Men may spray on after-shave cream or manly-smelling perfume.
Some of the cultural varieties in neatness practices result from physical differences between races. Whereas
many Asian men have little facial hair, Westerners have a lot. As a result, most American men spend some time
each day shaving or tidying their facial hair to keep it nice. American women, on the other hand, generally prefer
not to be hairy at all.
Americans put great value on both neatness and personal cleanness. For some people, taking care of
themselves has become almost a religion. As the old saying goes, "Cleanness is next to godliness." Whether or
not being clean and neat-looking brings one closer to God, it certainly at least brings one closer to others.
Americans look down on people who don't take care of themselves, or who "let themselves go."
1. We can infer from the first paragraph that _____.[ ]
A. everyone takes baths daily to get a nice look
B. people have the same neatness practices today
C. neatness practices may be affected by cultures
D. neatness means combing hair and doing makeup
2. Americans have a bath in the morning to _____. [ ]
A. begin an energetic day
B. refrcsh their sensitive noses
C. prevent their body smell
D. style their hair at home
3. According to the author, physical differences between races can cause differences in _____.[ ]
A. cultures
B. locations
C. religions
D. neatness practices
4. The underlined phrase in the last paragraph means "_____". [ ]
A. care much about themselves
B. give loose to themselves
C. stay away from other people
D. stay closer to other people
