阅读理解。
The common cold is the world's most widespread illness, which is probably why there are more
myths (神话,想象) about it than any of the other illnesses.
The most widespread mistake of all is that colds are caused by cold. They are not. They are caused
by viruses passing on from person to person. You catch a cold by coming into contact, directly or
indirectly, with someone who already has one. If cold causes colds, it would be reasonable to expect the
Eskimos to suffer from them forever. But they do not. And in isolated Arctic regions explorers have
reported being free from colds until coming into contact again with infected (感染的) people from the
outside world by way of packages and mail dropped from airplanes.?
At the Common Cold Research Unit in England, volunteers took part in Experiments in which they
gave themselves to the discomforts of being cold and wet for long stretches of time. After taking hot
baths, they put on bathing suits, allowed themselves to be doused (浸入) with cold water, and then
stood about dripping (滴干) wet in drafty (通风的) rooms. Some wore wet socks all day while others
exercised in the rain until close to exhaustion. Not one of the volunteers came down with a cold unless
a cold virus was actually dropped in his nose.?
If cold and wet have nothing to do with catching colds, why are they more frequent in the winter? In
spite of the most painstaking research, no one has yet found the answer. One explanation offered by
scientists is that people tend to stay together indoors more in cold weather than at other times, and this
makes it easier for cold viruses to be passed on.?
No one has yet found a cure for the cold. There are drugs and pain suppressors such as aspirin, but
all they do is to relieve the symptoms.?
1.The fact that the Eskimos don't suffer colds shows that .
A. colds are really full of myths
B. viruses are the factors causing colds
C. colds are more severe than other illnesses
D. the idea that cold leads to colds doesn't stand up
2.The experiments mentioned in Paragraph 3 made it clear that .
A. being doused with cold water did harm to one's body
B. taking hot baths made the volunteers easy to be tired
C. it was viruses not wet and cold that made people have colds
D. people who would like to exercise in the rain got colds more easily
3. According to the passage, colds are commonly seen in winter because .
A. there is great difference between indoor and outdoor temperature
B. viruses can go into people's warm bodies more easily in winter
C. staying together indoors makes it easier for viruses to pass on
D. people are usually weak because of the extreme cold in winter
4.What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The reason and the way people catch colds.
B. The continued spread of colds.
C. The experiments on colds.
D. The myths about colds.
