上海大学附属中学2023-2024学年高二下学期英语期中考试卷

2023学年第二学期上大附中期中考试高二年级英语试卷（满分140分，120分钟完成，答案一律写在答题卡和答题纸上）I.ListeningComprehension(25分)SectionA:ShortConversationsDirections:InSectionA,youwillheartenshortconversationsbetweentwospeakers.Attheendofeachconversation,aquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Theconversationsandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaconversationandthequestionaboutit,readthefourpossibleanswersonyourpaper,anddecidewhichoneisthebestanswertothequestionsyouhaveheard.1.A.Doctorandpatient. B.Waitressandcustomer.C.Wifeandhusband. D.Secretaryandboss.2.A.Hissignature. B.Hisroomnumber.C.Hisreceipt. D.Hischeck.3.A.Moveherbagatthedesk. B.Tellastorywithhumor.C.Undergoanoperation. D.Haveaquarrelwiththeman.4.A.Mr.Jamesisthenewadvisor. B.Theadvisorisawoman.C.Everyundergraduatehasanadvisor. D.Theadvisorisnotthere.5.A.Shehaddifficultygettingtickets. B.She'salreadybeentotheexhibition.C.Shewantedtogetticketsforeverybody. D.She'lltrytogetticketsafterwork.6.A.Themeetingwasannouncedtoday. B.She'llmakethecalllater.C.Therewon'tbeameetingtomorrow. D.Shehasconfirmedeverything.7.A.Heeatstoomuchwhenplayingchess. B.Hewon'tjointhechessclub.C.Chessishisfavoritegame. D.Hedoesn'tenjoychessasmuchasheusedto.8.A.Thenumberofthetrain. B.Whenthenexttrainwilldepart.C.Wheretofindsomeequipment. D.Wheretoboardthetrain.9.A.Shewouldn'tuseherticket. B.Shedidn'twantherticket.C.Shehadforgottenaboutherticket. D.Shedidn'thaveaticket.10.A.Therestaurantwasn'tverycrowded. B.Themealwasveryexpensive.C.Themagazinewasn'tveryinteresting. D.Thefoodwasn'tverygood.SectionBDirections:InSectionB,youwillheartwoshortpassagesandalongerconversation,andyouwillbeaskedseveralquestionsoneachofthepassagesandtheconversation.Thepassagesandtheconversationwillbereadtwice,butthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Whenyouhearaquestion,readthefourpossibleanswersonyourpaperanddecidewhichoneisthebestanswertothequestionyouhaveheard.Questions11through13arebasedonthefollowingpassage.11.A.Itvariesfrompersontoperson.B.Itisdecidedbythemosthealthylifestyle.C.Itneedssometestsandcomparisontothestandard.D.Itisbasedmoreonindividualneedsthanpersonalgoals.12.A.Strength. B.Endurance. C.Flexibility. D.Health.13.A.Thevarietyoffitnessinthefuture.B.Theimportanceofthreebasicfactorsconcerningfitness.C.Thenewconceptoffitnessanditsessentialfactors.D.Trainingeffectsofsomesportsonpeople.Questions14through16arebasedonthefollowingpassage.14.A.Recognizingone'sabilities. B.Analyzingone'sstrengthsandweaknesses.C.Matchingone'sabilitiestojobvacancies. D.Presentingone'sabilitiestofutureemployers.15.A.Findingoutwhattheycandoabouttheemployer. B.Avoidingaskingunsurequestions.C.Arrivingasearlyastheycan. D.Answeringquestionsinapoliteway.16.A.Graduatesfromfamousuniversities. B.Determined,skilledandablepeople.C.Capableandmodestpeople. D.Peoplewithmuchworkexperience.Questions17through20arebasedonthefollowingconversation.17.A.Sharingpicturesonlinewithhisfollowers. B.Pickingoutthepicturestobesharedonline.C.Havingpicturestakenbyhisfollowersonline. D.Helpingotherstotakesomepicturesonline.18.A.Hisfriendsandrelatives. B.Hisfriendsandfollowers.C.Hissocialmediafriendsandfollowers. D.Allpeopleonline.19.A.Opposed. B.Favorable. C.Indifferent. D.Doubtful.20.A.Therearealotofvirusandvariouscrimesonline.B.It'sfulloftoomanyfalseandunqualifiedproducts.C.It'schangeableandhardtobecontrolledbypeople.D.Thereareallkindsofcheatsonlineactually.II.GrammarandVocabularySectionA(10)Directions:Afterreadingthepassagesbelow,fillintheblankstomakethepassagescoherentandgrammaticallycorrect.Fortheblankswithagivenword,filineachblankwiththeproperformofthegivenword;fortheotherblanks,useonewordthatbestfitseachblank.Buzzwords(流行词)CaptureHowWeLivedin2023WhilewalkingalongSuzhouCreektogathermaterialformylatest“ShanghaiExpression”column,Iwaswondering21.Shanghai'smodemskylinesmatchthehistoricalaspectsoftheareasoeffortlessly.Theoldandthenewcreateauniqueambience(格调).Nearthecreek,IencounteredUncleChen,fishinginatranquilspot.“Nicedayforfishing,”Isaidingreetinghim.Helookedupwithasmile.“Yes,it'sabreakfromthemobilephonoworld.”It22(strike)methatAmericanpublisherMerriam-Websterincluded“authentic”onitslistoftheyear2023'stopwords.Itreflectsagrowingfocusongenuinenessinanera23(dominate)byAI,celebritycultureandsocialmedia.AsItalkedwithUncleChen,thebustleofthecity24(continue)aroundus.Fooddeliverymenbuzzedpast.Onlinecelebritiesindopaminedressesheldselfiesticksforlivestreaming,25(highlight)theriseofabreedof“newprofessionals.”Touristsandlocalsalikestrolledthroughthearea,someengagedin26appearedtobea“citywalk”—awander27acleardestination.Officeworkerswalkedbyholdingfancycoffeecups,asignoftheevolvingcoffeetrends28havesweptthecity,likethe“Moutai-flavoredlatte.”WatchingUncleChen,tourists,onlinecelebrities,officeworkersanddeliverypeople,Isawachangingcityinarealmofconstantchange,summarizedbyavarietyofcontemporarybuzzwords.292023windsdown,it'sinterestingtonotethatbuzzwordsaren'tjustwords.Rather,theyaremarkersofthedynamic,ever-changingaspectsoflife.Eachbuzzwordhasitsownstory.Eachpopularphraseoffersapeekintotheheartsandmindsofpeople,especiallytheyoungergeneration.Let'spause30(look)atsomeofthemmoreclosely.SectionB(10%)Directions:Filineachblankwithaproperwordchosenfromthebox.Eachwordcanbeusedonlyonce.Notothatthereisonowordmorethanyouneed.A.launchedB.utilizedC.completeD.jointlyE.furtherF.realizedG.currentlyH.processibleI.specificallyJ.recognizedK.reliableSanofiLaunchesGrant(拨款)toHelpChildrenwithDlabetes(糖尿病)Tocelebratethe60thanniversaryofChina-Francodiplomaticties,theFrenchpharmaceuticalgiantSanoficooperatedwiththeShanghaiSoongChingLingFoundationto31unveiltheSanofiChinaCharityGrantonThursday,aspartofthecompany'seffortsto32participateintheChinesemarketandcontributetolocalpeople'slivelihoods.AsoneofthefirstFrenchcompaniestoenterChina,Sanofihascontinuouslyincreasedinvestmentandpromotedinnovationinthehealthcaresectoroverthepastfewdecades.Thecompanyhasbeencommittedtomakinginnovativemedicineandmedicalservicesmore33toChinesepeople,saidWayneShi,presidentofSanofiGreaterChina.OlivierCharmel,thecompany'sexecutivevice-president,saidSanofihasbenefitedalotfromitslong-terminvestmentinChinaandwillalwaysstandasa34partner.ThecompanyexpectstofurthercontributetotheexchangesbetweenChinaandFrancenotonlyinthefieldofhealthcare,butalsoinscience,economy,andculture.Shisaidthecompany35theSanofiChinaCharityGrantwithanaimtobettermeetthehealthneedsinChina,anditsfirstprojectwill36focusondiabetesmellitusinchildrenandadolescents.JiLinong,directorofDepartmentofEndocrinologyatPekingUniversityPeople'sHospital,highly37theimportanceofthediabetesprojectatapaneldiscussionheldafterthelaunchceremony.HesaidChina38ranksfourthintheworldforthenumberofchildrenandadolescentssufferingfromtypeIdiabetes.Withthehelpofthecharitygrant,JisaidheexpectsChinatoestablishamore39healthcaresystemespeciallyfortypeIdiabetes.Doctors,professionalequipmentandnutritionistsshouldbeprovidedtohelppatientscorrectlyinjectinsulinandeffectivelycontrolbloodsugarlevels.Inadditiontodiabetes,theSanofiChinaCharityGrantwillalsobe40tocombatotherdiseasessuchasimmunitydiscases.Itisexpectedtodirectlybenefitover10,000peopleandindirectlybenefitmorethanonemillionpeopleinthenextthreeyears.III.ReadingComprehensionSectionA(15分)Directions:ForeachblankinthefollowingpassagetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD.Fillineachblankwiththewordorphrasethatbestfitsthecontext.Angerisn'tapleasantfeeling.Someofusbottleuptheemotion,whileothers41inawildanger.Bothhabitshavebadeffectsonourbodies,ourminds,andourrelationships.Angermayfeeluncomfortable,butit'salsonormalandhealthy.“Alotofpeoplethinktheyhaveto42theiranger,”saysPatrickKeelan,aregisteredpsychologist.“Butangerisanemotionbuiltintoustosignalthatsomethingneedstobe43.”Whenwetakenoticeofthatsignalandactuallycorrecttheprobleminsteadofignoringit,we'reusuallymuchbetterforit.44,manyofushavebeenconditionedtokeepouremotionshidden.Increasingly,researchissuggestingthatthiscanhavelong-termeffectsonourhealth.InvestigatorsattheUniversityofRochesternoticedthatpeoplewho45theiremotionstendtohaveshorterlifespans.They'remorelikelytodieearlierfromcancer,46.Whenwe'reangry,stresshormonesarereleased,whichcanmakeusmorelikelytodevelopawiderangeofdiseases,includingdiabetes,depression,andautoimmuneconditions.Isitbetter,then,to47wheneversomethingmakesyoumad?That'sthefundamentalreasonbehindthe“ragerooms”thathavepoppedupinmanyAmericancities,wherefolksareinvitedtoreleasetheirangerbyviolentlyhavingstuff48ina“safe”environment.“Thetheoryisthatyougettheangeroutofyoursystemthroughaggressiveactions,andit's49,”saysKeelan.“Buttheresearchindicatesthatwhenwedisplayourangeraggressively,itcanactuallyincreasethe50oftheanger-andincreasethelikelihoodofaggressiveactionsinthefuture.”Itdoesn'ttakemuchimaginationto51howdisplayingangerviolentlycanaffectyourrelationshipswithyourspouse,yourkids,oryourco-workers.Italso52yourhealth.Alarge2016studyatMcMasterUniversityfoundthatpeoplearemorethantwiceaslikelytohaveaheartattackafteranangryoutburst.Theincreasedbloodpressureandheartrateput53onthecardiovascular(心血管的)system.Ifweshouldn'tbottleupourangryfeelingsbutaggressivebehaviourisn'thealthyeither,howshouldwe54thingsthatirritateus?It'stheextremehighsandlowsthattakeatoll.Ifyou'reabletoapplytechniquesthatsmoothoutsomeofthose55,youcanhaveagentlerride.41.A.escape