5.Whenever we see a button,we are eager to press it because we know something will happen.This is true in most cases,for example on a doorbell and on the"on/off"button on the TV.But some buttons are actually fake,like the"close"button on a lift.
Many people are in the habit of pressing the"close"button because they don't have the patience to wait for the lift doors to shut.But lifts'"close"buttons are a complete scam (騙局),at least in the US--the doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you press.
It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the US,making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter.Only US firefighters and repairmen can use the buttons to speed up the door-closing process if they have a code or special keys.
But to normal lift riders,the buttons aren't completely useless.According to psychologists,fake buttons can actually make you feel better by offering you a sense of control.
"Perceived (能夠感知的) control is very important.It reduces stress and increases well-being,"Ellen J.Langer,a psychology professor,said,"having a lack of control is associated with depression."
Experts have revealed that a lot of buttons that don't do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose. For example,many offices in the US have fake thermostats (溫度調(diào)節(jié)器) because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workspace.
But psychologists found it interesting that even when people are aware of these little"white lies",they still continue to push fake buttons because as long as the doors eventually close,it is considered to be worth the effort.
"That habit is here to stay,"John Kounios,a psychology professor,said."Even though I have real doubts about the traffic light buttons,I always press them.After all,I've got nothing else to do while waiting.So why not press the button in the hope that this one will work?"
25.What was the author's main purpose in writing the article?A
A.To analyze the functions of fake buttons.
B.To describe some different kinds of fake buttons.
C.To explain the advantages and disadvantages of fake buttons.
D.To explore people's different habits when it comes to pushing buttons.
26.In America,the"close"buttons on liftsA.
A.a(chǎn)re fake for the convenience of disabled people
B.work only when people press them hard for a while
C.were specially designed to give people a sense of control
D.cannot speed up the process of closing the door in any case
27.The underlined part"for this same purpose"in Paragraph 6refers toB.
A.making people more patient
B.giving people perceived control
C.helping people to build up confidence
D.making people with depression feel better
28.According to John Kounios,people who press fake buttonsB.
A.should give up this habit
B.probably do so to kill time
C.consider what they do to be meaningless
D.don't know that what they press is fake.
分析 本文主要介紹了生活中出現(xiàn)的假按鈕,并且分析了他們給人們帶來的各個方面的作用.
解答 25.【答案】A.主旨大意題.本文主要介紹了生活中出現(xiàn)的假按鈕,并且分析了他們給人們帶來的各個方面的作用.故選A.
26.【答案】A.細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章第三段It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the US,making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter.可知是為殘疾人所考慮的,因此答案為A.
27.【答案】B.推理判斷題.根據(jù)第五段"Perceived (能夠感知的) control is very important.It reduces stress and increases well-being,可知能夠感知的控制可以帶來很多好處,所以很多的設(shè)計都是出于這一目的,故答案為B.
28.【答案】B.推理判斷題.根據(jù)最后一段Even though I have real doubts about the traffic light buttons,I always press them.After all,I've got nothing else to do while waiting.So why not press the button in the hope that this one will work?"可知,等待時沒有事情可做,按假按鈕可以消磨時間.故答案為B.
點評 在做閱讀理解時,考生可快速閱讀短文,通讀測試題,明確考察點,在對應(yīng)細讀,加快做題速度.有時間還可以復(fù)查校對答案.