With the evolution of the toilet, there have been two different paths—one of the sitting kind and the other of the squatting type. The formeris common in the Western world, particularlyin North America and the United Kingdom, where squat toilets are rare. At the same time, the latteris often seen in many parts of Asia and Africa, and even some regions of Southern and Eastern Europe. So, the question arises: “Which is the more effective, healthier way to go to the bathroom?” There has been much debate—and research—on this matter.
(1)Interestingly, while many people believe sitting toilets to be more modern and an improvement on squat toilets, there is a strong caseto be made that squat toilets are the better choice. (2)In one experiment, an Israeli researcher measured the average time it took subjects to empty their bowels♦ using sitting toilets versussquat toilets. It was found that the average time it took while squatting (51 seconds) was shorter than what was needed on a 42-centimeter-high sitting toilet by 79 seconds. (3)Studies have also determined that people experienced less abdominalstrain and discomfort while squatting.
(4)The research findings clearly indicate there are benefits to squatting. (5)This is likelydue to the fact that the angle created when a person squats allows fora straighter, more direct path for waste to travel from the rectumto the anus.(6)Some even recommend that people who prefer sitting toilets use a stool or some other type of modification to place their feet on tomake the angle closer to that of a squat position.
1. In what order is the information about toilets of different cultures organized in the Day 1 passage? (單選題)
(A) In order of time.
(B) By cause and effect.
(C) From the West to the East.
(D) With a problem-solution organization.
2. Please complete the form with the information contained in the Day 1 passage.(填空)
Toilet Evolution
The Earliest Toilets
- They were invented by __a.__.
- They were brick chairs positioned above a place in which __b.__.
Flush Toilets
- When the first model was created, people didn’t use it but opted for __c.__.
- __d.__ helped popularize the use of flush toilets.
3. Please fill in the blanks with the information about the Israeli researcher’s study.(填空)
On average, bowel movements on squat toilets took the participants __(a)__ seconds, while they spent __(b)__ seconds using sitting ones.
4. Some sentences in the Day 2 passage are numbered(1)through(6). Please write down the TWO NUMBERS that point out why squatting is better than sitting. (簡答)
_____ & _____
答案：
1. A
2. a. the Mesopotamians b. human waste was held c. chamber pots d. Alexander Cumming