B.explode C.evacuate D.express42.A.getoutof B.getdownwith C.getholdof D.getridof43.A.consumed B.credited C.erased D.addressed44.A.Unfortunately B.Incredibly C.Generally D.Literally45.A.contain B.release C.arouse D.strengthen46.A.onthecontrary B.inshort C.asusual D.forexample47.A.fight B.scream C.glare D.pour48.A.smashed B.spilt C.separated D.shaken49.A.inspiring B.scaring C.uploading D.liberating50.A.stability B.quantity C.intensity D.priority51.A.predict B.prospect C.react D.reflect52.A.bothers B.restricts C.hurts D.breaks53.A.warning B.emphasis C.stress D.flow54.A.follow B.handle C.avoid D.shadow55.A.downandout B.twistsandturnsC.applesandoranges D.peaksandvalleysSectionB(每题2分)Directions:Readthefollowingthreepassages.Eachpassageisfollowedbyseveralquestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatfitsbestaccordingtotheinformationgiveninthepassageyouhavejustread.(A)ArtistSusanShepherdisbestknownforherflowerpaintings,andthelargegardenthatsurroundsherhouseisthesourceofmanyofhersubjects.Itisfullofherfavouriteflowers,mostespeciallyvanctiesoftulipsandpoppies.Someoftheplantsareunrulyandseedthemselvesalloverthegarden.Thereisaharmonyofcolour,shapeandstructureinthetwolongflowerbordersthatlinethepavedpathwhichcrossesthegardenfromeasttowest.Muchofthisis.duetothepreviousownerswhowerekeengardeners,andwholeftplantsthatappealedtoSusan.Shealsoinheritedthegardener,Danny.‘Infact,itwasreallyhisgarden,’shesays.‘Wegotonverywell.Atfirsthewouldsay,“Oh,it'snotworthit”tosomeofthethingsIwantedtoputin,butwhenIsaidIwantedtopaintthem,herecognizedwhatIhadinmind.’Susanpreferstofocusondetailedstudiesofindividualplantsratherthanonthegardenasawhole,thoughshewilloccasionallypaintagroupofplantswheretheyare.Moreusually,shepicksthemandthentakesthemuptoherstudio.‘Idon'tsetthewholethingupatonce,’shesays.‘Itakeoneflowerupatonce,’shesays.‘Itakeonefloweroutandpaintit,whichmighttakeafewdays,andthenIbringinanotheroneandbuildupthepaintingthatway.Sometimesittakesacoupleofyearstofinish.’Herbusiesttimeofyearisspringandearlysummer,whenthetulipsareout,followedbythepoppies.‘Theyallcomeouttogether,andyou'resobusy,’shesays.Butthegradualdecayingprocessisalsopartofthefascinationforher.Withtulips,forexample,'youbringtheminandputtheminwater,thenleavethemforperhapsadayandtheyeachformthemselvesintodifferentshapes.Theyopenoutandarefantastic.Whenyoufirstputtheminavase,youthinktheyareboring,buttheychangeallthetimewithtwistsandturns.'56.Inthefirstparagraph,theauthordescribesSusan'sgardenas________.A.beingonlypartlyfinishedB.havingapathlinedwithflowersC.havingcausedproblemsforthepreviousownersD.needingalotofworktokeepitlookingattractive57.WhatdoesSusansayaboutDanny?A.Hefeltshewasinterferinginhiswork.B.Heimmediatelyunderstoodherfeelings.C.Hewasrecommendedbythepreviousowners.D.Hewasslowtoseethepointofsomeofherideas.58.WhatisSusan'sapproachtopainting?A.Shecreatesherpaintingsinseveralstages.B.Shespendsalldaypaintinganindividualflower.C.Shelikestodoresearchonaplantbeforeshepaintsit.D.Shewillwaituntilaflowerisreadytobepickedbeforepaintingit.59.Susanthinksthattulips________.A.lookbestsometimeaftertheyhavebeencut.B.shouldbekeptinthehouseforaslongaspossible.C.arenoteasytopaintbecausetheychangesoquickly.D.aremorecolourfulandbettershapedthanotherflowers.