Question

    Like their ancient toga-wearing counterparts, modern philosophers continue to disagree on the nature of freewill. Do we really have any control over the choices we make and the things we desire, and if so, to what degree?

Theories of freewill vary, but the ancient words of Plato still line up with our modern perceptions(概念) of temptation and willpower. The respected Greek philosopher argued that the human experience is one of constant struggle between the intellect and the body, between rationality and desire. Along these lines, true freedom is only achievable when willpower unchains us from bodily, emotional, instinctual slavery.

You can find similar thoughts throughout world religions, most of which offer a particular and often difficult path to rise above our darker natures.

And science? Well, science mostly agrees with all of this. Willpower is all about overcoming your natural desires to eat cupcakes, skip your morning workout, play games on mobile phone, hit the snooze alarm and check your e-mail during a funeral.

Your willpower, however, is limited. If life were a video game, you'd see a glowing "willpower" or "ego"(自我) meter at the top of the screen next to your "life" meter. Successfully resist one temptation, and the meter drains a little. The next temptation drains the "willpower" meter even more, until there's nothing left at all.

Our modern scientific understanding of willpower in large part stems from a 1996 research experiment involving chocolate and radishes(小红萝卜). Psychologist Roy Baumeister led a study in which 67 test subjects were presented with tempting chocolate chip cookies and other chocolate-flavored treats before a persistence-testing puzzle. Here's the catch: The researchers asked some of the participants to withdraw from sweets and snack on radishes instead.

Baumeister's results told a fascinating story. The test subjects who resisted the sweet stuff in favor of radishes performed poorly on the persistence test. They simply didn't have the willpower left to resist slacking off(松懈).

The research inspired more than a thousand additional studies discussing everything from the influence of positive messages to the ego-sapping power of daily decisions.

Studies also show that cognitive capacity also affects our ability to hold out against temptation. Cognitive capacity is essentially your working memory, which you employ when resisting a temptation ... or holding a string of numbers in your head. A 1999 study from the University of Iowa professor Baba Shiv found that people tasked with remembering a two-digit number held out better than people remembering a seven-digit number when tempted with chocolate cake.

1.What do you understand by ‘freewill’?

A.The control we have over the choices.

B.The choices we make and the things we desire.

C.The choices that philosophers force us to make.

D.Our perception of temptation.

2.According to Plato, when is true freedom available?

A.Willpower to realize one’s own ego. B.Our ability to overcome temptation.

C.Our ability to remember things. D.The desire to give in to temptation.

3.What is meant by ‘cognitive capacity’?

A.When there is a struggle between the intellect and the body.

B.When our willpower helps us to overcome our basic instincts.

C.When we desire that which we cannot achieve.

D.When we have no control over our ego.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.B

【解析】

本文属于科普文，介绍了不同时代对意志力的理解不一样，一个现代科学心理实验让我们对意志力有了更深的理解，同时提出了认知能力的概念。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中的“Like their ancient toga-wearing counterparts, modern philosophers continue to disagree on the nature of freewill. Do we really have any control over the choices we make and the things we desire, and if so, to what degree?”可知，就像他们的古代穿着长袍的同行一样，现代哲学家们仍然对意志力的本质持不同意见。我们真的对我们所做的选择和我们想要的东西有任何控制权吗？如果有，控制到什么程度？故可知，问句是在解释freewill，即意志力就是控制自己的选择和欲望的能力。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段中的“Along these lines, true freedom is only achievable when willpower unchains us from bodily, emotional, instinctual slavery.”可知，柏拉图认为，只有意志力把我们从身体、情绪以及本能的奴役中解脱出来，才能达到真正的自由，故可知，只有当意志力帮助我们克服基本的欲望，才能达到真正的自由。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“Studies also show that cognitive capacity also affects our ability to hold out against temptation. Cognitive capacity is essentially your working memory, which you employ when resisting a temptation”可知，研究表明认知能力也影响我们抵抗诱惑的能力。认知能力本质上是你的工作记忆，你在抵制诱惑时会使用到它。故可知，认知能力是帮助你抵抗本能诱惑的一种能力。故选B。