单选题 Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of taboo behavior is how it can change (1) the years within the same society, how certain behavior and attitudes (2) considered taboo can become perfectly (3) and natural (4) another point in time. Topics such as death, fro example, were once considered so (5) and unpleasant that it was a taboo to even talk about them. Now with the (6) of important books such as On Death and Dying and Learning to Say Goodbye, people have become more (7) of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, (8) a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject.
One of the newest taboos in American society is the topic of fat. (9) many other taboos, fat is a topic that Americans talk about constantly. It's not taboo to talk about fat; it's taboo to fat. The " (10) " look is thin, not fat. In the work world, most companies prefer youthful-looking, trim executives to sell their (11) as well as their products to the public. The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success. The fat person, on the other hand, is thought (12) as lazy and (13) in energy, self-discipline and self-respect. After all, people think, how can people who care about themselves, and therefore the way. they look, permit themselves to become fat? In an image-conscious society like the U. S. , thin is "in", fat is "out".
It's not surprising, then, that millions of Americans have become (14) with staying slim and "in shape". The (15) of a youthful physical appearance is not, however, their sole reason for America's obsession with diet and exercise. Recent research has shown the (16) importance of diet and exercise for personal health. As in most technologically developed nations, the life-style Of North Americans has changed dramatically during the course of the last century. Modern machines do all the physical labor that people were once forced to do (17) hand. Cars and buses transport us quickly from point to point. As a result of inactivity and disuse, people's bodies can easily become weak and (18) to disease. In an effort to avoid such a fate, millions of Americans are spending more of their time exercising. The effect of this new appreciation of the importance of exercise is evident: parks are filled with runners and bicyclists, physical education programs are enjoying a newly found (19) , and many companies are providing special exercise (20) for their employees to use during the work day.