(B)Citizensciencegivescuriouspeopletheopportunitytobecomeextrasetsofhands,eyesandearsinrealscientificresearch.Bringingmanypeopletogethertodocumentendangeredspecies,monitorwaterqualityorwatchthestarsmakesitpossibletodoscienceonlargescalesandtacklebiggerresearchquestions.Herearejustfiveofthehundredsofcitizenscienceprojectsthatyoucanparticipatein.Nature'sNotebookVolunteersinthisproject“takethepulseoftheplanet”bydocumentingchangesinplants,animalsandinsectstohelpscientistsunderstandhowecosystemsarebeingaffectedbyclimatechange.YoucanjoinaregionalcampaignlikeMayflyWatchorPeskyPlantTrackers,orchoosefromover1,400speciestowatchinNorthAmerica.Then,logyourobservationsontheNature'sNotebookmobileapp.CrowdtheTapVolunteerstestthewaterandpipesintheirhomessoresearcherscanmapthepipeinfrastructureintheUnitedStatesandidentifypollutedwatersupplies.Allyouneedisapennyandamagnet(todeterminewhetherpipesaremadeofsteel,copper,plasticorlead,whichisnotalwaysobviousvisually).Youcanalsoshareobservationsaboutyourtapwaterlikecolor,smellandtaste.Ifyoulivenearaparticipatinglibraryorschool,youcancheckoutakittotestyourwaterchemistry.GLOBEObserverTheNASA-sponsoredGLOBEprojectseekstounderstandourchangingenvironmentandclimatethroughcrowd-sourcedobservations.Theprojectisapp-based,anduserscanuploadobservationsaboutclouds,mosquitohabitat,treesorlandcovertogiveresearchersaglobalpictureofhowourplanetischangingovertime.TheHappinessProjectHelppsychologyresearchersunderstandtherelationshipbetweenhappinessanddecision-makingbyplayinggames.Allyouneedtoparticipateistheproject'ssmartphoneapptoaccessgamesthatsubtlyinvestigatehowplayersapproachriskydecisions,whileperiodicallyaskingthemtoratetheirhappinesslevel.Gameandhappinessscoresbecomedatathatresearchersusetofigureouthowexpectationscontributetohappiness.ExoplanetWatchExperimenttimeonbigtelescopeslikeHubbleisprecious,soNASAneedsbackyardastronomerstohelpresearchersnarrowdownwhenandwheretoturntheirsightstofindplanetsoutsideofoursolarsystem.Everyday,theprojectpostsnewexoplanettargetsforvolunteerstokeepaneyeon.Ifyoudon'thaveatelescope,youcanstillaidthesearchbyanalyzingdatafromothers'observations.60.Whatistheprimarypurposeofcitizenscienceprojects,asdescribedinthearticle?A.Toprovidevolunteerswithopportunitiestolearnaboutscientificresearch.B.Toallowscientiststorelyonvolunteersfordataanalysis.C.Toengagecuriousindividualsinscientificresearch.D.Tohighlighttheimportanceofcitizens'contributiontoscience.61.Whatdoestheunderlinedphrase“takethepulseoftheplanet”mean?A.Monitortheheartratesofendangeredspecies.B.Recordchangesinecosystemstoassesstheimpactofclimatechange.C.Observethebehaviorofinsectsandanimals.D.Launchacampaigntoraiseawarenessaboutclimatechange.62.