Asubjectwhichseemstohavebeeninsufficientlystudiedbydoctorsandpsychologistsistheinfluenceofgeographyandclimateonthepsychologicalandphysicalhealthofmankind.Thereseemsnodoubtthatthegeneralcharacterofthelandscape,therelativelengthofdayandnight,andtheclimatemustallplayabigpartindeterminingwhatkindofpeopleweare.
Itistruethatafewstudieshavebeenmade.Wherealltheinhabitantsofaparticularareaenjoyexceptionallygoodorbadhealth,scientistshaveidentified.contributoryfactorssuchasthepresenceorabsenceofsubstanceslikeiodine,fluoride,calcium,orironinthewatersupply,orperhapstypesoflandthatprovidebreedingplacesforpestslikemosquitoesorrats.
Moreover,wecanallgeneralizeabouttypesofpeoplewehavemet.Thoselivingincountries.withlongdarkwintersareapttobelesstalkativeandlessvivaciousthaninhabitantsofcountrieswheretheclimateismoreequable(稳定的).Andwheretheoliveandtheorangegrow,theretheinhabitantsarecheerful,talkative,andspontaneous.
Butthesecommonplacegeneralizationsareinadequate:theinfluence:ofclimateandgeographyshouldbestudiedindepth.Doallmountaindwellerslivetoaripeoldage?Doesthedrinkingofwine,ratherthanbeer,resultinasunnyandopentemperament?IsthestrengthandheightofoneoftheKenyantribesduetotheirhabitualdrinkingofthebloodofcows?
Wearenotyetsureoftheanswerstosuch.questions,butletushopethatsomethingofbenefittomankindmayeventuallyresultfromsuchstudies.
练习题：
Choosecorrectanswerstothequestion:
1.Theauthor’spurposeofwritingthispassageisto______.
A.alertreaderstothescarcityofnaturalresources
B.callformoreresearchontheinfluenceofgeographicalenvironment
C.introducedifferentelementsincharactercultivation
D.drawmoreattentiontothehealthconditionofmankind
2.Itcanbeinferredthatproperamountsofiodine,fluorideandcalciumcan_____.
A.benefitpeople’sphysicalhealth
B.influencethequalityofwatersupply
C.helpprovidebreedingplacesforpests.
D.strengthenaperson’scharacter
3.Howdoestheauthorevaluatethegeneralizationsofpeople’stypesinPara.3?
A.Suchgeneralizationshelpusjudgethedifferentcharactersofpeoplewemeet
B.Suchgeneralizationsarenotinclusiveenoughtodrawaconvincingconclusion.
C.Suchgeneralizationsprovethatnatureplaysanimportantroleindeterminingsocialhabits.
D.Suchgeneralizationsshowthattherearemainlytwodifferenttypesofpeopleontheplanet.
4.Accordingtothepassage,researchintotheinfluenceofclimateandgeographyshould____.
B.bepursuedonalargerscale
C.becarriedoutamongremotetribes
5.Whatdoweknowaboutthegeneralizationsofpeople’stype?
A.Peoplewholikedrinkingwinetendtobeoptimistic.
B.Peoplewholiveinmountainareastendtohavealonglife.
C.Peoplewholiveinareaswithstableclimatetendtobetalkativeandlively.
D.Peoplewholikedrinkingcowbloodtendtobestrongandtall.
