A
We have seen that humour and laughter positively influence our body in many ways, but little research has been done on whether a better sense of humour actually helps keep you from getting sick. However, since people with a better sense of humour have higher IgA levels, and since research has shown that those with higher levels of salivary(唾液的) IgA are less likely to get colds or be infected with Streptococcus, humour should reduce the frequency of colds.
The only study to directly examine this question found that the impact of one's sense of humour upon colds depends on the kind of sense of humour you have. It was only individuals whose sense of humour took the form of seeking out and appreciating humour who had fewer and less severe colds/flu than their low humour counterparts. Surprisingly, those whose sense of humour took the form of initiating humour more often did not have fewer or less severe colds/flu. The researchers argued that being a person who likes to tell jokes or otherwise initiate humour takes them into more frequent contact with other people, which serves to expose them to infectious agents more often, robbing them of the advantage that a more active sense of humour otherwise offers. Obviously, more research is required to clear up this confusing picture.
The importance of active use of one's sense of humour in producing humour's health benefits was confirmed in another study in an unusual way. It found that among a group of mothers with newborn infants, those who actively used humour to cope with the stress in their lives had fewer upper respiratory infections and their infants also had fewer infections. This seemed to be because these mothers had higher levels of immunoglobulin A(免疫球蛋白 A) in their breast milk.
Among adults, if we look at bodily symptoms alone, independent of any diagnosed illness, there is some evidence that individuals who have more negative reactions to humour report more bodily symptoms and complaints. Students complaining of cardiovascular(心脏血管的) symptoms and gastroenterological(肠胃病的) symptoms also have been shown to have this more negative reaction to humour.
1. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. People with a good sense of humour get sick less often.
B. humour can reduce the frequency of colds/flu.
C. Any form of humour can prevent people from getting sick.
D. humour can treat illness.
2. Why do newborn infants whose mothers use humour to deal with stress have fewer infections?
A. Because they don't often get upper respiratory infections.
B. Because they are stronger since they were born.
C. Possibly because of the higher levels of immunoglobulin A in their breast milk.
D. Because their mothers take better care of them.
3. Students with some bad bodily symptoms show ________ towards humour.
A. a positive attitude B. a negative attitude C. a neutral attitude D. an unclear attitude