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisTRUEaccordingtothepassage?A.CrowdtheTapaimstoraisepeople'sawarenessaboutwater-relateddiseases.B.ExoplanetWatchreliesonlyonprofessionalastronomerstosearchforexoplanets.C.TheHappinessProjectinvestigatestherelationshipbetweenhappinessandgames.D.GLOBEObservercollectsobservationsaboutourchangingenvironmentthroughanapp-basedplatform.(C)Thedevelopmentofbiggerbrainshaslongbeenconsideredahallmarkofourspecies'increasedintelligenceandsubsequentdominanceonthisplanet.Thelasttwomillionyearsofourevolutionweremarkedbyanearlyfourfoldincreaseinbrainvolume.Butagrowingbodyofevidencesuggestsourbrainsrecentlychangedinanunexpectedway:TheydeclinedinsizesometimefollowingtheendofthelastIceAge.“Mostpeoplethinkofbrainevolutionhappeninginthisone-dimensionalway.Itgrows,plateausandstops,”saidJeremyDeSilva,aprofessorofpaleoanthropologyatDartmouthCollege.“Butwe'velostbraintissueequaltothevolumeofalime.itisn'tatinylittlesliverwe'retalkingabout.”TheprecisetimingofthatPost-IceAgebrainshrinkhasremainedamysteryuntilnow.AgroupofresearchersledbyDeSilvausedamixtureoffossilandmodernspecimendatatopinpointthatthislossofgraymatterhappenedbetween3,000to5,000yearsago,accordingtoresearchpublishedinJuneinthejournalFrontiersinEcologyandEvolution.Manyanthropologistshadinitiallyassumedthatthechangescoincidedwiththeappearanceofagriculturalpracticesaround10,000yearsago,andaglobalshiftawayfromhuntingandgathering.Themore-recentdatesfromDeSilva'sgrouppointtoboomingerasforancientcivilizationsinNorthAfrica,theMiddleEastandSouthAmerica-complexsocietiesthattheythinkmayhaveplayedaroleintheshrinkage.Theyhypothesizedthathumansocietiesgotsocooperativelyorganizedinthepast3,000yearsthatwebeganrelyingonwhatresearcherscallcollectiveintelligence.“Itistheideathatagroupofpeopleissmarterthanthesmartestpersoninthegroup,”saidJamesTraniello,abiologyprofessoratBostonUniversityandoneofDeSilva'sco-authors.“Sobasically,ifyouliveinagroup,yousolveproblemsmorerapidly,moreefficientlyandmoreaccuratelythanwhat'spossibleforanyindividual.”Traniellosaidtheinspirationforapplyingthisideatowhyhumanbrainsmayhaveshrunkcamefrom“ultrasocial”insectssuchasants.Antsformhighlycooperativesocietiesinwhichdivisionoflaborhasfavoredsmaller-brainedindividualsduetoanadvancedlevelofsocialorganization.Theresearcherssuggestedthatperhapsourneedtomaintainalargebrainctokeeptrackofinformationaboutfood,socialrelationships,predatorsandourenvironment—hasalsorelaxedinthepastfewmillenniabecausewecouldstoreinformationexternallyinothermembersofoursocialcircles,townsandgroups.“We'resosocialthatwedon'thavetoknoweverythinganymore,”DeSilvasaid.“Andwecollectivelythenoperateasaprettyfunctionalsociety.”63.WhatdidJeremyDeSilvameanbysaying“Butwe'velostbraintissueequaltothevolumeofalime-itisn'tatinylittlesliverwe'retalkingabout.”