Question

11．There is an English saying，"Laughter is the best medicine．"Until recently，few people took the saying seriously．Now however，doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body．They have found that laughter really can improve people's health．
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body．People watched funny films while doctors checked their heart，blood pressure，breathing and muscles．It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise．It increases blood pressure，makes the heart beat quicker and makes people breathe deeper； it also works several groups of muscles in the face，the stomach，and even the feet．If laughter exercises the body，it must be beneficial．
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body．In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programmes．The group that tolerated the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny programme．The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemical in the brain which diminishes both stress and pain．
  As a result，some doctors in the United States hold laughter clinics，in which they help to improve their patients'condition by encouraging them to laugh．They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing，making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter．
49．The underlined word"diminishes"in the third paragraph means"D"．
A．delays        
B．prevents        
C．increases       
D．reduces
50．Why do doctors hold laughter clinics？C
A．Because they want to ear n more money．
B．Because they think they will help the patients recover from illnesses．
C．Because they want to improve their patients'health．
D．Because they want their patients to laugh more．
51．What would be the best title for this passage？D
A．Both laughter and physical exercise are good for health．
B．Laughter clinics can help patients improve their condition．
C．Laughter can reduce the effect of pain．
D．Laughter is the best medicine．

Answer 1

分析 本文是一篇社会文化类阅读，有一句英文的谚语，"笑是最好的药"，直到最近，很少有人认真对待这个话题．然而，医生们已经开始着眼于笑声和对人体的影响．他们发现笑声真的可以改善人们的健康．

解答 49．D．猜测词义题．根据上文Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body．可知听，有趣的节目的人对疼痛的忍耐较强，笑能产生一种化学物质，这种物质能够减少压力和痛苦．故该词意为减少．故选D．
50．C．推理判断题．根据第四段第二行they help to improve their patients'condition by encouraging them to laugh．可知他们是为了提高病人的健康水平而这样做的．故选C．
51．D．主旨大意题．根据文章主题段第一段的主题句第一句There is an English saying，"Laughter is the best medicine．"可知，本文主要讲述了笑是最好的良药．故选D．

点评 本文是一篇社会文化类阅读，题目涉及多道主旨大意题，推理判断题，词义猜测题．做题时学生应仔细阅读原文，把握文章主要内容，联系文章上下文内容并结合所给选项含义，从中选出正确答案，一定要做到有理有据，切忌胡乱猜测．