Most of us know little about the mental processes that lie behind our decisions. Luckily, what psychologists are finding may help us all make better choices. Here are some of their amazing discoveries to help you make up your mind.
Consider your emotions. You might think that emotions are the enemy of decision making, but in fact they’re a part of it. Whenever you make up your mind, your brain’s emotional center is active. University of Southern California scientist, Antonio Damasio, has studied people with damage to only the emotional parts of their brains, and found that they were unable to make basic choices about what to wear or eat. Damasio thinks this may be because our brains store emotional memories of past choices, which we use to help the present decision making.
However, making choices under the influence of an emotion can greatly affect the result. Take anger, for example. A study by Nitika Garg of the University of Mississippi and other scientists found the angry shoppers were more likely to choose the first thing they were offered rather than considering other choices. It seems anger can lead us to make quick decisions without much thinking.
All emotions affect our thinking and motivation, so it may be best to avoid making important decisions under their influence. Yet strangely there’s one emotion that seems to help us make good choices. The American researchers found that sad people took time to consider the various choices on offer, and ended up making the best choices. In fact many studies show that people who feel unhappy have the most reasonable view of the world.According to the text, what may help us make better decisions?
| A．To think about happy times. |
| B．To make many decisions at a time. |
| C．To stop feeling regretful about the past. |
| D．To learn about the process of decision-making. |
Damasio’s study suggests that ______.
| A．emotions are the enemy of decision making |
| B．our brain has nothing to do with decision making |
| C．people with physical damage find it hard to make up their minds |
| D．our emotional memories of past choices can affect present decisions |
Why are angry shoppers more likely to choose the first thing they are offered?
| A．They often forget their past choices. |
| B．They make decisions without much thinking. |
| C．They tend to save time when shopping. |
| D．They are too angry to bargain. |
What do we learn from the text?
| A．Emotions are a part of decision making. |
| B．Sad people always make the worst choices. |
| C．No emotion seems to help us make good choices. |
| D．Only sad feelings affect our thinking and motivation. |
MY Chinese friend is going to the US and he is nervous about what to talk about. “Talk about the weather,” is my advice.
“How are you?” is often followed by comments about the weather. “Nice day today.” “Cold/hot enough for you?” “Will it ever stop raining?” “Some winter we’re having.” “Can’t remember a winter/summer so cold/hot.” “Whew, it’s hot out there.”
These introductory statements are often followed by a long conversation entirely about weather conditions. Past, present and – with global warming – speculation (推测) about the future.
Our fascination with weather might seem silly, but the real purpose behind those endless discussions is small talk. Weather’s a safe topic of conversation. As a group, we Americans seem to enjoy chatting with those around us. Whenever we stand in line at the grocery store, we tend to engage in this sort of conversation with other people standing in line with us. If I were seated next to another American on any form of public transport, I’d expect both of us to make some harmless comment about the weather as a way of acknowledging (承认) each other’s presence (存在). At parties, the weather is a common topic, especially with those you are meeting for the first time.
In contrast we are taught to avoid certain topics like religion and politics. Weather is neutral (中性的); you don’t have to have an opinion about it, just make a statement of a fact. What is truly interesting is the fact that we can go on and on about it.
My Chinese friend has a hard time understanding why we put so much effort into this topic – and why I warn him about bringing up much more “interesting” subjects like salaries or how much something costs.
Sometimes it is tricky (复杂的) to wend (行走) one’s way through winding cultural roads, especially those that are never taught in books.What does the writer suggest her Chinese friend should talk about with people in the US? (No more than two words)
Why do Americans enjoy talking to people around them about the weather, in writer’s opinion? (No more than ten words)
List four topics that people should avoid talking about in the US. ( No more than 5 words)
The Internet has changed the world we live in dramatically, so that in some ways it is unrecognizable from the place we lived in twenty years ago. Communications have been revolutionized. Not only have cell phones found their way into most people’s pockets or purses, but they are also used for next messaging and as cameras. Long distance phone calls have been replaced by e-mail and video conferencing. Communications, person to person or company to company, have turned into a fast-paced exchange with instant response. In fact, it has become more convenient and efficient.
The other kind of communication the Internet provides is information. School children and medical researchers alike will tell you that they could not work without the Internet and its ability to connect them to any number of websites and databases of information. Many people do their banking on-line. Others plan a trip and book a flight for themselves. People do their own stock trading through the Net. Sports fans follow scores and statistics on websites. Political junkies(政治狂) gather campaign statements and debate topics, even between elections. And almost everyone who owns a computer and has Internet access has bought at least one item on-line. No wonder some young people can not imagine what life was like before the Internet.
Some Advantages of the Internet
I. of the Internet communication
●A fast-paced exchange replacing long distance phone calls with like e-mail and vedio conferencing
II. Accessibitlity to the Internet information
●On-line service
Convenience to do banking at home or office
● service
Choices of booking traffic and accommodation
●Sports websites
Information about scores and statistics
●Political websites
Campaign statements and
Last weekend, my kids along with a few other kids from the neighborhood volunteered to help me wash my car. My 10-year-old daughter came up with the idea of washing other people’s cars as well. It was pretty hot outside. She further wanted to give juice for a low cost but not free. I felt happy and decided to help her.
She asked me, “What if we make this ‘a smile car wash’, mommy? ”I couldn’t hold back my tears and encouraged her and other kids to go inside the house and come up with ideas. While I kept myself busy in drying the car, the kids walked up to me with a board of beautiful signs of smiles. They had “Free Car Wash” written on it and the theme of their exercise was “Smile”. It was pretty natural to see a team of kids 5 to 11 years with the task to do something for others.
