What’s your opinion on spicy food? Some people cannot handle even the smallest amount of chili peppers in their dinner while others can’t get enough of them.

Scientists have long been puzzled by why some people love the chili while others loathe it. Plenty of research has been done on the subject, dating as far back as the 1970s. Previous results showed that a love of chilies is related to childhood experiences, and that cultural influences affect our taste too. But the latest study has found that a person’s love of spicy food may be linked to his or her personality (性格) more than anything else, CBC News reported.

“We have always assumed that liking drives intake — we eat what we like and we like what we eat. But no one has actually directly bothered to connect personality with intake of chili peppers,” said Professor John E. Hayes from Pennsylvania State University, who led the study.

But before you look at the study, you should first know that “spicy” is not a taste, unlike sour, sweet, bitter and salty taste. It is, in fact, a burning feeling that you feel on the surface of your tongue. This got scientists thinking that maybe a love of spicy food is brought about by people’s longing for thrill, something they usually get from watching action movies or riding a roller coaster.

In the study, 97 participants, both male and female, were asked to fill out questionnaires about their personality, for example, whether they like new experiences or tend to avoid risks. They were then given a glass of water with capsaicin (辣椒素), the plant chemical that makes a chili burn, mixed into it.

By comparing the answers to the questionnaire and what participants said they felt about the spicy water, researchers found that those who tended to enjoy action movies or take risks were about six times more likely to enjoy the spicy water.

Interestingly, we used to believe that the reason why some people can withstand (耐受) spicy food is that their tongues have become less sensitive to it. However, this latest study has found otherwise. “It’s not that it doesn’t burn as badly, but that you actually learn to like the burning feeling,” Hayes explained.

   More than 40 million Americans move each year, but not always by choice. Whether you’re moving because of work or schooling or for better chances, adjusting (适应) to the life in a new place can be difficult. 【小题1】 Here are some tips to help you adjust to your new home.

Treat it as an adventure.

【小题2】 So stay positive, get out there and explore! Taste the local food and visit famous places and museums. Try local activities that aren’t popular in your former city, such as skating if you come from a beach town or surfing if you lived in the mountains. You may discover a talent or interest you never knew you had.

Get involved (参与) with your neighbors.

Introduce yourself to neighbors and everyone else you meet. 【小题3】 This is the best way to get advice about living in your area, and to make new friends. Attend local events that interest you, visit the markets or yard sales, take classes and so on. All of these things will help you meet more people and feel connected.

【小题4】.

It takes time to get to know a new place, so don’t expect to feel comfortable right away. 【小题5】 To help make the process easier you can meet new people, find a support group near you. A fresh move is also a fresh start. It is therefore a great time to start fulfilling a dream you’ve had, whether it is going back to school, starting a new career, or finishing a novel.