Decisions, decisions! Our lives are full of them, from the small ones to the life-changing. The right to choose is central to everyone. Yet sometimes we make bad decisions that leave us unhappy or full of regret. Can science help?
Most of us know little about the mental processes that lie behind our decisions. Luckily, what psychologists（心理学家）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（动机）, 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 worst choices. |
| C．No emotion seems to help us make good choices. |
| D．Only sad feelings affect our thinking and motivation. |
After Christmas, I took a job in the clothes department at Graham’s for the first fortnight of the January sale. I can’t say that I enjoyed it, but it was an experience I’ll never forget.
I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales. Now I know the secret! Firstly, there is the special winter stock and the stock that people buy all the year round. Some of these things are slightly reduced. Secondly, there are the summer clothes they couldn’t sell last year; these are heavily reduced to clear them. Thirdly, there are cheap clothes bought in especially for the sales; these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale. Lastly, they buy in “seconds” for the sale and they are sold very cheaply.
When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale, there was already a queue around three sides of the building.
When the big moment arrived to open the doors, the security guards, looking less confident than usual, came up to them, keys in hand. The moment they had unlocked the doors, they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in. I couldn’t believe my eyes; this wasn’t shopping. It was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn’t keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind.
Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes, colors and styles they wanted. Quarrels broke out. Mothers were using their small children to crawl through people’s legs and get hold of things they couldn’t get near themselves.
Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose, each wanting to be the first served. Where had the famous English queue gone? The whole day continued like that, but I kept my temper! I was taking money hand over fist and began to realize why, twice a year, Graham’s were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this.
In the sale fever, people were spending money like water without thinking if they needed what they were buying. As long as it was a bargain, it was OK.
You won’t believe this, but as soon as I got home, I crashed out for four hours. Then I had dinner and went back to bed, fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale.
69. What kind of clothes is likely to be sold only a little cheaper according to the passage?
A. Last summer’s clothes. B. Clothes not in perfect condition.
C. Clothes bought in specially for the sales. D. Clothes for winter.
70. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The customers gave up the queuing as soon as the sale began.
B. The customers kept their temper while looking for clothes they wanted.
C. Small children were not helpful to their mothers in the sale.
D. The security guards of the clothes department were as confident as usual.
Before you leave for the airport
Ensure that you have your passports (and any necessary visas), tickets and money in your hand luggage.
If packing medicines, ensure that they are in their original packaging as this will avoid delays or prevent them from being taken away at customs.
Do not wrap presents as they may have to be unwrapped by security staff or customs.
The Department of Health has devoted a section of their site to health advice for traveling abroad.
Getting to the airport
Always allow plenty of time to reach the airport. You should arrive there 2 hours before the take-off for international flights and one hour before the take-off for domestic flights.
If you are driving to the airport, ensure that you have booked airport parking in advance.
If you are being driven by a friend who wants to see you off, ensure that he / she knows where the short stay parking is located.
If taking a taxi, ensure that the firm you intend to use has taxis available at the time you wish to travel.
At the airport
Be aware that increased security has considerably lengthened the time it takes to go through check in and security.
Make sure you keep your baggage with you at all times and alert any member of airport staff to any unattended package.
Never look after baggage belonging to other people or carry anything onto the aircraft for someone else.
Keep a close eye on the display boards announcing which gate flights depart from.
In the air
If on a long flight, move your feet around, or get up and walk around regularly if you can.
Avoid dehydration (脱水) by drinking plenty of water or other non-alcoholic drinks.
Don’t eat too heavily before or during a long flight as this will help to avoid indigestion and hypertension (高血压).
To reduce jet lag (时差反应), have some extra sleep before the trip, get some sleep during the flight and try to make mealtimes the same as the time of meals at your destination.
65. Before leaving for the airport, you should NOT ______.
A. make sure that you have all the necessary things with you
B. ensure that any packed medicines are in their original packing
C. wrap presents up tightly for the safety
D. know some advice for traveling abroad from the website
66. You should ensure that you have booked the airport parking in advance if _______.
A. you are going on an international flights B. you drive to the airport yourself
C. a friend drives you to the airport D. you take a taxi to the airport
67. When waiting for your flight at the airport, you should pay the most attention to _______.
A. the display boards showing which gate the flight departs from
B. baggage belonging to other people
C. unattended package
D. the time it takes to go through check in and security
68. During the flight you should follow the following advice EXCEPT _______.
A. always to sit on a long flight B. to drink enough water to avoid dehydration
C. not to eat too much so as to avoid indigestion and hypertension
D. to make mealtimes the same as the time of meals at your destination
Do your spirits soar (猛增) on a sunny day? Do you relax at the sound of flowing water?
