14.Decisions,decisions!Our lives are full of them,from the small ones to the life-changing.The right to choose is central to everyone.Yet sometimes we make bad decisions that leave us unhappy or full of regret.Can science help?
Most of us know little about the mental processes that lie behind our decisions.Luckily,what psychologists are finding may help us all make better choices.Here are some of their amazing discoveries to help you make up your mind.
Consider your emotions.You might think that emotions are the enemy of decision-making,but in fact they are a part of it.Whenever you make up your mind,your brain's emotional centre is active.University of Southern California scientist,Antonio Damasia,has studied people with damage to only the emotional parts of their brains,and found that they were unable to make basic choices about what to wear or eat.Damasia thinks this may be because our brains store emotional memories of past choice,which we use to help the present decision-making.
However,making choices under the influence of an emotion can greatly affect the result.Take anger for example.A study by Nitika Garg of the University of Mississippi and other scientists found the angry shoppers were more likely to choose the first thing they were offered rather than considering other choices.It seems that anger can lead us to make quick decisions without much thinking.
All emotions affect our thinking and motivation,so it may be best to avoid making important decisions under their influence.Yet strangely there is one emotion that seems to help us make good choices.The American researchers found that sad people took time to consider the various choices on offer,and ended up making the best choices.In fact many studies show that people who feel unhappy have the most reasonable view of the world.
52.What does the underlined word"central"mean?C
A.in the middle.B.easy to reach.C.important.D.having power
53.Damasia's study suggests thatD.
A.emotions are the enemy of decision-making
B.our brain has nothing to do with decision-making
C.people with physical damage find it hard to make up their minds
D.our emotional memories of past choices can affect present decisions
54.According to the text,what may help us make better decisions?D
A.To think about happy times.B.To make many decisions at a time.
C.To stop feeling regretful about the past.
D.To learn about the process of decision-making.
55.Why are angry shoppers more likely to choose the first thing they are offered?B
A.They often forget their past choices.
B.They make decisions without much thinking.
C.They tend to save time when shopping.
D.They are too angry to bargain.
分析 文章大意:本文叙述了影响我们做决定的因素.心理学家认为心理思考的过程可能帮助我们做出更好的决定.研究表明人的大脑对要穿什么和吃什么不能做出基本的决定.情绪对做决定的影响只是一部分,但是在某种情绪的影响下做出的决定会影响结果,因此我们要避免在他们的影响下做出决定.
解答 52-55 CDDB
52题答案:C 词义猜测题.根据第一段Our lives are full of them,from the small ones to the life-changing.可知我们的生活中充满选择,因此选择是每个人生活的重要东西,也就是核心的意思,故选C.
53题答案:D 推理判断题.根据第三段University of Southern California scientist,Antonio Damasia,has studied people with damage to only the emotional parts of their brains,and found that they were unable to make basic choices about what to wear or eat.可知Damasia的研究表明人的大脑对要穿什么和吃什么不能做出基本的决定.故选D.
54题答案:D 细节题.根据第二段Most of us know little about the mental processes that lie behind our decisions.Luckily,what psychologists are finding may help us all make better choices.可知心理学家认为心理思考的过程可能帮助我们做出更好的决定.故选D.
55题答案:B 细节题.根据第四段It seems that anger can lead us to make quick decisions without much thinking.可知愤怒使我们不会思考很多就很快作出决定,故选B.
点评 本文是一篇教育文化类阅读,题目涉及多道细节理解题,做题时结合原文和题目有针对 性找出相关语句进行仔细分析,结合选项选出正确答案.推理判断也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确的答案.