在许多国家，“进门脱鞋” 是一种习惯和礼节。而在另一些国家，这条规矩则不那么绝对。如果在家里穿着外出的穿的鞋，哪些东西会被带入家中？进门不脱鞋真的会造成严重的问题吗？本文探讨在家里穿着外出穿的鞋可能带来的危害。

词汇： hygiene 卫生

1 "Welcome! Shoes off please." In many Asian countries, removing shoes when you enter someone's home is expected – it shows respect and ensures cleanliness. In other places, such as the UK, however, the social norms are more ambiguous. Some Brits might have a strict "shoes off" rule, while others may be squeamish about seeing others' socks or bare feet. What do the scientists say?

2 If you remove your shoes at the door for cleanliness, you're probably thinking about the visible dirt – urban dust, mud and grass that has hitched a ride from the outside world on the sole of your shoe. But the real problems are microscopic. A review of research called 'Shoe soles as a potential vector for pathogen transmission' found a high prevalence of dangerous bacteria on shoe soles, which could lead to illness. Children under five are particularly at risk because of their closeness to the floor and developing immune systems.

3 Germs aside, shoe soles can also bring in nasty chemicals like pesticides and herbicides, exposure to which can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, according to a study by Muhammad Sarwar, published in Cogent Medicine. Allergens such as pollen can also enter your home via your shoes, which can be a big issue if you suffer with hay fever or have respiratory issues. Isn't your home meant to be a safe haven?

4 But it's not just about hygiene. Going shoeless can improve things such as balance, body awareness and strength and stability in your muscles, according to a medically reviewed article called 'Does Walking Barefoot Have Health Benefits?'. "In theory, walking barefoot more closely restores our 'natural' walking pattern, also known as our gait," explains foot and ankle specialist Jonathan Kaplan.

5 In cultures where a shoe-free home is the norm, the reasons are backed by science. And in places where the rules are less clear, maybe it's time to think about leaving our outdoor shoes at the threshold. There's an old African proverb that states "When you leave your shoes at the doorstep, you leave your troubles behind."

测验与练习

一、根据文章内容选出正确的段落。

1. Which paragraph contains a benefit of removing outdoor shoes that is unrelated to cleanliness?

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. It's normal in all cultures to remove your outdoor shoes in the home.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. Why is it a problem to bring bacteria into the home via shoe soles?
a. it makes the house dirty
b. it's not good for our health
c. it can cause hay fever

3. Food allergens can enter the home on the soles of shoes.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

4. How does the article writer feel about removing outdoor shoes in the house?
a. positively
b. negatively
c. neutral

5. Which word could replace 'norm' in the following sentence? In cultures where a shoe-free home is the norm, the reasons are backed by science.
a. pattern
b. exception
c. standard

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

Homes should be a 1)________ – a place to feel comfortable and protected. But if you cross over the 2)_______ and enter the house with your shoes on, you might be bringing in dangerous 3)_______. In cultures where a shoe-free home is not the norm, people may feel 4)_______ about the idea of going 5)_______.

gait
pathogens
threshold
squeamish
safe haven
shoeless
hay fever

（答案见词汇表后） 

词汇表

cleanliness 清洁，洁净
ambiguous 不明确的，模棱两可的
squeamish 感到不自在的，易受惊吓的
hitch a ride 搭乘，搭便车
sole 鞋底
microscopic 需要用显微镜才能看到的
pathogen 病原体
prevalence 普遍程度
germ 病菌，细菌
pesticide 杀虫剂
herbicide 除草剂
nausea 恶心，呕吐感
pollen 花粉
hay fever 花粉过敏症
safe haven 避风港，安全的地方
shoeless 不穿鞋的
barefoot 光脚的，赤脚的
gait 步态
shoe-free 不穿鞋的
threshold 门槛，门口

答案

一、根据文章内容选出正确的段落。

Paragraph 3. It's about the physiological benefits of going barefoot, not cleanliness.

二 、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. b. False. In other places, such as the UK, however, the social norms are more ambiguous.

2. b. A review of research … found a high prevalence of dangerous bacteria on shoe soles, which could lead to illness.

3. c. Not given. The allergen pollen is mentioned, but food allergens are not mentioned.

4. a. The article writer outlines lots of benefits of removing shoes in the house.

5. c. 'standard' is closest in meaning to the word 'norm'.

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

Homes should be a safe haven – a place to feel comfortable and protected. But if you cross over the threshold and enter the house with your shoes on, you might be bringing in dangerous pathogens. In cultures where a shoe-free home is not the norm, people may feel squeamish about the idea of going shoeless.