Question

Why do people drink too much, eat too much, smoke cigarettes or take drugs? What’s to blame for all the bad behavior? Most people would say that, while these self-destructive (自我毁灭的) acts can have many root causes, they all have one obvious thing in common: they are all examples of failures of self-control, lacking the will power to resist them.

According to a recent study, however, if you really think about it, something about that simple answer doesn’t quite make sense. In fact, it turns out that sometimes it’s having will power that really gets you into trouble.

Think back to the time you took your very first sip of beer. Disgusting, wasn’t it? When my father gave me my first taste of beer as a teenager, I wondered why anyone would voluntarily drink it. And smoking? No one enjoys their first cigarette — it tastes awful. So even though smoking, and drinking alcohol or coffee, can become temptation (诱惑) you need will power to resist, they never, ever start out that way.

Just getting past those first horrible experiences actually requires a lot of self-control. Ironically (讽刺的是), only those who can control themselves well, rather than give in to them, can ever come to some day develop a “taste” for Budweiser beer, Marlboro cigarettes, or dark-roasted Starbucks coffee. We do it for social acceptance. We force ourselves to consume alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and even illegal drugs, in order to seem experienced, grown-up, and cool.

These bad habits aren’t self-control failures — far from it. They are voluntary choices, and they are in fact self-control successes. Self-control is simply a tool to be put to some use, helpful or harmful. To live happy and productive lives, we need to develop not only our self-control, but also the wisdom to make good decisions about when and where to apply it.

1.What do most people think causes bad behavior?

A. Being forced by others.    B. Not having enough will power.

C. Enjoying their first experiences.    D. Following the examples of their friends.

2.The author mentions his experience in the third paragraph to prove ____.

A. will power helps develop bad habits sometimes

B. drinking beer is harmful to the health of teenagers

C. self-control should be developed when one is young

D. everyone can be challenged by different temptations

3.In the last paragraph, the author stresses that ____.

A. without self-control, no one can succeed

B. bad habits don’t always lead to bad results

C. applying self-control correctly is important

D. people can develop wisdom from bad behavior

4.What does the passage mainly tells about ?

A. The Author’s First Sip of Beer    B. Everyone Should Have Will Power

C. Will Power Benefits Us    D. Dark Side of Self-control

Answer

1. B

2. A

3. C

4. D

【解析】

本文是一篇社会类短文阅读。我们的很多坏习惯都是由自我控制引起的，文章重点讲述的是自我控制的不好的一方面。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段最后两行they are all examples of failures of self-control, lacking the will power to resist them.通过自我控制失败的例子，可知，他们缺乏意志力。故选B。

2.推理判断题。根据文章第三段So even though smoking, and drinking alcohol or coffee, can become temptation (诱惑) you need will power to resist, they never, ever start out that way.可知，正是我们缺乏意志力让我们染上了那些坏的习惯。故选A。

3.推理判断题。根据文章最后一句the wisdom to make good decisions about when and where to apply it.可知，做出明智的决定是最重要的。也就是正确运用自我控制力很重要。故选C。

4.主旨大意题。我们的很多坏习惯都是由自我控制引起的，文章重点讲述的是自我控制的不好的一方面。故选D。