All that seemed natural and came right from their heart. Nothing seemed to matter to them: their playtime, and then heat outside—they just wanted to help and do something nice in the community!
I helped them make some fresh juice and brought out some waste materials to help clean cars. Passers-by were amazed and one even shouted at them saying “Good kids”. One of them even tried giving them 5 dollars, which they refused. A pretty heart-warming scene!
The following weekend, I saw the idea of the week, the theme of which was “Global Kindness”. I was moved by such wonderful and loving souls. They made me smile!
One of the slogans (标语) on their flag was: “Do not fear! Smile retrievers(挽回者) are here.”Who raised the idea of washing other people’s cars for free?
| A．The mother |
| B．One of the passers-by |
| C．The writer’s 10-year-old daughter |
| D．One of the writer’s neighbors’ kids. |
Why couldn’t the author hold back her tears when she knew her daughter’s idea?
| A．She was moved by her daughter’s kindness. |
| B．She felt sorry for those passers-by in hot weather. |
| C．She was sorry for not helping the kids. |
| D．She thought of too much hardship of the kids. |
Why did the kids want to wash others’ cars for free?
| A．They wanted to earn money. |
| B．They were asked to do that by their teacher. |
| C．They just wanted to help and do something nice in the community. |
| D．They wanted to exercise in smiling. |
Which of the following did NOT the writer do to help the kids?
| A．She supported the kids’ ideas. |
| B．She prepared some fresh juice for the passers-by. |
| C．She brought out some waste materials to help the kids. |
| D．She gave the kids some money. |
Dear Customers,
I love slipping (滑落) into a comfortable chair for a long read—as I relax into the chair, I also relax into the author’s words, stories and ideas. The physical book is so elegant that it disappears into the background, and what remains is the author’s world.
Today, we at Amazon are excited to announce Mindle, a wireless, portable reading device with instant access to more than 90,000 books, magazines and newspapers.
We’ve been working on Mindle for more than three years. Our top design objective was for Mindle to disappear in your hands—to get out of the way—so you can enjoy your reading. We also wanted to go beyond the physical book. Mindle is wireless, so whether you’re lying in bed or riding a train, you can think of a book, and have it in less than 60 seconds. No computer is needed—you do your reading directly from the device.
We chose the same wireless technology used in advanced mobile phones. But unlike mobile phones, there are no monthly wireless bills, no service or data plans, and no yearly contracts. There is no software to install (安装，设置)。 We want you to get lost in your reading and not in the technology.
Mindle uses a new kind of display called electronic paper. Sharp and natural with no strong light, reading on Mindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Mindle weighs only 10.3 ounces—less than paperback—but can carry two hundred books.
Enjoy learning about Mindle and many thanks!
Jeff Bezos Founder & CEOThis passage most probably is a(n)________.
| A．advertisement |
| B．news story |
| C．lab report |
| D．letter of thanks |
From the passage we learn that Mindle is a device which ________.
| A．has neither wires nor weight |
| B．is operated by a computer |
| C．disappears while you read |
| D．can find a book within one minute |
With the device, the reader is able to ________.
| A．enjoy reading when driving a car |
| B．improve reading skills |
| C．gain access to free software |
| D．get rid of heavy books made of paper |
Different from mobile phones, Mindle________.
| A．has a much more friendly screen |
| B．can work in the absence of electricity |
| C．doesn’t involve regular bills |
| D．is wireless and can be used anywhere. |
Make a five-minute film and win!
Do you love the winter holidays but hate being bored? Then why don’t you enter the Film Street Summer Shorts Competition by making a short film this winter with your family and friends?
What you have to do
To enter the competition, you have to make a short film that is around 5 minutes long (It can be shorter but not longer!) on a digital camera, or mobile phone.
Awards
The best short film entered into our competition will be shown in Film Street’s Cinema and you’ll win a Cineworld Cinema pass for yourself and three more for other members of your filmmaking crew (演职员)。 If you have a Cineworld Cinema pass, you can watch as many films as you like for a year, for free, at any Cineworld Cinema.
Rules
We can’t show films that tell others about either your or any other kids’ names or addresses.
We can’t show films that hurt, harm or insult (侮辱) other people.
We can’t show films that have bad languages.
Copyright Checklist (版权清单)
Getting permission to use someone else’s work in your film can be expensive, so check your film to make sure that:
Your film is original and you haven’t copied anyone else’s.
There are no scenes of branding on shop signs, books, magazines or CDs.
There are no scenes of anyone else’s artwork.
Address and Date
Post your finished film on tape, CD or DVD by Monday, October 1st, 2011 to:
Film Street Summer Short Competition
First Light Movies
Unit 6, Third Floor, The Bond
180-182 Fazeley Street
Birmingham
So what’s stopping you? Start making your Film Street Summer Short now!Who is the passage mainly written for?
| A．Students | B．Parents |
| C．Teachers | D．Actors |
How many Cineworld Cinema passes will the winner of the competition be awarded in all?
| A．One | B．Two |
| C．Three | D．Four |
From Paragragh 3, we can learn that _______.
| A．the winner’s short film can be shown in any cinema |
| B．the competition is held by Cineworld Cinema |
| C．the winner can watch films for free for one year at any Cineworld Cinema.\ |
| D．the winner will be paid for his short film |
The underlined word “original” is the closest in meaning to “_______”.
| A．interesting enough |
| B．exciting enough |
| C．good for children |
| D．made by yourself |
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