Question

    With the explosion of consumer choices in recent history, the latest must-haves would surely need to be upgraded more often than every 10 years. In 2002 a computer and basic mobile phone would have been enough for most people, but now? The public need a trendy notebook computer and a smart phone with WiFi connection to feel they are up-to-date. So when will we have enough things? When will we finally be happy? Well, it looks like the things we buy today will barely keep us satisfied for a few months.

In the eyes of some psychologists, far from making us happy, greater consumer choice creates many serious psychological problems. A fundamental principle of the society is that more freedom is better and more choice in the marketplace means more freedom. Therefore more choice leads to more happiness. This is not the case, however.

Imagine you go to a café offering chocolate and vanilla ice cream. You choose the chocolate and eat it happily. But what if the café serves 50 kinds of ice cream? You choose chocolate and then start to worry, “maybe blueberry would have been better, perhaps the half-fat ice cream would have been healthier. Stupid me, all these choices and I didn’t make the best one! ”

In China’s major cities we have now passed the point where more consumer choice is making us happier. We are annoyed by all the options we have, disappointed because our expectations are so high and angered at ourselves when we don’ t make a perfect choice every time.

A newspaper reporter tells a story about traveling on a plane with high-speed Internet access. He thought this was amazing—the newest piece of technology he had heard of. Then the service went down. The man next to him was angry and swore. The reporter thought, “How quickly the world owes him something he knew existed only 10 seconds ago!”

1.What is the text mainly talking about?

A. Hi-tech and consumer needs.

B. Computers and smart phones.

C. Wireless products and WiFi connection.

D. Diverse choices and consumer satisfaction.

2.What may some psychologists think of the consumer demand in the café?

A. The consumer has mental problems.

B. More choice means more freedom.

C. Variety leads to unhappiness.

D. The shop provides too many choices.

3.Why was the man next to the reporter quite annoyed?

A. The net connection was interrupted. B. Someone owed him money.

C. The air hostess offered poor service. D. The pleasure lasted only 10 seconds.

4.What does the underlined word “swore” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A. Fell asleep. B. Said rude words.

C. Made promises. D. Became amazed.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。文章作者通过举例说明选择太多，反而不能令消费者满意。

1.主旨大意题。第二段Therefore more choice leads to more happiness. This is not the case, however.是全文的主题句，结合全文内容，可知这篇文章主要讲了选择太多，反而不能令消费者满意，故选D。

2.推理判断题。答案定位在第三段You choose chocolate and then start to worry, “ maybe blueberry would have been better，perhaps the half-fat ice cream would have been healthier. Stupid me, all these choices and I didn’t make the best one! ”（ 你选择巧克力然后开始担心,”蓝莓可能会更好,也许一半脂肪冰淇淋会更健康。愚蠢的我，所有这些选择，我没有做出最好的一个!”）由此推断出心理学家认为消费者在咖啡店的多样选择会导致苦恼，故选C。

3.细节理解题。答案定位在最后一段the service went down. The man next to him was angry and swore.可知坐在记者旁边的这个人非常生气是因为网络连接被中断，故选A。

4.词义猜测题。根据The man next to him was angry可知这里意思是坐在记者旁边的这个人非常生气，并且开始咒骂。Swore意思是“咒骂”，故选B。