?A.Theshrinkingofhumanbrainissignificantlynoticeable.B.Theshrinkingofhumanbrainisanormalresultofevolution.C.Theshrinkingofhumanbrainisnotasseriousasweimagined.D.Theshrinkingofhumanbrainisnotabigdeal.64.Whatpointdoestheauthorwanttomakebycitingtheexampleofant?A.Aspecies'bodysizeisnotdirectlyrelatedtoitsbrainsize.B.Cooperativesocialorganizationislikelytocausebrainshrinkage.C.Thephenomenonofbrainshrinkageisnotlimitedtohumanbeings.D.Humanbeingsandantsareamongthemostcooperativespecies.65.WhichofthefollowingisNOToneofthepossiblereasonsmentionedforhumanbrain'sshrinking?A.Thecoming-into-beingofagriculture.B.Theboomingcivilizationintheworld.C.Theadvancementofsocialorganization.D.Thedevelopmentofinformationtechnology.66.Whatdoestheauthormostwanttotellusfromthispassage?A.Thereductionofbrainsizeislikelytogiverisetoseriousconsequences.B.Wehumansarestillthemostintelligentanddominantspeciesintheworld.C.Collectiveintelligencemostprobablyaccountforhuman'ssmallerbrains.D.Socialspecializationbringsmoregoodthanharmtoushumanbeings.SectionC(每题2分)Directions:Readthefollowingpassage.Fillineachblankwithapropersentencegiveninthebox.Eachsentencecanbeusedonlyonce.Notethattherearetwomoresentencesthanyouneed.A.Electricalimpulsesaresentalonganerve,whichconnecttomanymorenerves.B.Emotionsalsodecidesthewayweinteractwithourfamily,friendsandcolleaguesandevenourselves.C.Infact,thewayweexpressouremotionscanvaryacrosscultures.D.Basedonthestudy,distinctculturalbackgrounds'contributingtodifferentemotionshasitsreasons.E.Ekmanlaterexpandedhislistofbasicemotionstoincludeshame,guiltandrelief.F.Additionally,emotionshavelong-lastingimpactsonourinterpersonalrelationshipstooDecodingYourEmotionsAlmostallofuscanrememberatimewhenwewereangrywithafriendoranxiousaboutgoingtoajobinterview.Weexperiencesuchawiderangeofemotionsineverydaylife,andthesecaninfluencethedecisionswemake-importantdecisions,suchaswhetherweshouldquitajob,tothemoretriviallikewhatwe'regoingtohavefordinner.67Wehavetofigureoutwhetherthey'refeelinghappyorsad,fearfulorangry,jealousoramused,anddeterminehowtorespondwhilehandlingourownemotions.Emotionsarccontrolledbymanydifferentchemicals,orneurotransmittersandelectricalimpulses.68Betweentwonervesisasmallgapcalledsynapse,whereneurotransmitterscarrymessagesbetweenthegaps.Dependingontheneurotransmittersthatarereleasedandnotreleasedthischemicalandelectricalsurgeprovidesuswiththecapabilityoffeelingemotions.Emotionshavebeenstudiedasfarbackasthe4centuryBC.TheGreekphilosopherAristotleattemptedtoidentifythenumberofcorehumancmotions.Duringthe1970s,psychologistPaulEkmanidentifiedsixbasicemotions-happiness,sadness,anger,fear,surpriseanddisgust-theseprovidethebasisformorecomplicatedemotionalexperienceswehave.69Sincethen,thenumberofhumanemotionshascontinuedtobeasubjectofdebate,withsomesuggestingthatthereareonlyfouremotions,whileotherssuggesting27,andsomesaythereareinfinitenumberaslongasyoucanexpressthem.70Forexample,inJapanesecultureitisconsideredoffensivetodisplaynegativeemotionsinfrontofanotherperson.Americans,however,areencouragedtoexpresstheiremotionsregardlessofthepersonpresentDespitetheculturaldifferences,ouremotionsplayacrucialroleinguidingusthroughlife,affectingthedecisionswemakeandthewaysweconnectwithothers.Ouremotionsarewhatmakesushuman.Byexpressingouremotions-andcomfortingothersintheirofneed-westrengthenourrelationships,an