Question

Most people do not have the patience to wait a few seconds for the elevator doors to shut, so they push the “close” button to speed up the process. However, some say this feature has been obsolete since the 1990s, suggesting the button is a complete fake; it will not close the doors any faster.

Experts reveal that there're many buttons in the world that do not live up to their name, but are present to make us feel in control.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, saying that elevators must stay open long enough for someone with a physical disability, such as in a wheelchair, to make it inside. Karen W. Penafiel, executive director of National Elevator Industry Inc., told The New York Times in an interview. “Although these buttons are useless to the average person, they do perform their proper function for firefighters and maintenance workers but only with a code or keys.” Penafiel explains that a majority do not have a functioning “close” button but the “open” button works when it is pushed.

As strange as it seems to place fake buttons in an elevator or other devices (设备), they are there for good reasons. “Perceived (自认为的) control is very important,” said Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard University. “It reduces stress and promotes well-being.”

And those people who know the little white lie will still continue to push these buttons because the doors finally close and that is the desired reward, he said.

However, elevators aren't the only fake devices — crosswalk signals in New York City are also on the list. The New York Times revealed in 2004 that the Big Apple pulled the plug (插头) on a majority of its crosswalk buttons long ago, as a result of computer-controlled traffic signals. City figures state that out of the 3,250 crosswalk buttons, 2,500 of them didn't function. The reason the buttons are still in place is because it costs about $1 million to remove them.

But New York City isn't alone in this letdown, as a survey in 2010 found only one working crosswalk button in Austin, Texas, Gainesville, Florida and Syracuse, New York.

1.What do we know about the elevator “open” buttons?

A. They are functional.

B. They work with keys.

C. They're intended for the disabled.

D. They're useless to the average person.

2.Crosswalk signals were mentioned to tell us _____.

A. many people don't follow traffic rules

B. the traffic in New York is terrible

C. they're not necessary nowadays

D. there're other fake devices

3.Why do the non-functioning crosswalk buttons still exist in the New York City?

A. It's expensive to take them away.

B. The cost of the plug repairs is huge.

C. They make passers-by feel in control.

D. They give people a feeling of a caring city.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，实际上电梯里的“close”按钮并不起作用，文章分析了原因并告诉我们还有很多设备也是无效的，如纽约市的crosswalk signals。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句Penafiel explains that a majority do not have a functioning “close” button but the “open” button works when it is pushed.可知电梯里的“close”按钮是没有用的，而“open”按钮是是有用的。故A项正确。

2.推理判断题。根据第六段第一句However, elevators aren't the only fake devices — crosswalk signals in New York City are also on the list.可知电梯并不是唯一用无效装置的设备，接着列举了纽约的crosswalk signals，说明crosswalk signals的例子就是为了说明电梯并不是唯一的有无效按钮的设备。故D项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第六段最后一句The reason the buttons are still in place is because it costs about $1 million to remove them.可知这些无用的按钮没有被拆除是因为拆除它们要花很多钱。故A项正确。