Question

【題目】 Researchers continue to show the power behind our sense of smell. Recent studies have found, among other things, that the smell of foods like pizza can cause uncontrollable anger in drivers on roads.

The review explains that smell is unique in its effects on the brain. According to Conrad King, the researcher who carried out the review, "more than any other senses, the sense of smell goes through the logical part of the brain and acts on the systems concerned with feelings. This is why the smell of baking bread can destroy the best intentions of a dieter."

Smell, which dictates the unbelievable complexity of food tastes, has always been the least understood of our senses. Our noses are able to detect up to 10,000 distinct smells. Our ability to smell and taste this extremely large range of smells is controlled by something like 1,000 genes (基因), which make up an amazing 3% of the human genome. Researchers Richard Axel and Linda Buck were together awarded a Nobel Prize in 2004 for their ground-breaking research on the nature of this extraordinary sense. These two scientists were the first to describe the family of 1,000 olfactory (嗅覺) genes and to explain how our olfactory system works.

According to one study in the research review, smelling fresh pizza or even the packaging of fast foods can be enough to make drivers feel impatient with other road users. They are then more likely to speed and experience uncontrollable anger on roads. The most reasonable explanation is that these can all make drivers feel hungry, and therefore desperate to satisfy their appetites.

In contrast, the smells of peppermint and cinnamon were shown to improve concentration levels as well as reduce drivers’ impatience. Similarly, the smells of lemon and coffee appeared to promote clear thinking and mental focus.

However, the way genes regulate smell differs from person to person. A study by researchers in Israel has identified at least 50 olfactory genes which are switched on in some people and not in others. They believe this may explain why some of us love some smells and tastes while others hate them. The Israel researchers say their study shows that nearly every human being shows a different pattern of active and inactive smell-detecting receptors.

【1】What did Richard Axel and Linda Buck find out?

A.The category of food smells.

B.The logical part of human brain.

C.The nature of human olfactory system.

D.The relationship between food and feelings.

【2】Which of the following can help people concentrate?

A.Bread.B.Fruits.

C.Coffee.D.Fast food.

【3】What do we know from the last paragraph?

A.Some people can recognize up to 50 smells.

B.Every person has a different pattern of genes.

C.Different people are sensitive to different smells.

D.There are still some olfactory genes to be found out.

【4】What is the passage mainly about?

A.Logic and behaviour.

B.Smell and its influence.

C.Sense ability and food tastes.

D.Olfactory genes and its system.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】C

【3】C

【4】B

【解析】

這是一篇說明文。文章主要介紹了人類的嗅覺和它的影響。

【1】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段中“These two scientists were the first to describe the family of 1,000 olfactory (嗅覺) genes and to explain how our olfactory system works.”可知，Richard Axel and Linda Buck研究了家庭嗅覺基因并解釋了我們的嗅覺系統(tǒng)是如何工作的，即人類嗅覺系統(tǒng)的本質(zhì)，故選C。

【2】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第五段中“Similarly, the smells of lemon and coffee appeared to promote clear thinking and mental focus.”可知，檸檬和咖啡的氣味有助于提高思考和注意力，故選C。

【3】推理判斷題。根據(jù)最后一段中“The Israel researchers say their study shows that nearly every human being shows a different pattern of active and inactive smell-detecting receptors.”， 幾乎每個人的嗅覺感受器的活躍和不活躍模式都不同。由此判斷出，不同的人對不同的氣味敏感，故選C。

【4】主旨大意題。通讀全文尤其是根據(jù)第一段中Researchers continue to show the power behind our sense of smell. Recent studies have found, among other things, that the smell of foods like pizza can cause uncontrollable anger in drivers on roads.可知，研究人員繼續(xù)證明我們的嗅覺背后的力量。最近的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，比薩等食物的味道會讓道路上的司機無法控制自己的憤怒情緒。以及全文的具體說明可知，本文主要介紹了人類的嗅覺和它的影響。故選B。