The problem with such a view is that some people actually attempt to live by it. I myself have fantasies of slipping into narrow designer cloches. Consequently. I have been on a diet for the better-or worse-part of my life. Being rich wouldnt be bad either. but that won t happen unless an unknown relative dies suddenly in some distant land. leaving me millions of dollars.
Where did we go off the track? When did eating butter become a sin, and a little bit of extra flesh unappealing, if not repellent? All religions have certain days when people refrain from eating and excessive eating is one of Christianitys seven deadly sins. However, until quite recently, most people had a problem getting enough to eat. In some religious groups, wealth was a symbol of probable salvation and high morals. and fatness a sign of wealth and well-being.
Today the opposite is true. We have shifted lo thinness as our new mark of virtue. The result is that being fat-or even only somewhat overweight-is bad because it implies a lack of moral strength.
Our obsession with thinness is also fueled by health concerns. It is true that in this country we have more overweight people than ever before. and that in many cases, being overweight correlates with an increased risk of heart and blood vessel disease. These diseases. however, may have as much to do with our way of life and our high-fat diets as with excess weight. And the associated risk of cancer in the digestive system may be more of a dietary problem-too much fat and a lack of fiber-than a weight problem.
The real concern. then. is not that we weigh too much. but that we neither exercise enough nor eat well. Exercise is necessary for strong bones and both heart and lung health. A balanced diet without a lot of fat can also help the body avoid many diseases. We should surely stop paying so much attention to weight. Simply being thin is not enough. It is actually hazardous if those who get thin think they are automatically healthy and thus free from paying attention to their overall life-style. Thinness can be pure vainglory .
参考译文
女人无论多富都不算太富，无论多瘦都不算太瘦。这句常常被认为是已故温莎公爵夫人说的话在很大程度上体现了我们这个时代的一种奇特的精神：瘦被看做本身就是一种美德。
这种看法的问题在于，有的人还真的试图照这种方式生活。我自己也常常有种种不切实际的想法，希望能穿上窄小的名牌服装，因此，为了我的生命中的美好时光 或许也是悲惨时光 我也节食减肥。要是能有钱，当然也不坏，不过，除非在远方有个从没有听说过的亲戚突然去世给我留下几百万美元的话，我是富不了的啦。
我们是什么时候误入歧途的?从什么时候开始。吃黄油成了罪过，稍微多长了一点肉就会让人失去魅力，甚至令人生厌?所有宗教都会规定某几个日子让人们禁食，过量饮食还是基督教的七宗弥天大罪之一。然而，直到最近，大多数人还在为怎样填饱肚子而而发愁。在一些宗教团体里，财富是有望得到救赎、拥有高尚德操的标志，而身体发福则是富有和健康的标志。
而今，事情倒过来了。我们转而把瘦作为美德的新的标志。结果，肥胖 有时不过是稍微有点超重 就是不好，因为它暗示这个人缺少道德力量。
我们迷恋于瘦身，还出于对健康的考虑。诚然，在这个国度里，肥胖人数比以往任何时候都多，而且，肥胖还增加了罹患心血管疾病的风险。但是，这些疾病与肥胖有关，也与我们的生活方式以及高脂肪含量的食物有关。而消化系统发生癌变、也许更多是饮食问题 太多脂肪、缺少纤维 而不是体重问题。
因而，真正的问题不在于我们太重了，而在于我们运动不足而且饮食不良。要想筋骨强壮、心肺健康，锻炼必不可少。脂肪不多的均衡饮食也可以使我们避免许多癌病。我们实在不必如此关注我们的体重问题。仅仅瘦是不够的。瘦身之后或者本来就不胖的人，如果以为可以自然而然健康起来而不必关注自己的整个生活方式，那才实在是危险的。瘦可能纯粹是一种虚荣。
测试题
1. In the eyes of the author, an odd phenomenon nowadays is that____________.
A) the Duchess of Windsor is regarded as a woman of virtue
B) looking slim is a symbol of having a large fortune
C) being thin is viewed as a much desired quality
D) religious people are not necessarily virtuous
2. Swept by the prevailing trend. the author_____________.
A) had to go on a diet for the greater part of her life
B) could still prevent herself from going off the crack
C) had to seek help from rich distant relatives
D) had to wear highly fashionable clothes
3. In human history, peoples views on body weight_____________.
A) were closely related to their religious beliefs
B) changed from time to time
C) varied between the poor and the rich
D) led to different moral standards
4. The author criticizes women s obsession with thinness
A) from an economic and educational perspective
B) from sociological and medical points of view
C) from a historical and religious standpoint
D) in the light of moral principles
5. Whats the authors advice to women who are absorbed in the idea of thinness?
A) They should be more concerned with their overall life style.
B) They should be more watchful for fatal diseases.
C) They should gain weight m Jook healthy.
D) They should rid themselves of fantasies about designer clothes.
选项翻译与答案详解
1. 在作者的眼中，现在有一种奇怪的现象，那就是_______________。
A) 温莎公爵夫人被视作有德之人
B)看上去纤瘦是很有钱的标志
C) 纤瘦是令人向往的特质
D) 有宗教信仰的人不一定都是有美德的人。
在文章第1段，作者指出 瘦被认为是这样的一种美德 ;而在第4段，作者又提到 我们已经把瘦当成是一种新的美德标志 ，故C正确。
2. 被普遍流行的潮流席卷，作者______________。
A) 在大部分时候都得节食 B) 仍可以避免自己偏离轨道
C) 不得不寻求富有的远亲的帮助 D) 不得不穿非常时髦的衣服
文章第2段提到 我自己也幻想能穿上窄小的名牌衣服。因此，为了 我也节食减肥 。因此，A正确。
3. 在人类历史上，人们对干体重的看法________________。
A) 与他们的宗教信仰息息相关 B) 经常发生变化
C) 在穷人和富人之间存在差异 D) 导致不同曲道德标准
文章第3段 什么开始时候吃黄油成了罪过，多长点肉就会让人失去魅力? 和 在一些宗教团体里，财富是有望得到 而身体发福是富有和健康的标志。 说明看法是变化的，所以B正确。
4. 作者批评女人对纤瘦的迷恋，______________。
A) 是从经济和教育的角度出发的 B) 是从社会学和医学的角度出发的
C) 是从历史和宗教的立场为出发点的 D) 是从道德原则的角度出发的
文章的第4段和第5段提到了道德和健康，因此可看出，作者是从社会学和医学的角度批评了人们的观点，所以B正确。
5. 对那些笃信纤瘦的女人，作者的建议是什么?
A) 他们应该更关心整个生活方式。
B) 他们应该小心一些致命的疾病。
C) 他们应该增加体重，那会看上去更加健康。
D) 他们应该抛弃对于出自设计师之手的服装的幻想。
文章第6段提到瘦身之后或者本来就不胖的人，如果以为可以自然而然健康起来而不必关注自己的整个生活方式，那才是危险的。由此可推断她们应该多注意她们的生活方式.A符合题意。