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】

试题分析：作者介绍了生活中在很多场合都有许多假按钮。虽然是假的，但是在许多人看来，尤其是心里专家看来，可以给人们减压，增加愉快感。

1.1】A主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了生活中出现的假按钮，并且分析了他们给人们带来的各个方面的作用。故选A。

2.2】A细节理解题。根据文章第三段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.可知是为残疾人所考虑的，故选A。

3.3】B推理判断题。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带来很多好处，所以很多的设计都是出于这一目的，故答案为B。

4.4】B推理判断题。根据最后一段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?”可知，等待时没有事情可做，按假按钮可以消磨时间。故答案为B。

【名师点睛】

主旨大意题主要考查学生对所读材料(或所读材料片断)中心思想的概括。做这类题时，考生应通读全文，把握文章大意或中心思想，同时注意文章的主题句，因为主题句表达中心思想，其他句子均围绕主题句进行展开。主题句通常位于文章第一段首句、第一段末句或全文末句等地方，但位于段落中间(通常是第一段或最后一段的中间)也是完全可能的。同时，主题词关键词也是非常重要的，有时候可以直接看出答案。主旨大意题的考查形式很多，如概括标题、主题、段意、中心思想等。

【考点】社会生活类阅读。