They have appeared on clothes labels for four decades, each one chosen by international experts for its simplicity and clarity. Yet for most people, washing instructions might as well be written in Martian.

According to a new poll, 9 in 10 people are unable to understand common symbols used on clothes labels. Even those who have mastered the difference between a wool and a synthetics (合成纖維織物) wash admit being puzzled by the boxes, circles and crosses used to give advice about drying and bleaching (漂白).

The findings come from a poll of 2,000 people carried out by YouGov for Morphy Richards. A third of the people surveyed said that they recognized none of the six symbols shown, while the only symbol recognized by more than half of the people was the iron with a single dot. Around 70 per cent knew it meant “iron on a low heat”. Just 10 per cent knew the sign for “do not dry clean”, while only 12 per cent were familiar with “drip dry only”.

Despite the sexual revolution, women are stir more knowledgeable than men. Awareness was highest among 18- to 29-year-old women, for whom taking care of clothes is clearly important.

Chris Lever, from Morphy Richards, said, “Clothes Care symbols are a unique language, clearly a language that few people in the UK have taken the time to learn.”

“Learning the basics such as which icon represents tumble dry (滾動(dòng)熱干) and which represents normal wash would go a long way to getting the best out of clothes.”

The Home Laundering Consultative Council, which promotes symbols, said it was not surprised to learn that people were unfamiliar with them. “It’s disappointing that there is a lack of recognition, but it’s a story that’s repeated time and time again,” said a spokesman, Adam Mansell. “We are a small organization and we don’t have a big budget.”

60．Why are these six washing symbols chosen by international experts?

A．Because people in the UK are interested in them.

B．Because they are simple and clear.

C．Because it’s a long way to getting the best out of clothes.

D．Because they are a unique language.

61．Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the text?

A．Clothes care symbols have appeared on clothes labels for forty years.

B．Few people in the UK have taken the time to learn about clothes care symbols.

C．A third of the people surveyed said that they recognized the six symbols shown.

D．Women have a better knowledge of the common symbols used on clothes labels than men.

62．Which symbol did most of people recognize according to the survey?

63．By the underlined part in the first paragraph “for most people, washing instructions might as well be written in Martian”, the author means __________.

A．the washing instructions are written in Martian

B．most people can understand the washing instructions

C．most people can understand the instructions if they are written in Martian

D．most people think it impossible to understand the washing instructions

 (福建省廈門(mén)雙十中學(xué)09屆高三熱身考試B篇)

They have appeared on clothes labels for four decades, each one chosen by international experts for its simplicity and clarity. Yet for most people, washing instructions might as well be written in Martian.

According to a new poll, 9 in 10 people are unable to understand common symbols used on clothes labels. Even those who have mastered the difference between a wool and a synthetics (合成纖維織物) wash admit being puzzled by the boxes, circles and crosses used to give advice about drying and bleaching (漂白).

The findings come from a poll of 2,000 people carried out by YouGov for Morphy Richards. A third of the people surveyed said that they recognized none of the six symbols shown, while the only symbol recognized by more than half of the people was the iron with a single dot. Around 70 per cent knew it meant “iron on a low heat”. Just 10 per cent knew the sign for “do not dry clean”, while only 12 per cent were familiar with “drip dry only”.

Despite the sexual revolution, women are stir more knowledgeable than men. Awareness was highest among 18- to 29-year-old women, for whom taking care of clothes is clearly important.

Chris Lever, from Morphy Richards, said, “Clothes Care symbols are a unique language, clearly a language that few people in the UK have taken the time to learn.”

“Learning the basics such as which icon represents tumble dry (滾動(dòng)熱干) and which represents normal wash would go a long way to getting the best out of clothes.”

The Home Laundering Consultative Council, which promotes symbols, said it was not surprised to learn that people were unfamiliar with them. “It’s disappointing that there is a lack of recognition, but it’s a story that’s repeated time and time again,” said a spokesman, Adam Mansell. “We are a small organization and we don’t have a big budget.”

60．Why are these six washing symbols chosen by international experts?

A．Because people in the UK are interested in them.

B．Because they are simple and clear.

C．Because it’s a long way to getting the best out of clothes.

D．Because they are a unique language.

61．Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the text?

A．Clothes care symbols have appeared on clothes labels for forty years.

B．Few people in the UK have taken the time to learn about clothes care symbols.

C．A third of the people surveyed said that they recognized the six symbols shown.

D．Women have a better knowledge of the common symbols used on clothes labels than men.

62．Which symbol did most of people recognize according to the survey?

63．By the underlined part in the first paragraph “for most people, washing instructions might as well be written in Martian”, the author means __________.

  A．the washing instructions are written in Martian

B．most people can understand the washing instructions

C．most people can understand the instructions if they are written in Martian

D．most people think it impossible to understand the washing instructions