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, 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 describe some different kinds of fake buttons.
B. To analyze the functions of fake buttons.
C. To explore people’ different habits when it comes to pushing buttons.
D. To explain the advantages and disadvantages of fake buttons.
2.What does the underlined word “scam” mean?
A. Trick. B. Tool. C. Button. D. Scan.
3.According to John Kounios, people who press fake buttons ______.
A. don’t know that what they press is fake
B. should give up this habit
C. consider what they do to be meaningless
D. probably do so to kill time
Started in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest of all the many colleges and universities in the United States. Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Dartmouth were opened soon after Harvard.
In the early years, these schools were much alike. Only young men went to colleges. All the students studied the same subjects, and everyone learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Little was known about science then, and one kind of school could teach everything that was known about the world. When the students graduated, most of them become ministers or teachers.
In 1782, Harvard started a medical school for young men who wanted to become doctors. Later, lawyers could receive their training in Harvard’s law school. In 1825, besides Latin and Greek, Harvard began teaching modern languages, such as French and German. Soon it began teaching American history.
As knowledge increased, Harvard and other colleges began to teach many new subjects. Students were allowed to choose the subjects that interested them.
Today there are many different kinds of colleges and universities. Most of them are made up of smaller schools that deal with special fields of learning. There’s so much to learn that one kind of school can’ offer it all.
1.From the second paragraph, we can see that in the early years, ______.
A. those colleges and universities were almost the same
B. people, young or old, might study in the colleges
C. the students studied only some languages and science
D. when the students finished their school, they became lawyers or teachers
2.As knowledge increased, colleges began to teach ______.
A. everything that was known
B. law and something about medicine
C. many new subjects
D. the subjects that interested students
3.On the whole, the passage is about ______.
A. how to start a university
B. the world-famous colleges in America
C. how colleges have changed
D. what kind of lessons each college teaches
Last year, I lived in Chile for half a year. I lived with a Chilean family and had the responsibilities of any Chilean teenager. I had good days and bad days I didn’t understand.
Chuquicamata, my host community, is a mining camp. When I arrived there, I was scared. It was so different from what I was used to. There were lots of dogs on the streets, and there was no downtown, few smoothly paved streets, and little to do for entertainment. Rain was not seen very often, earthquakes and windstorms were frequent.
I had studied Spanish for two and a half years and was always one of the best students in my class. But in my first week in Chile I was only able to communicate and needed one person to whom I could explain my shock. I couldn’t speak the thoughts in my head and there were so many.
Most exchange students experience this like me. Culture shock presents itself in everything from increased aggression towards the people to lack of appetite (食欲). I was required to overcome all difficulties.
As time passed, everything changed. I began to forget the words in English and to dream in Spanish and love Chilean food. I got used to not depending on expensive things for fun. Fun in Chuquicamata was being with people. And I took math, physics, chemistry, biology, Spanish, art, and philosophy.
But the sacrifices were nothing compared to the gain. I learned how to accept and to succeed in another culture. I now have a deeper understanding of both myself and others.
1.The author came to Chile last year with the purpose of ____.
A. paying a visit to Chile as a tourist
B. experiencing Chilean life as a teacher
C. studying Chilean culture as a college student
D. studying knowledge as an exchange student
2.On arriving in Chile, why did the author feel frightened?
A. Because he did not know how to get along with the local people.
B. Because it was full of dangers like earthquakes and windstorms.
C. Because the living conditions were worse than what he was used to.
D. Because it was not convenient for him to shop there.
3.In the first week in Chile, the author ______.
A. was not used to eating Chilean food
B. had some friends to have a chat with
C. couldn’t communicate with people
D. couldn’t express his thoughts in English
4.What did the author most probably think of his life in Chile?
A. Wonderful and worthwhile.
B. Difficult but meaningful.
C. Difficult and meaningless.
D. Boring and disappointing.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What does the study mainly explain?
A. Watching too much TV could increase the risk of death.
B. The healthy way to watch TV for relaxation.
C. Bad habits related to TV watching.
2.How many sitting-for-long actions does the speaker mention?
A. One. B. Three. C. Five.
3.What does Gonzalez say about driving a car?
A. It represents a higher energy loss than watching TV.
B. It represents as much energy loss as watching TV.
C. It represents a lower energy loss than watching TV.
4.What does Gonzalez suggest people do?
A. Eat food while watching TV.
B. Watch TV less than an hour each day.
C. Stop watching TV.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where are the two rugby teams from?
A. From Oxford and Harvard.
B. From Yale and Cambridge.
C. From Yale and Harvard.
2.When is the rugby game usually held every year?
A. In October. B. In November. C. In December.
3.What does the woman think of the game?
A. Fantastic B. Noisy C. Boring
4.How do the students celebrate the event according to the man?
A. By waving flags and dancing.
B. By throwing bottles and singing.
C. By waving flags and showing logos.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.How did the woman book the movie tickets?
A. On the phone. B. At the ticket office. C. Through the Internet.
2.Where will the speakers go first?
A. The cinema. B. The restaurant. C. The bookstore.
3.When was the appointment with the Smiths originally scheduled?
A. At 11:30. B. At 12:00. C. At 2:00.
