Stinky Pits and the Science of Smell

Choose the TWO pieces of text evidence from the article that best support the statement below.

In his advertisements, James Young used people’s fears to try to sell Odorono

• “His ads implied that if you wanted to get married, you had to be free of stinky sweat.” (p. 18)

• “By the 1950s, antiperspirant and deodorant had become a standard part of grooming in America, like brushing teeth.” (p. 18)

• “To attract male customers, businesses began repackaging their products in more ‘masculine’ looking bottles.” (p. 18)

• “At the same time, new advertisements appeared that claimed men who sweat at the office could lose their jobs.” (p. 18)

Choose ONE piece of text evidence from the article that best supports the statement below.

Humans need to sweat.

• “Perspiring is a natural, important function—it helps cool down your body when you’re hot.” (p. 17)

• "It was an antiperspirant invented by Murphey’s father, a surgeon, to keep his hands from getting sweaty while operating.” (p. 16)

• “That scent we call body odor comes from sweat interacting with bacteria on our skin . . .” (p. 18)

Choose the THREE pieces of text evidence from “Stinky Pits: A History” that BEST support the statement below.

Humans have long searched for ways to improve the way they smell.

• “The ancient Egyptians dabbed their wrists with fragrant pastes made from ostrich eggs and tortoise shells. ” (p. 17)

• “Handwashing with soap was introduced as a way of keeping germs at bay. ” (p. 17)

• Medical breakthroughs revolutionized the way people thought about sickness.” (p. 17)

• “After exercising, the ancient Greeks scraped off their sweat with metal tools.” (p. 17)

• At the time, armpit sweat was dealt with by washing, perfuming, and wearing dress shields—pads placed in armpits to absorb wetness.” (pp. 16-17)

On page 19, Lewis writes, “That’s why you might associate a certain smell with a memory . . . ” Context clues reveal that associate most closely means

• connect

• confuse

• describe

• separate

The main purpose of the article “The Science of Smell” is to

• reveal how humans’ sense of smell has changed over time.

• explain how the sense of smell works.

• inform readers about nostalgia.

• compare pleasant and gross odors.

The timeline in “Stinky Pits: A History” supports the idea that

• stopping perspiration is unnatural.

• after the Civil War, Americans developed a love of cleanliness.

• People have always tried to make themselves and the world around them smell better

• as medical wisdom changed, so did hygiene.

The main purpose of “Stinky Pits: A History” is to _____________, whereas the main purpose of “The Science of Smell” is to _____________.

• describe the Atlantic City exposition; reveal how humans’ sense of smell has evolved over time

• inform readers about the history of smell and the rise of the deodorant industry; explain how the sense of smell works

• introduce readers to writer James Young; inform readers about nostalgia

• explain medical breakthroughs after the Civil War; compare opinions about odors