IX. Read and choose the best answer.

     Psychologists are interested in the reasons why some people like taking part in risky sports. When they studied people who were learning to jump from a plane with a parachute, they found that parachutists’ bodies produced large amounts of two hormones, adrenaline and nor adrenaline, just before they made their jump.

These hormones help to prepare us for any sudden activity. Adrenaline increases the heart rate and provides more sugar for the muscles, while nor does adrenaline make us react more quickly.  However, nor adrenaline also stimulates apart of the brain which controls feelings of pleasure. Some psychologists have concluded that it is a feeling of pleasure caused by this hormone which makes certain people want to participate in dangerous sports.

Another possible reason is the level of arousal in part of the brain. According to some psychologists, the brain tries to maintain a certain level of arousal. They believe that people who normally have a low level of arousal look for excitement and new experiences in order to stimulate themselves, whereas people who usually have a high level of arousal try to avoid risks and unfamiliar situations in order not to become overexcited. If the psychologists are right, people with a low arousal are the ones who enjoy participating in dangerous sports and activities.

    It is thought that people with low levels of arousal have a slower-reacting nervous system than people with higher arousal levels. It may therefore be possible to find out your level of arousal by testing your nervous system. A quick way of doing this is  to put some lemon juice on your tongue. If you produce a lot of saliva, your nervous system has been affected by the lemon and so you probably have a high level of arousal; if you produce little of saliva, you probably have a low arousal level. If you have a low level, you might enjoy taking part in risky sports. However, this does not mean that you have to try parachuting!

Question 31. Why did the parachutists’ bodies produce a lot of adrenaline and nor adrenaline before they jumped from a plane?

     A. This is a natural reaction which helps to prepare one for sudden activity.

     B. Because they had high arousal levels.

     C. It is a natural reaction which guards them against the effects of accidents.

     D. Because they had taken drugs which led to the production of these two hormones.

Question 32. What two possible reasons are given for some people’s desire to participate in dangerous sports?

     A. A lack of common sense, and a high level of arousal.

     B. A low level of arousal, and an inborn desire for adventure.

     C. The pleasure that results from the production of nor adrenaline, and a low level of arousal.

     D. A desire to show off, and a lack of common sense.

Question 33. What dose the brain try to maintain, according to some psychologists?

     A. A high temperature.

     C. A certain level of arousal.

B. A low temperature.

D. A sense of safety.

Question 34. Why do psychologists believe that people with a high level of arousal try to avoid danger?

     A. Because they already have the level of excitement which the brain tries to maintain.

     B. Because they are more aware of the dangers involved.

     C. Because they already have enough of the two hormones, adrenaline and nor adrenaline.

     D. Because they would not be able to cope with accidents.

Question 35. What is shown by putting lemon juice on your tongue?

     A. It shows that you have a high level of arousal if no saliva is produced.

     B. It indicates your level of arousal by amount of saliva that is produced.

     C. It can indicate whether your saliva is more acidic or more alkaline.

     D. It is a good test of your sense of taste.

Question 36. What kinds of substances are adrenaline and nor adrenaline?

     A. Subatomic particles.                    B. Minerals.                  C. Vitamins.                     D. Hormones.

Question 37. What substances is thought to stimulate the brain to make us feel pleasure?

     A. Adrenaline.                                 B. Nor adrenaline.          C. Lemon juice.               D. Manganese dioxide.

Question 38. Which of the following does adrenaline do?

     A. It weakens the muscles.                        B. It makes people afraid.

     C. It makes the heart beat more quickly.   D. It makes the heart beat more slowly.

Question 39. Where were the parachutists when, according to the passage, they produced large amount of the two hormones?

     A. On an airplane                  B. In the air                  C. On the ground              D. At sea

Question 40. According to some psychologists, what kind of people try to avoid unfamiliar situations?

     A. People who do not like lemon juice.                B. People who have a low hormone content.