Question

Saying no starts small

'All right then-just one more piece…' Words every girl has said when they are faced with the delicious cheesecake. Of course, many of us know we may eat the whole thing in the end.

It isn't just girls. Most of us find it hard to say 'no' to something attractive, However, scientists now say that willpower is very important to success and a happy life.

Scientists in different countries have been studying the effects of willpower on people's lives for a long time. The results are similar, according to an article on February 7 in the Guardian, a famous British newspaper.

In one experiment, scientists told young children that they could either have a marshmallow(圆形软糖) now, or two marshmallows in 15 minutes. Waiting obviously needed more willpower. Scientists then continued studying the children as they grew up. They wanted to see if some children always had stronger willpower. They also wanted to see how having stronger willpower affected their lives.

Years later, scientists found that the children who had waited for two marshmallows were all healthier, happier and richer adults. Oppositely, the children who had shown weaker willpower at that young age were more likely to be in low-paid jobs, to be overweight, to have social problems.

But there is hope, Roy F Baumeister, an American social psychology(心理学) professor(教授) told the Guardian. Baumeister says we can train our willpower just like we train our muscles.  Even a little practice can strengthen our overall self-control if we do it regularly.

You could start by making yourself stand up straight, speaking in complete sentences, or using a computer mouse with the other hand. Scientists have found that people who manage to change little habits often perform much better in laboratory willpower tests.

Like muscles, willpower can 'get tired'. Don't try to do too many things at the same time, or when you don't have enough energy, for example when you are ill.  If you already feel tired, you can try to recharge(恢复) your willpower with a good night's sleep and by eating well.

1.The example of a girl eating cheesecake is used to_______.

A. prove that girls have weak willpower

B. introduce the topic of willpower to the readers

C. show that cheesecake is especially attractive to girls

D. show the connection between willpower and success

2.What can we infer from the experiment?

A. The scientists had already known the results before the experiment.

B. It showed that willpower is the most important to success and a happy life.

C. The children who chose to wait were more likely to be successful in their lives.

D. The children who chose only one marshmallow at first had stronger willpower.

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the training of willpower?

A. You should have a goal every day.

B. Good rest and proper diet can help.

C. Willpower needs to be exercised regularly.

D. Keep willpower from being used too much.

4.What is the article mainly about?

A. How willpower and muscles are similar and how they can be trained.

B. How willpower affects people's lives and how it is similar to muscles.

C. How willpower is important to success and how we can make it stronger.

D. How willpower is connected with success and how they affect each other.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文主要介绍了在成功的路上和幸福的生活中意志力是非常重要的。我们可以培养自己的意志力，那就像我们做肌肉训练一样，可以一点点的做起。

1.归纳理解题。根据短文的标题，从小事开始说不，及第一段的主要意思，不能控制好自己把整个蛋糕吃完，可知是为了引出该话题，故选B。

2.推理判断题。根据第五段Years later, scientists found that the children who had waited for two marshmallows were all healthier, happier and richer adults.描述，可知那些会等待的孩子生活更成功些。故选C。

3.七段描述，可知我们可以从小事情做起开始锻炼我们的意志力。而不是每天定目标，故选A。

4.主旨大意题。根据的描述，可知文章主要是想告诉我们意志力是重要的，同时告诉我们可以像锻炼肌肉一样锻炼意志力。故选C。

考点：教育类短文阅读。