unknown relative dies suddenly in some distant land, leaving me millions of dollars.
Where did we go off the track? When did eating butter become a sin, and a little bit of extra
flesh unappealing, if not repellent? All religions have certain days when people refrain from eating, and
excessive eating is one of Christianity’s seven deadly sins. However, until quite recently, most people
had a problem getting enough to eat. In some religious groups, wealth was a symbol of probable
salvation and high morals, and fatness a sign of wealth and well-being.
Today the opposite is true. We have shifted to thinness as our new mark of virtue. The result is
that being fat—or even only somewhat overweight—is bad because it implies a lack of moral strength.
Our obsession(迷恋) with thinness is also fueled by health concerns. It is true that in this country
we have more overweight people than ever before, and that, in many cases, being overweight
correlates with an increased risk of heart and blood vessel disease. These diseases, however, may
have as much to do with our way of life and our high-fat diets as with excess weight. And the
associated risk of cancer in the digestive system may be more of a dietary problem—too much fat and
a lack of fiber—than a weight problem.
The real concern, then, is not that we weigh too much, but that we neither exercise enough
nor eat well. Exercise is necessary for strong bones and both heart and lung health. A balanced diet
without a lot of fat can also help the body avoid many diseases. We should surely stop paying so
much attention to weight. Simply being thin is not enough. It is actually hazardous if those who get
(or already are) thin think they are automatically healthy and thus free from paying attention to their
overall lifestyle. Thinness can be pure vainglory (虚荣).
26. In the eyes of the author an odd phenomenon nowadays is that .
[A] the Duchess of Windsor is regarded as a woman of virtue
[B] looking slim is a symbol of having a large fortune
[C] being thin is viewed as a much desired quality
[D] religious people are not necessarily virtuous
27. Swept by the prevailing trend, the author .
[A] had to go on a diet for the greater part of her life [B] could still prevent herself from going
off the track
[C] had to seek help from rich distant relatives [D] had to wear highly fashionable clothes
28. In human history, people’s views on body weight .
[A] were closely related to their religious beliefs [B] changed from time to time
[C] varied between the poor and the rich [D] led to different moral standards
29. The author criticizes women’s obsession with thinness .
[A] from an economic and educational perspective [B] from sociological and medical points of view
[C] from a historical and religious standpoint [D] in the light of moral principles
30. What’s the author’s advice to women who are absorbed in the idea of thinness?
[A] They should be more concerned with their overall lifestyle. |
