Question

If you want to convince the boss you deserve a pay rise or promotion, the solution could be simple—eat the same food as they do. Psychologists have discovered managers are much more likely to instantly trust us if we choose the same dishes as them.

During experiments, discussions over wages and work conditions were much more successful if both sides chose to snack on the same treats. And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time.

The reason is thought to be so-called similarity attraction theory — where people tend to like others who have similar tastes or habits to themselves. But this is believed to be one of the first studies highlighting the role of food in this relationship. Researchers at Chicago University in the US conducted a series of experiments to examine food’s role in earning trust.

In a test, participants were told to watch TV — where someone pretending to be a member of the public praised a certain product. The volunteers were given Kit Kat(巧克力) bars to nibble（轻咬）, while the TV people ate either a Kit Kat or grapes as they talked.

The results showed viewers were much more likely to express an interest in buying the product if the TV showed the other person eating a Kit Kat too.

The researchers added, ―Although similarity in food consumption is not a sign of whether two people will get along, we find consumers treat this as such. They feel more trusting of those who consume as they do. It means people can immediately begin to feel friendship and develop a bond, leading to smoother transactions from the start.

Harley Street psychologist Dr Lucy Atcheson said it was already known that wearing similar clothes could instantly create trust. But this was the first report that food had the same effect. She said, ―This is really interesting. It makes sense as people feel they have common ground and can trust the other person. That means negotiations are more likely to be successful.

1.According to the passage, customers are likely to buy a product from a dealer who ________.

A. has the same taste as them

B. advertises his products on TV

C. reduces the price of his products

D. pays attention to the quality of his products

2.The experiments conducted by researchers at Chicago University show that ________.

A. food plays an important role in earning people’s trust

B. bosses like employees that have the same taste as them

C. people who have similar tastes to their boss’s earn more

D. people have less interest in buying products advertised on TV

3.What can be inferred from the passage?

A. People who eat similar food are more likely to trust each other.

B. People will get along with each other if they like to eat similar things.

C. The effect of wearing similar clothes hasn’t been proved by researchers.

D. People are more likely to make friends with those wearing the same clothes as them.

4.Which of the following sayings can be an example of the similarity attraction theory?

A. Honesty is the best policy.

B. All good things come to an end.

C. Birds of a feather flock together.

D. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.A

4.C

【解析】本文讲述了一则实验表明：物以类聚，人以群分，人们更容易对与自己吃相同食物、传相同衣服的人产生信任。

1.A细节理解题。根据第二段第二句And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time.（当消费者看到电视广告中的人此时此刻和自己吃着相似的食物时，他们更有可能购买这个产品。）可知，A项正确。

2.A细节理解题。根据最后一段的表述可知，食物在赢得他人信任过程中起着重要的作用，故选A。

3.A推理判断题。根据第一段If you want to convince the boss you deserve a pay rise or promotion, the solution could be simple---eat the same food as they do. Psychologists have discovered managers are much more likely to instantly trust us if we choose the same dishes as them. （如果你想说服老板给你加薪或升职，方法很简单-和老板吃相同的食物。心理学家发现，经理-甚至完全陌生的人-更容易马上信任那些和他们选择同样食物的人。）可知，A项正确。

4.C推理判断题。纵观全文，特别是最后一段中Harley Street psychologist Dr Lucy Atcheson said it was already known that wearing similar clothes could instantly create trust. It makes sense as people feel they have common ground and can trust the other person. That means negotiations are more likely to be successful. （Harley Street心理学家Lucy Atcheson博士说，人们早已知道穿相似的衣服能够立刻取得信任。人们感到他们有相同点并且信任对方，这很有道理。这意味着谈判更有可能成功。）可知，C项Birds of a feather flock together.（物以类聚，人以群分。）符合题意。

【名师点睛】

在细节考查题中有一类事实细节题。一般只针对某个特定的细节，题型可以多种多样。有一种是词义转换题，正确选项是原文有关词语和句子的转换。做此类试题一定要抓住事件发生的时间、地点、人物、发展过程和结局等环节，所选答案一定要符合原文，切不可望文生义。本题第1题是细节理解题。根据第二段第二句And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time. 当消费者看到电视广告中的人此时此刻和自己吃着相似的食物时，他们更有可能购买这个产品。选项A. has the same taste as them中的same与上句中similar 意思相近，故选A。