Lesson 5 Health of the Body — Cleanliness

1、Cleanliness—that is, keeping the whole skin of the body pure and fresh―is a great source of health. The skin, like the internal organs of the body, has work to do, and it cannot do its work unless it is kept clean.

2、The skin is one means of getting rid of impure, refuse matter from the blood.

For this purpose it is supplied with two or three millions of small tubes, called pores,through which it sweats out the superfluous moisture. These pores also regulate the temperature of the body. When the body gets over-heated, from violent exercise or exposure to fire, it is flooded with perspiration from these pores, and so is cooled down.

3、The skin, besides, is kept soft and smooth by a kind of oily matter secreted in small cells over its surface.

4、Now, if the pores and the oil-cells become blocked up with dirt, they cannot perform their functions. In that case, either the skin itself will become diseased, or the blood will be injured by being forced to retain its impurities; or, it may be, some other organ (as the kidneys) will have to do the work of the skin besides its own, and serious disease may follow.

5、Washing the skin is therefore indispensable to health. A complete bath should be taken, or at least the whole body should be well sponged, every day. The face and hands, which are most exposed, should be washed three or four times a day.

6、Sea-bathing is the healthiest kind of washing, as it combines fresh air and vigorous exercise with its other benefits. It is a safe rule never to bathe till at least two hours after a meal. It is unsafe to go into the water when cold, or to remain in it after you begin to feel chilled.

(302 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [grasp the main idea] What is the chief function or work of the skin?

A. Keeping the body warm.

B. Getting rid of refuse matter from the body.

C. Exposing the body to the sun.

2. [check the detail] How do the pores regulate the temperature of the body?

A. By sweating. B. By opening themselves. C. By closing themselves.

3.[check the detail] How is the skin kept soft?

A. By secreting an oily matter.

B. By applying an oily matter on it.

C. By cleaning it regularly.

Ⅱ. Read for words.

1. Choose one best paraphrase for the underlined words.

(1) For this purpose it is supplied with two or three millions of small tubes, called pores, through which it sweats out the superfl uous moisture. (Para. 2, Line 3)

A. sufficient

B. unnecessary

C. not needed or wanted

(2) Washing the skin is therefore indispensable to health. (Para. 5, Line 1)

A. cannot live without B. necessary C. suffi cient

(3) The face and hands, which are most exposed, should be washed three or four times a day. (Para. 5, Line 3)

A. put in the sun B. seen in the outside C. not covered

2. Choose one best Chinese meaning for the underlined expression.

Now, if the pores and the oil-cells become blocked up with dirt, they cannot perform their functions. (Para. 4, Line 1)

A. 覆盖 B. 堵塞 C. 沉积

Ⅲ. Writing practice.

In no more than 50 words answer the following questions step by step.

1. What is the chief function or work of the skin?

2. How do the pores regulate the temperature of the body?

3. How is the skin kept soft?

4. What will be the consequence if the skin is not kept clean?

5. What is therefore indispensable to health?

6. What is the healthiest kind of washing?

7. What rules are to be observed in connection with sea-bathing?