在許多國傢，“進門脫鞋” 是一種習慣和禮節。而在另一些國傢，這條規矩則不那麼絕對。如果在傢裡穿著外出的穿的鞋，哪些東西會被帶入傢中？進門不脫鞋真的會造成嚴重的問題嗎？本文探討在傢裡穿著外出穿的鞋可能帶來的危害。
詞匯： hygiene 衛生
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.”
測驗與練習
一、根據文章內容選出正確的段落。
1. Which paragraph contains a benefit of removing outdoor shoes that is unrelated to cleanliness?
二、根據文章內容選出正確的選項。
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、用下列單詞完成對本文的總結。
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
（答案見詞匯表後）
詞匯表
cleanliness 清潔，潔凈
ambiguous 不明確的，模棱兩可的
squeamish 感到不自在的，易受驚嚇的
hitch a ride 搭乘，搭便車
sole 鞋底
microscopic 需要用顯微鏡才能看到的
pathogen 病原體
prevalence 普遍程度
germ 病菌，細菌
pesticide 殺蟲劑
herbicide 除草劑
nausea 惡心，嘔吐感
pollen 花粉
hay fever 花粉過敏癥
safe haven 避風港，安全的地方
shoeless 不穿鞋的
barefoot 光腳的，赤腳的
gait 步態
shoe-free 不穿鞋的
threshold 門檻，門口
答案
一、根據文章內容選出正確的段落。
Paragraph 3. It’s about the physiological benefits of going barefoot, not cleanliness.
二、根據文章內容選出正確的選項。
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、用下列單詞完成對本文的總結。
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.
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