Question

【題目】 Whenever we watch a horror movie and something scary happens, we might close our eyes and scream. However, chances are that we'll continue to watch and enjoy the movie anyway. So why can fear be so much fun?

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh in the US, watching horror movies can raise our mood, unite people and boost our confidence.

In the study, 262 adults were asked to enter a haunted house(鬼屋)attraction. In the haunted house for 35 minutes, they saw a series of tense scenes and were asked to record their feelings both before and after the experience. At the same time, the researchers also monitored their brain waves.

According to the researchers, the participants were more likely to be happier and less anxious and tired after they left the attraction. That's because in this intense condition their brains released more dopamine(多巴胺), a chemical which “produce a strong feeling of excitement and happiness lasting after the threat has passed,”reported Business Insider.

What's more taking advantage of this sensation may bring people together. People in scary situations are more likely to be uncertain and depend on others for support. “We’re social and emotional beings- we need each other in times of stress,so we feel close to those we are with when afraid makes sense.” Said Margee Kerr,one of the study’s authors.

In addition, it could be a good way to boost our confidence. “Being scared in a safe place is a source of enjoyment and makes us feel good physically and can even serve as a confidence boost by reminding us that we can make it through a scary situation,we are strong, Kerr told The Independent.

【1】In the study, the participants did not_________.

A.stay in a haunted house for about half an hour

B.record their own feelings after the experience

C.monitor their own brain waves

D.see a series of tense scenes together

【2】The participants probably feel_________after they left the attraction.

A.more scaredB.more anxious and tired

C.less confiderD.happier and more excited

【3】The underlined word “boost” probably mean_________.

A.lowerB.reduceC.increaseD.decrease

【4】The purpose of the study is to find out_________.

A.why people enjoy watching horror films

B.different ways to raise mood and unite people

C.how people feel when they are in a scary situation

D.what is the source of enjoyment

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】D

【3】C

【4】A

【解析】

這是一篇科技文章，為什么人們喜歡看恐怖片，根據(jù)科學研究看恐怖電影可以提高我們的情緒，團結人們，增強我們的信心。

【1】推理判斷。根據(jù)文中“In the study, 262 adults were asked to enter a haunted house(鬼屋)attraction. In the haunted house for 35 minutes, they saw a series of tense scenes and were asked to record their feelings both before and after the experience.” 在這項研究中，262名成年人被要求進入一個鬼屋景點。在鬼屋里呆了35分鐘，他們看到了一系列緊張的場面，被要求記錄下他們經(jīng)歷前后的感受。根據(jù)文中“At the same time, the researchers also monitored their brain waves.” 同時，研究人員還監(jiān)測了他們的腦電波。可知，在這項研究中，參與者沒有監(jiān)測自己的腦電波。故選C。

【2】細節(jié)理解。more scared更害怕的； more anxious and tired更加焦慮和疲憊；less confider不太自信；happier and more excited更快樂更興奮。根據(jù)文中“According to the researchers, the participants were more likely to be happier and less anxious and tired after they left the attraction.” 根據(jù)研究人員的說法，當參與者離開景點后，他們更有可能更快樂，更少焦慮和疲勞�？芍�他們會感到更快樂和更激動。故選D

【3】詞句猜測。lower降低；reduce減少； increase增加； decrease減少。根據(jù)下文“Being scared in a safe place is a source of enjoyment and makes us feel good physically and can even serve as a confidence boost by reminding us that we can make it through a scary situation,we are strong” 在一個安全的地方被嚇到是一種享受，讓我們感覺身體很好，甚至可以通過提醒我們可以度過一個可怕的情況來增強信心，我們很強大。可知上文中“boost”的意思是增加，這里是增加我們自信的方式。故選C。

【4】主旨大意。why people enjoy watching horror films為什么人們喜歡看恐怖電影；different ways to raise mood and unite people不同的方法來提高情緒和團結人們；how people feel when they are in a scary situation當人們處于可怕的處境時的感受；what is the source of enjoyment享受的源泉是什么。通讀整篇短文可知，這個研究的目的是為什么人們喜歡看恐怖電影。故選A。