At some time in your life you may have a p 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 commit the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not accept your behavior.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of the behavior is how it can change over the years within the same society, how certain behavior and attitudes once considered taboo can become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point in time. Topics such as death, for example, were once considered so upsetting and unpleasant that it was a taboo to even tall about them. Now with the publication of important books such as "On Death and Dying" and "Learning to Say Goodbye", people have become more aware of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, as a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject.
One of the newest taboos in American society is the topic of fat. Unlike many other taboos, fat is a topic that Americans tall about constantly. It’s not taboo to tall about fat; it’s taboo to be fat. The "thin" look is thin, not fat.
In the work world, most companies prefer 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- respect. After all, people think, how can people who care about themselves, and therefore the way they look, permit themselves to become fat In an image-conscious society like the U.S., thin is "in", fat is "out".
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage
A. Death is a taboo topic today.
B. It is taboo to talk about fat.
C. The topic of fat is different from many other taboo subjects.
D. Fat is a topic that Americans talk about very little.
参考答案:C
解析:本题是细节题。根据原文说的Unlike many other taboos,我们知道肥胖和其他禁忌话题不同,人们对此谈论得很多,所以C选项是正确答案。在文中第二段,作者用了“死亡”的例子来说明禁忌是会变化的,死亡是以前人们连提都不能提的禁忌,而现在的情况不同了,人们出版这方面的书籍,也乐于谈论这个话题,所以A选项不对。作者说It’s not taboo to talk about fat; it’s taboo to be fat.,即“谈论肥胖并不是禁忌,长得胖才是真正的禁忌”,故可将B选项排除。作者还提到fat is a topic that Americans talk about constantly,可见人们谈论肥胖谈论得很多,D选项不对。