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　　Crying is hardly anactivity encouraged by society. Tears, be they of sorrow, anger, on joy,typically make Americans feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. The shedder oftears is likely to apologize, even when a devastating (毁灭性的) tragedy was theprovocation. The observer of tears is likely to do everything possible to putan end to the emotional outpouring. But judging from recent studies of cryingbehavior, links between illness and crying and the chemical composition oftears, both those responses to tears are often inappropriate and may even becounterproductive.

　　Humans are the onlyanimals definitely known to shed emotional tears. Since evolution has givenrise to few, if any, purposeless physiological response, it is logical toassume that crying has one or more functions that enhance survival.

　　Although someobservers have suggested that crying is a way to solicit assistance from others(as a crying baby might from its mother), the shedding of tears is hardlynecessary to get help. Vocal cries would have been quite enough, more likelythan tears to gain attention, So, it appears, there must be something specialabout tears themselves.

　　Indeed, the newstudies suggest that emotional tears may play a direct role in alleviatingstress, University of Minnesota researchers who are studying the chemicalcomposition of tears have recently isolated two important chemicals fromemotional tears. Both chemicals are found only in tears that are shed inresponse to emotion. Tears shed because of exposure to cut onion would containno such substance.

　　Researchers at severalother institutions are investigating the usefulness of tears as a means ofdiagnosing human ills and monitoring drugs.

　　At Tulane University’sTeat Analysis Laboratory Dr. Peter Kastl and his colleagues report that theycan use tears to detect drug abuse and exposure to medication(药物), to determinewhether a contact lens fits properly of why it may be uncomfortable, to studythe causes of “dry eye” syndrome and the effects of eye surgery, and perhapseven to measure exposure to environmental pollutants.

　　At Columbia UniversityDt. Liasy Faris and colleagues are studying tears for clues to the diagnosis ofdiseases away from the eyes. Tears can be obtained painlessly without invadingthe body and only tiny amounts are needed to perform highly refined analyses.

　　31. It isknown from the first paragraph that ________.

　　[A] shedding tears givesunpleasant feelings to American

　　[B]crying may often imitate people or even result in tragedy

　　[C]crying usually wins sympathy from other people

　　[D]one who sheds tears in public will be blamed

　　32. What does“both those responses to tears”(Line 6, Para, 1) refer to?

　　[A]Crying out of sorrow and shedding tears for happiness.

　　[B]The embarrassment and unpleasant sensation of the observers.

　　[C] The tear shedder’sapology and the observer’s effort to stop the crying.

　　[D]Linking illness with crying and finding the chemical composition of tears.

　　33.“Counterproductive” (Lines 6-7, Para,1) very probably means “________”.

　　[A]having no effect at all

　　[B]leading to tension

　　[C] producing disastrousimpact

　　[D]harmful to health

　　34. What doesthe author say about crying?

　　[A]It is a pointless physiological response to the environment.

　　[B] It must have a role toplay in man’s survival.

　　[C]It is meant to get attention and assistance.

　　[D]It usually produces the desired effect.

　　35. What canbe inferred from the new studies of tears?

　　[A] Emotional tears have thefunction of reducing stress.

　　[B]Exposure to excessive medication may increase emotional tears.

　　[C]Emotional tears can give rise to “dry eye” syndrome in some cases.

　　[D]Environmental pollutants can induce the shedding of emotional tears.