Question

When everyone in China is wearing masks (口罩) to stop the COVID-19 (新冠肺炎), many people in Western countries don’t seem to want to do the same. For example, an Italian lawmaker was criticized (批评) by his coworkers when he went to work with a mask. They said he made them nervous. But why do the East and West have different ideas about wearing masks? Let’s take a look.

Western ideas about masks

In the West, people should wear masks only when they get sick, for example. People see masks as a tool (工具) to protect sick people and stop disease from spreading (传播), so healthy people don’t need to wear them. But as the number of COVID-19 cases is growing around the world, people in the West are changing their ideas.

Mask culture in the East

In Asian countries like China and Japan, wearing masks is common. In 1910, Chinese doctor Wu Liande invented (发明) the modern medical mask. During the 2003 SARS epidemic (流行病疫), people in China and East Asia also used masks to protect themselves. 

In Japan, wearing masks shows your politeness (礼貌) when you get a cold or flu. Some Japanese also turn masks into fashion accessories (配饰). They have different colors and patterns to choose to match their clothes. Some young women wear masks when they don’t have their makeup (化妆) on.

Many pop stars in Asia also use masks to protect their privacy (隐私). This cultural and historical background has made it easier for people in the East to wear masks when epidemics break out.

1.What did the coworkers think of the Italian lawmaker?

A.He was too worried to work. B.He made other people nervous.

C.He was unwilling to go to work. D.He was just trying to protect himself.

2.In the past, people in the West wore masks when _____________.

A.they were sick B.they were talking to doctors

C.they were shy or worried D.they went outdoors

3.Where was the modern medical mask invented?

A.In the UK. B.In Japan. C.In China. D.In the US.

4.The reasons why Asian people like to wear masks do NOT include ___________.

A.wearing masks to stop disease from spreading B.protecting against air pollution

C.looking fashionable D.protecting their privacy

5.What is the story mainly about?

A.Why masks are popular in Asian culture.

B.The importance of wearing masks during epidemics.

C.Why Western people don’t wear masks during epidemics.

D.Masks mean different things in different cultures.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.B

5.D

【解析】

本文主要讲述了西方国家和东方国家对口罩的不同看法。

1.

细节理解题。根据第1大段“an Italian lawmaker was criticized (批评) by his coworkers when he went to work with a mask. They said he made them nervous.”意大利的议员戴口罩上班被同事批评，因为他让他们很紧张。可知，故选B。

2.

细节理解题。根据第2大段“In the West, people should wear masks only when they get sick,”西方国家，人们只有生病了才戴口罩。可知，故选A。

3.

细节理解题。根据第3大段“In 1910, Chinese doctor Wu Liande invented (发明) the modern medical mask.”中国医生发明看现代医学口罩。可知，是中国。故选C。

4.

细节理解题。根据第4大段“wearing masks shows your politeness (礼貌) when you get a cold or flu. Some Japanese also turn masks into fashion accessories (配饰).”当你感冒了或者有流感的时候，戴口罩是礼貌的，一些日本人也把口罩变成时尚的配饰；再联系第5大段“Many pop stars in Asia also use masks to protect their privacy”亚洲一些明星带口罩来保护他们的隐私。可知，文章没有涉及戴口罩是为了预防污染。故选B。

5.

主旨大意题。根据第1大段“But why do the East and West have different ideas about wearing masks?”但是为什么东方和西方对于戴口罩有不同的意见呢？可知，本文主要讲述了口罩在不同的文化里有不同的含义。故选D。