Many people today have an idea of“culture”that developed in Europe during the 18th and early 19th centuries．This notion of culture reflected inequalities within European societies，and between European powers and their colonies around the world．
　　It identifies“culture”with“civilization”and contrasts it with“nature”．According to this way of thinkin9，one can classify some countries as more civilized than others，and some people as more cultured than others．Some cultural theorists have thus tried to eliminate popular or mass culture from the definition of culture．Theorists such as Matthew Arnold(1822—1888)or the Leavises regard culture as simply the result of“the best that has been thought and said in the world”．Arnold contrasted culture with social chaos or anarchy．On this account，culture links closely with social cultivation：the progressive refinement of human behavior．Arnold consistently uses the word this way：“…culture being a pursuit of our total perfection by means of getting to know，on all the matters which most concern us，the best which has been thought and said in the world．
　　In practice，culture referred t0 elite goods and activities，and the word cultured described people who knew about，and took part in，these activities．For example，someone who used“culture”in the sense of“cultivation”might argue that classical music is more refined than music produced by working-class people，such as punk rock or the indigenous music traditions of aboriginal peoples of Australia．
　　People who use the term“culture”in this way tend not to use it in the plural as“cultures”．They do not believe that distinct cultures exist，each with their own internal logic and values；but rather that only a single standard of refinement suffices，against which one can measure all groups．Thus，according to this worldview，people with different customs from those who regard themselves as cultured do not usually count as“having a different culture”．but are classed as“uncultured”．People lackin9“culture” often seemed more“natural”，and observers often defended(or criticized)elements of high culture for repressin9“human nature”．
　　From the l8th century onwards，some social critics have accepted this contrast between cultured and uncultured，but have stressed the interpretation of refinement and of sophistication as corrupting and unnatural developments that obscure and distort people’s essential nature．
　　Today most social scientists reject the monadic conception of culture，and the opposition of culture to nature． They recognize non-61ites as just as cultured as 6fites(and non-Westerners as just as civilized)--simply regarding them as just cultured in a different way．Thus social observers contrast the“high”culture of 6rites topopular”or pop culture，meaning goods and activities produced for，and consumed by the Inasses． [452 words]
　　1. According to the European notion of culture，culture______
　　A. derives from social inequalities
　　B. has been the privilege of social 61ites
　　C. is more refined than nature
　　D. is as soDhisticated as civilization
　　2. The definition of culture given by Matthew Arnold is used to illustrate______
　　A. the notion of culture developed in Europe
　　B. the difference between culture and social chaos
　　C. the progressive refinement of human behavior
　　D. the pursuit of total perfection of human behavior
　　3. Those who identify culture with cultivation argue that______
　　A. no more than one culture exists
　　B. there exist many different cultures
　　C. working-class people can also be highly refined
　　D. few cultured people can be found in each society
　　4. According to some social critics, refinement can be thought of as______
　　A. social corruption
　　B. being original, but superficial
　　C. honest expression of natural life
　　D. something against human nature
　　5. Most social scientists today believe that
　　A. high culture is closely related to pop culture
　　B. high culture might be produced by the masses
　　C. the single definition of culture has been out of date
　　D. pop culture is more likely to be consumed by the masses

　难句透析
　　①For example，someone[-who used“culture”in the sense of“cultivation”]might argue[-that classical music is more refined than music(produced by workin9—class people)，such as punk rock or the indigenous music traditions of aboriginal peoples of Australia]．
　　【结构】方括号所标示的“who used…of‘cultivation”是“someone”的后置定语从句。方括号所标示的“that classical music…of Australia”是“argue”的宾语从句。圆括号所标示的过去分词短语“produced by working-class people”是“music”的后置定语。