Question

C

People laugh and people cry．But it is thought that emotions such as anger, or joy, typically make Americans feel uncomfortable and embarrassed．The shedder of tears （落泪者） is likely to apologize, even when a great tragedy was the cause．The observer of tears is likely to do everything possible to put an end to the emotional tears．But judging from recent studies of crying behavior, both those responses to tears are often inappropriate and may even be counterproductive （适得其反）．

Humans are the only animals clearly known to shed emotional tears．Since evolution has given rise to few purposeless physiological responses, it is logical to assume that crying has one or more functions that increase survival．

Although some observers have suggested that crying is a way to ask for assistance form others （as a crying baby might from its mother）, the shedding of tears is hardly necessary to get help．Vo-cal （出声的） cries would have been quite enough, more likely than tears to gain attention．So, it appears that there must be something special about tears themselves．

Indeed, the new studies suggest that emotional tears may play a direct role in easing stress．  University of Minnesota researchers who are studying the chemical composition of tears have recently separated two important chemicals from emotional tears．Both chemicals are found only in tears that are shed in response to emotion．Tears shed because of exposure to cut onion would contain no such substance．

Other researchers are looking into the usefulness of tears as a means of diagnosing human ills and monitoring drugs．At Tulane University's Teat Analysis Laboratory Dr．Peter Kastl and his colleagues report that they can use tears to detect drug abuse, to study the causes of "dry eye" syndrome （综合症）and the effects of eye surgery, and perhaps even to measure exposure to environmental pollutants．

1.What does the phrase "both those responses" in Paragraph 1 refer to ?

A．Crying out of sorrow and shedding tears for happiness．

B．The embarrassment and unpleasant feelings of the observers．

C．Linking illness with crying and finding the chemical composition of tears．

D．The tear shedder' s apology and the observer' s effort to stop the crying．

2.It is known from the first paragraph that____．

A．shedding tears gives unpleasant feelings to Americans

B．crying may often result in tragedy

C．crying usually wins sympathy from other people

D．one who sheds tears in public will be blamed

3.What does the author say about crying?

A．It is a pointless physiological response to the environment．

B．It must have a role to play in man' s survival．

C．It is meant to get attention and assistance．

D．It usually produces the desired effect．

4.From the passage we can infer that____．

A．it is unnatural for people to shed tears

B．we can reduce our stress by shedding tears

C．shedders of tears can' t get help by crying loudly

D．unlike animals, humans can shed tears for survival

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

1.细节理解题 根据第一段第二句The shedder of tears (落泪者) is to apologize...及第三句The observer of tears is likely to do everything possible to put an end to the emotional tears.

2.细节理解题 根据第一段第二句But it is thought that emotions such as anger, or joy, typically make Americans feel uncomfortable and embarrassed．不管是出于悲伤，愤怒，快乐，眼泪通常让美国人觉得尴尬不安。

3.判断推理题 根据第三段前两句Although some observers have suggested that crying is a way to ask for assistance form others （as a crying baby might from its mother）, the shedding of tears is hardly necessary to get help．Vo-cal （出声的） cries would have been quite enough, more likely than tears to gain attention．尽管一些观察人士指出,哭是一种寻求他人援助的方式。(如一个哭泣的婴儿可能从其母亲那得到帮助),要得到帮助，流泪没有必要。出声的哭就很足够,比眼泪更容易获得关注。可以推出，作者认为，哭泣是为了得到关注和帮助。

4.细节理解题 根据倒数第二段第一句emotional tears may play a direct role in alleviating stress。从第三段crying is a way to ask for assistance form others, the shedding of tears is hardly necessary to get help可排除C，根据crying has one or more functions that increase survival排除D。