Long before recorded history, our ancestors were bathing for pleasure and he

游客2023-12-23  20

问题     Long before recorded history, our ancestors were bathing for pleasure and health. Man has found many interesting ways to take his bath. The earliest records often mention the use of rivers for bathing. The Bible speaks of the healing waters of the River Jordan. Egyptian history mentions bathing in the Nile. And the Hindus have believed for centuries that the Ganges River has the power to clean the soul, as well as the body.
    Several thousand years ago, the inhabitants of the island of Crete, in the eastern Mediterranean, built baths with running water. The early Jews took ceremonial baths on certain occasions, making use of oils and ointments. The Jews also had a custom of bathing the feet of all strangers that came within their gates. This friendly custom is still practiced in parts of Palestine.
    Many of the public baths that the Romans built utilized natural mineral springs. Since most of these springs were naturally warm the Romans took advantage of this free hot water. By the time of the Roman Emperors, these baths were often housed in large, marble buildings. The baths built by the Emperor Caracalla, in the center of Rome, covered about one square mile and could hold sixteen thousand people.
    When the Crusaders invaded Palestine, they were surprised to find that it was part of the Mohammedan religion to bathe each day before praying. The Crusaders were so impressed by this cleanliness that, when they returned to Europe, they tried to make the bathing habit more widespread.
    No one knows exactly when the soap which we associate with bathing came into general use. The Romans had no soap. They used sand and skin scrapers to clean themselves. It is probable that soap originated when the wood ashes containing lye combined with the fat from the animal carcasses burned on the sacrificial altars of the ancient Hebrews.
    During the Middle Ages, any baths that existed were presided over by the barber. In Germany, the barber was also in charge of leeches, which were used to suck sick people’s blood and, supposedly, rid them of their illness.
    In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, many people considered bathing unhealthy. Instead of taking baths, men and women used powder, paint and perfume to try and hide the uncleanness of their bodies. The great castles of the kings were without bathing facilities. [br] According to the author, the custom of bathing every day was brought back to Europe by______.

选项 A、the Romans
B、the Crusaders
C、the Greeks
D、the Mohammedans

答案 B

解析
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