The possibility that pleasant smells might reduce pain has recently been suggested by new research. In a scientific study, doctors asked 20 men and 20 women to keep their hands in very hot water for as long as possible while breathing in different smells.
As people believe that strong smells can affect the senses, volunteers were asked not to eat or drink for eight hours before the experiment began. During the experiment, volunteers were asked to take in pleasant smells such as vanilla (香草), and unpleasant smells such as durians (榴莲). The volunteers kept their hands in the water until it became too hot for them. When they could not bear the pain any more, they took their hands out of the water.
Scientists are interested in whether the senses or smell is related to pain and whether men and women have the same senses. Now, the study has proved that for women, pleasant smells reduce pain. For men, there is no change.
Dr Finkelstein has been studying smells since 1999. He says that scientists already have data from 40 volunteers. He adds that this year, scientists will test another 60 volunteers and will be in a better position to explain the results.
One explanation is that women’s sense of smell developed long ago, and is linked to recognizing the smell of babies. Scientists used to believe that mothers recognized their children by sight only. Now, they have started to believe that the sense of smell also helps, but why pleasant smells do not reduce pain in men is a question still to be answered by scientists.
【小题1】Before the experiment, volunteers .A．are gathered and take a training B．cannot eat or drink for several hoursC．must wash their hands carefully D．will be interviewed by Dr Finkelstein【小题2】If both men and women are asked to keep their hands in hot water while taking in some pleasant smells, .A．women may stand the pain of the hot water longerB．men may keep their hands in the hot water longerC．they will probably take their hands out at the same timeD．we are not quite sure who will take their hands out earlier【小题3】From the passage we learn that .A．the reason why women are sensitive to smells is clearB．the experiment for the sense of smell has e to an endC．unpleasant smells affect men’s senses more than women’sD．scientists have not totally explained the result of the study【小题4】Now scientists believe that .A．mothers recognize their children only by sightB．men’s sense of smell developed a long time agoC．strong smells have a great influence on people’s senses D．smells are helpful for mothers to spot their children【小题5】The writer wrote the passage in order to .A．supply some entertainment to usB．show women’s sharper senses than men’sC．inform the readers of some knowledge D．call for volunteers for the experimentB
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(答案→)B
解析：本文通过一个实验来告诉我们女孩和男性相比较，更能够容忍痛苦。另外气味对人的忍耐力也是有影响的。
【小题1】B 细节题。根据文章第二段1,2行As people believe that strong smells can affect the senses, volunteers were asked not to eat or drink for eight hours before the experiment began.可知在试验之前，志愿者很长时间不能吃饭喝东西。故B正确。
【小题2】A 细节题。根据文章第三段第2行Now, the study has proved that for women, pleasant smells reduce pain.可知女性在热水中可以容忍的时间更长。故A正确。
【小题3】D 细节题。根据文章最后2行Now, they have started to believe that the sense of smell also helps, but why pleasant smells do not reduce pain in men is a question still to be answered by scientists.可知科学家最后也没有给出最终的解释。故D正确。
【小题4】D 细节题。根据文章最后一段1,2行One explanation is that women’s sense of smell developed long ago, and is linked to recognizing the smell of babies.可知母亲利用味道来辨别自己的孩子。故D正确。
【小题5】C 主旨大意题。作者写这篇文章的目的正是为了解释一个科学实验的结果，告诉我们女性对于痛苦可能更能够忍受较长的时间。故C正确。