Question

Does happiness have a scent?

When someone is happy, can you smell it?

You can usually tell when someone is happy based on seeing them smile, hearing them laugh or perhaps from receiving a big hug. But can you also smell their happiness? Surprising new research suggests that happiness does indeed have a scent, and that the experience of happiness can be transmitted through smell, reports Phys.org.

For the study, 12 young men were shown videos meant to bring about a variety of emotions while researchers gathered sweat samples from them. All of the men were healthy and none of them were drug users or smokers, and all were asked to abstain from drinking or eating smelly foods during the study period.

Those sweat samples were then given to 36 equally healthy young women to smell, while researchers monitored their reactions. Only women were selected to smell the samples, apparently because previous research has shown that women have a better sense of smell than men and are also more sensitive to emotional signaling—though it's unclear why only men were chosen to produce the scents.

Researchers found that the behavior of the women after smelling the scents—particularly their facial expressions—indicated a relationship between the emotional states of the men who produced the sweat and the women who sniffed them.

“Human sweat produced when a person is happy brings about a state similar to happiness in somebody who breathes this smell,” said study co-author Gun Semin, a professor at Koc University in Turkey.

This is a fascinating finding because it not only means that happiness does have a scent, but that the scent is capable of transmitting the emotion to others. The study also found that other emotions, such as fear, seem to carry a scent too. This ensures previous research suggesting that some negative emotions have a smell, but it is the first time this has proved to be true of positive feelings.

Researchers have yet to isolate(分离) exactly what the chemical compound for the happiness smell is, but you might imagine what the potential applications for such a finding could be. Happiness perfumes, for instance, could be invented. Scent therapies（香味疗法）could also be developed to help people through depression or anxiety.

Perhaps the most surprising result of the study, however, is our broadened understanding of how emotions get communicated, and also how our own emotions are potentially managed through our social context and the emotional states of those around us.

1.What is the main finding of the new research?

A. Pleasant feelings can be smelt out.

B. Negative emotions have a smell.

C. Men produce more sweats.

D. Women have a better sense of smell.

2.The underlined part “abstain from” in Paragraph 3 probably means _________.

A. continue           B. practice       C. avoid     D. try

3.What is the application value of the new research?

A. Perfumes could help people understand each other.

B. Some smells could be created to improve our appearance.

C. Perfumes could be produced to cure physical diseases.

D. Some smells could be developed to better our mood.

4.We can learn from the last paragraph that        .

A. happiness comes from a scent of sweat

B. social surroundings can influence our emotions

C. people need more emotional communication

D.  positive energy can deepen understanding

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于科普类短文阅读，研究了幸福的人是否可以散发出味道，并提出未来可能会把研究成果运用到实际生活中。

1.A 推理搭配题。根据第二段第二句Surprising new research suggests that happiness does indeed have a scent, and that the experience of happiness can be transmitted through smell, reports Phys.org.可知这项研究显示幸福的确有香味，这项香味可以转换成味道。故A正确。

2.C 词义猜测题。这项研究的目的就是为了证明幸福能不能产生香味，所以参加研究的人是不能受到别的味道的影响的，以免影响研究的准确性。本句All of the men were healthy and none of them were drug users or smokers, and all were asked to abstain from drinking or eating smelly foods during the study period. 所有的男性都很健康，没有吸毒或者抽烟的人，他们都被要求在研究期间避免吃喝有味道的东西。所以本句中的“abstain from”意为“avoid”故C正确。

3.D 推理判断题。根据倒数第二段最后两句Happiness perfumes, for instance, could be invented. Scent therapies（香味疗法）could also be developed to help people through depression or anxiety. 可知这项研究结果可以让生产出幸福香水，香味疗法可以帮助人们度过压抑和焦虑的情绪。也就是说一些味道可以让我们的情绪更好。故D正确。

4.

考点：考查科普类短文阅读