【题目】 In India, most of the women wear a red dot between their eyebrows. While it is generally taken as an indicator of their marital（婚姻的）status, the practice is primarily related to the Hindu（印度教的）religion. The dot goes by different names in different Hindi dialects, and “bindi” is the one that is most commonly known.Traditionally, the dot carries no gender restriction Men as well as women wear it. However, the tradition of men wearing it has faded in recent times, so nowadays we see a lot more women than men wearing one.
The position of the bindi is standard center of the forehead, close to the eyebrows. It represents a third, or inner eye. Hindu tradition holds that all people have three eyes The two outer ones are used for seeing the outside world, and the third one is there to focus inward toward God. As such, the dot means piety（虔诚）and serves as a constant reminder to keep God in the front of a believer’s thou ghts.
Red is the traditional color of the dot. It is said that in ancient times a man would place a drop of blood between his wife’s eyes to seal their marriage. According to Hindu beliefs, the color red is believed to bring good fortune to the married couple. Today, people go with different colors depending upon their preferences. Women often wear dots that match the color of their clothes. Decorative of sticker bindis come in all sizes, colors and variations, and can be worn by young and old, married and unmarried people alike. Wearing a bindi has become more of a fashion statement than a religious custom.
【1】Why did people in India start wearing a red dot on their forehead?
A.To stress their family background.
B.To indicate their social rank.
C.To show their religious belief.
D.To display their financial status.
【2】What is the function of the third eye in Hindu tradition?
A.To help the other eyes see better.
B.To look to the distance.
C.To see the outside world.
D.To pay respect to God.
【3】Why was red chosen as the original color of the bindi?
A.The word “bindi”means “red” in some Hindi dialects.
B.Red was believed to be a lucky color for husband and wife.
C.The red dot represented the blood of God.
D.Red stood for a wife’s love for her husband.
【4】Which of the following statements is true about bindis today?
A.Bindis are now used to make people look better.
B.Bindis are worn anywhere on the face now.
C.Most Indian women do not wear bindis anymore.
D.More men than women wear bindis in India.
在线课程【答案】
【1】C
【2】D
【3】B
【4】A
【解析】
这是一篇说明文。文章介绍大多数印度女人的眉毛中间都戴着红点，这种做法主要与印度教有关，它代表的是第三只眼，可以时时提醒信徒要尊敬上帝。现在眉心红点更多的是作为装饰品使用。
【1】推理判断题。根据文章第一段中的“In India, most of the women wear a red dot between their eyebrows. While it is generally taken as an indicator of their marital（婚姻的）status, the practice is primarily related to the Hindu（印度教的）religion.(在印度，大多数女性的眉毛上都有一个红点。虽然这通常被认为是他们婚姻状况的一个指标，但这种做法主要与印度教有关。)可知这种做法主要与印度教有关，所以印度人前额戴红点是展示他们的宗教信仰。故选C。
【2】细节理解题。文章第二段告诉我们，印度传统上认为人有第三只眼。另外根据该段最后一句话印度人对第三只眼所起作用的描述“As such，the dot serves as a constant reminder to keep God inthe front of a believer's thoughts．”因此，点作为一个持续的提醒，以保持神在信徒的思想面前。所以第三眼在印度教传统中的重要性是要尊重上帝。故选D。
【3】细节理解题。根据文章第三段中的“According to Hindu beliefs，the color red is believed to bring good fortune to the married couple．”可知，根据印度教的信仰，红色被认为能为已婚的夫妇带来好运。故选B。
【4】细节理解题。根据文章第三段最后几句话“Decorative or sticker bindis come in all sizes，colorsand variations，and can be worn by young and old，married and unmarried people alike．Wearinga bindi has become more of a fashion statement than a religious custom. ( 装饰物或贴纸贴纸有各种尺寸、颜色和变化，年轻人和老年人、已婚人士和未婚人士都可以佩戴。佩戴宾蒂帽与其说是一种宗教习俗，不如说是一种时尚宣言。)”可知，眉心红点现在更多的被用作装饰品。故选A．