Question

Need to relax after a few stressful months? Perhaps you need to go to a spa.

First of all, what exactly is a spa? Traditionally, spas were places with a natural spring producing warm waters that could be used in hydrotherapy (水療法) treatments. They were places where you “took the waters” --- meaning you drank some of the water or bathed in it.

But nowadays, a “spa” can mean a variety of things. In general, the term is often used to refer to commercial establishment that provides many services for health, fitness, weight loss, beauty and relaxation. This may include exercise classes, mud baths, body treatment, facials (美容), etc.

In Japan, traditional hot springs have attracted visitors for centuries. And thermal baths (溫泉浴) have been found in the ruins of the Cretan Palace of Knossos (2000-1400 B.C.). It was the Romans who made spas popular in Europe. They established a number of towns around thermal waters. These include the English town of Aquae Sulis (which is called Bath today), and the Belgian town of Aquae Spadanae (which is known as Spa these days).

In the 18^th century, spas became the fashionable places to go on holiday. Bath and Harrogate in the UK were popular with British rich people. And in Europe Carsbad (now called Larlovy Vary), Marienbad and Franzensbsf were Europe’s most important holiday centers.

A typical day in Carsbad in the 19^th century went as follows. Visitors got up at 6:00 a.m. to take the waters and listen to music by a band. Next, came a light breakfast, a bath in the waters, and then lunch. In the afternoon, visitors went sightseeing, walked or attended concerts. After dinner, there were theatrical performances. Guests returned to their hotels at about 9 p.m. to rest until six the following morning. Visitors would stay for as long as a month. Some of the more famous patients at these spas included the composers Beethoven and Chopin, and the Russian writer Turgnev.

Marienbad was the best spa town. It was popular with the inventor Thomas Edison, the writer Johann Goethe, and many famous people and European emperors.

Today, although taking the waters isn’t as common as it used to be, spa treatments are more popular than ever.

1.What can we learn about a spa?

A．It makes profits mainly on facials.

B．It is a center for rich people to relax.

C．It provides more services than before.

D．It is where one can get medical treatment.

2. From Paragraph 4, we can infer that ___________.

A．spas have a history of about 200 years

B．Japan has more spas than any other countries

C．the Romans played a positive part in the popularity of spas

D．ordinary people could enjoy thermal baths in 18^th-century UK

3. At the spas in Carlsbad, ____________.

A．many visitors had facials

B．guests often stayed for at least a month

C．Thomas Edison was a regular guest

D．guests had a bath between breakfast and lunch

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．The former name of Larlovy Vary was Carlsbad.

B．Spa treatments are not so popular as before.

C．Chopin visited Marienbad frequently.

D．Marienbad is located in the UK.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

試題分析：本文介紹了泡溫泉現(xiàn)在提供更多的服務(wù)。各國溫泉的發(fā)展情況。

1.細節(jié)題：從文章第三段的內(nèi)容：But nowadays, a “spa” can mean a variety of things. 可知泡溫泉現(xiàn)在提供更多的服務(wù)。選C

2.細節(jié)題：從第四段的句子：It was the Romans who made spas popular in Europe.可知是羅馬人在溫泉流行當中起著重要作用。選C

3.細節(jié)題：從第六段的句子：Visitors got up at 6:00 a.m. to take the waters and listen to music by a band. Next, came a light breakfast, a bath in the waters, and then lunch.可知在Carlsbad溫泉人們在早飯和午飯之間會泡溫泉。選 D

4.細節(jié)題：從第五段的句子：And in Europe Carsbad (now called Larlovy Vary),可知答案是 A

考點：考查文化類短文

點評：本文介紹了泡溫泉現(xiàn)在提供更多的服務(wù)。各國溫泉的發(fā)展情況�？疾橥评眍}較多，要求考生能根據(jù)上下文的語義串聯(lián)和題目的具體要求，做出適當?shù)难由旌屯评怼?