Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30. .
Although beauty is something that is desired throughout the world, its definition can be different from one culture to the next. In some cultures, beauty indicates good health or a high social position while in others it suggests someone’s suitability as a marriage partner. It’s a topic attracting a great deal of attention, from scientists who study the factors involved in physical attraction, to fashion and cosmetics companies who are keen to make money by selling products that will make us more beautiful and therefore attractive to others.
But beauty can sometimes come at a price. Cosmetic surgery is very common nowadays, with people eager to change the way they look by having surgery to make their noses smaller or their lips larger, but not all of these operations result in an improved appearance. For many, a suntanned body represents a wealthy lifestyle of relaxing days at the beach, but nowadays we should all be aware of the possible consequences of spending too much time in the sun.
In many cultures, symmetry is a key part of beauty, so people prefer balanced features on the face. In some Asian cultures, large eyes are considered more beautiful than narrower ones. A slimmer body may suggest a healthy and active person, so in the West in particular, people diet to look like models. In other cultures, however, a larger build suggests that someone is wealthier because they can afford to eat more and are therefore of a better social class. In Nigeria, women with a fuller figure are considered to be more fertile and more able to have babies.
The Maasai people of East Africa regard beauty as something that can be controlled, and believe that anyone can be beautiful just by looking after their appearance. For them, beauty exists in clean white teeth, short hair and simple jewelry. This idea of beauty is perhaps something everyone can achieve.
(Adapted from:https://www.coursehero.com)
