四、閱讀測驗
Many people think of dirt as being, well, dirty! Parents often tell their children not to play in dirt. And there
are good reasons to be wary. Soil often contains bacteria, parasites and pollutants that can make people sick. With
so many risks, it is no surprise that many people find geophagy—literally the eating of earth or soil—unappetizing.
Yet, geophagy is actually a relatively common practice in many parts of the world. The fact that the eating of
soil is also widespread in the animal kingdom suggests that geophagy may even be a natural process.
Why dirt? Some soils are surprisingly rich in minerals and nutrients such as iron and copper. People can often
get more of these nutrients from geophagy than from taking vitamin supplements. This is why geophagists often
claim to like the “sour taste” of dirt and to have cravings for it. It also explains why geophagy is often most
common among pregnant women and nursing mothers.
In some cases, soil can make dangerous foods safe to consume. People have long known that certain
poisonous wild acorns and potatoes become edible when mixed with soil.
Sometimes, soil is even taken as medicine! Many stomach medications contain the clay Kaolin because it
absorbs bacteria and toxins that cause diarrhea.
Unfortunately, geophagy is also practiced to avoid hunger pains when other food is not enough. In poor
countries, food can become so expensive that people substitute soil for flour or rice. This is a serious social
problem because even mineral-rich soils can’t provide a balanced diet.
【題組】46. What does “geophagy” mean?
(A) Eating dirt.
(B) Taking medicine.
(C) Observing nature.
(D) Taking supplements.
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