Question

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(骗局), 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 (能够感知的)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(温度调节器) 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?”

1.What was the author’s main purpose in writing the article?

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

2.In America, the “close” buttons on lifts     .

A. are 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

3.The underlined part “for this same purpose” in Paragraph 6 refers to     .

A. making people more patient

B. giving people perceived control

C. helping people to build up confidence

D. making people with depression feel better

4.According to John Kounios, people who press fake buttons     .

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

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.B

4.B

【解析】本文主要讲了在生活中很多人喜欢按按钮，但是实际上很多按钮是假的，作者还对假按钮的功能进行了分析。

1.D

推理判断题。本文主要讲了在生活中很多人喜欢按按钮，但是实际上很多按钮是假的，作者还对假按钮的功能进行了分析。可以推断出作者的写作意图。故选D.

2.A

细节理解题。根据第三段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，电梯上的假按钮是为了方便残疾人。故选A.

3.B

词意猜测题。根据第五段“Perceived (能够感知的) control is very important. It reduces stress and increases well-being,”可知，能够感知的控制可以减少压力，增加好感。再根据第六段For example, many offices in the US have fake thermostats (温度调节器) because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workspace.可知，这同一目的也是让人感觉更好。所以可以猜测出“for this same purpose”（为了同一目的）就是指能够感知的控制。故选B.

4.C

推理判断题。根据最后一段I always press them. After all, I’ve got nothing else to do while waiting.可以推断出，人们按按钮是为了消磨时光。故选C.

【名师点睛】

猜测词义题的常见考查形式及解题方法：

猜测词义题是考试必考题，也是难点之所在。但是如果我们掌握方法，难点也会变易。

猜测词义题的常见解题方法有：1、根据定义或上下文解释进行猜测；2、根据同位关系进行猜测；3、根据构词法（合成、派生、转化等）进行猜测；4、根据因果关系进行猜测；5、根据上下文的指代关系进行猜测；6、根据同义关系进行猜测；7、根据转折或对比关系进行猜测；8、通过上下文理解猜测词义。

其中第8条通过上下文理解猜测词义用得最多。第3题猜测词句题。根据第五段“Perceived (能够感知的) control is very important. It reduces stress and increases well-being,”可知，能够感知的控制可以减少压力，增加好感。再根据第六段For example, many offices in the US have fake thermostats (温度调节器) because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workspace.可知，这同一目的也是让人感觉更好。所以可以猜测出“for this same purpose”（为了同一目的）就是指能够感知的控制。故选B.