Some scientists suggest that these contacts with nature are good for your health. In one study, hospital patients with a view of trees had shorter hospital stays and less need for pain medications. Another study indicated that prisoners with a view of the outdoors had fewer doctor visits.
“Why do we desire nature? Maybe we’re programmed to need it, since our ancestors’ survival was so dependent on their connection with nature,” suggests biologist E.O. Wilson.
Want to find out if contact with nature improves your outlook on life? Try a few of these ideas.
Hang out a bird feeder and watch the birds that visit it.
Sit down in the backyard or a nearby park. Close your eyes. What do you hear? Birds singing? The wind in the trees? Crickets (蟋蟀) chirping?
Find an anthill. Sit down and watch the ants work.
Take a walk right after a rainstorm. What looks different? Smells different?
Go barefoot on a sandy beach.
Open the curtains and the window, if the weather allows it.
On a windy day, watch the trees.
Go to a creek, river or park fountain. Listen to the sound of water in motion.
Camp out in the backyard or at a nearby state park. Use a tent or sleep on the ground.
Find a wide-open space to study the stars. Learn about the different constellations (星座).
Raise a garden. Or plant some seeds in a flowerpot.
Go hiking with your family. Talk about all of the colors you see in nature.
Take a camera and capture your nature experience.
60. From Paragraph 2 we can learn that ______.
A. prisoners don’t like to go to the doctor when ill B. trees can be used as pain medications
C. prisoners should often get out of prison to come into contact with nature
D. contacts with nature are very helpful for hospital patients
61. According to E.O. Wilson, we desire nature probably because ______.
A. it can help us feel relaxed
B. we have inherited (继承) from our ancestors who were dependent on nature
C. people have lived with nature for thousands of years
D. contacts with nature can improve a person’s outlook on life
62. The author gives us many ideas in order to let us ______.
A. find out if contacts with nature improve our outlook on life
B. hear birds sing and watch ants work
C. talk about the colors we see in nature D. capture our experience in nature
63. From the passage, we can learn that ______.
A. studying the constellations is important to everyone
B. you can know all the colors only by going hiking
C. nature is quite important to us D. walking in a rainstorm can be very helpful
64. What is the best title of the passage?
A. Go hiking with your family. B. Let nature nurture you.
C. Visit your doctor less. D. Watch the trees more often.
第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
The unknown world’s mystry
The sea is the biggest unknown part of our world. It covers seventy-one percent of the earth. There is still much to be discovered about this vast blanket of water. If the waters of the ocean could be removed, the sea floor with its wide valleys, irregular mountains and rivers in the sea would be an unbelievable sight.
Tourism under the deep blue sea
Tourists can now explore the world beneath the waves without ever getting wet. From tourist submarines (潜艇) to underwater dining, undersea tourism is making a big splash.
Tourist submarines
The popularity of submarine tours has grown rapidly in the last decade. Now, tourist submarines operate in more than 20 locations worldwide, including the waters around Okinawa and Taiwan’s Green Island. The submarines carry nearly 2 million tourists each year. Large windows offer passengers spectacular views as the submarines explore colorful coral reefs and sunken ships. Most one-hour tours cost about US $80.
Under water dinning
For a more upscale experience, tourists can enjoy fine dining under the sea. Last summer the Hilton Maldives Resort opened the world’s first underwater restaurant, Ithaa. Diners walk down a staircase into the restaurant, which rests 35 feet beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean. Transparent walls surround the dining area, and you can treat guests to a panoramic (全景) ocean view.
But this excellent view doesn’t come cheap. The tasting menu costs US $200 per person. Be sure to make reservations early, too. The restaurant seats only 14 people.
56. What does the author want to tell us in Paragraph 1?
A. The sea is the biggest unknown part of our world. B. The sea covers 71% of the earth.
C. Some information about the sea floor. D. The reasons for researching undersea tourism.
57. What does the author really mean by saying “undersea tourism is making a big splash” in Para2 ?
A. Undersea tourism is a new fashion in travelling. B. Your clothes will be made wet by the water splash. C. Undersea tourism is dangerous. D. There is still a long way for undersea tourism to go.
58. Which of the following statements about tourist submarines is RIGHT?
A. Tourist submarines only have a history of about 10 years.
B. There are tourist submarines in every part of the world now.
C. Tourist submarines have carried about 2 million tourists so far.
D. People can enjoy tourist submarines in the waters around Okinawa.
59. The walls of the restaurant Ithaa are most probably made of___________.
A. stone B. brick C. glass D. steel
The Heritage (遗产) at Risk programme aims to understand the overall state of England’s heritage by assessing each of its different elements. In particular we need to identify those that are facing the greatest pressures and threats. We will use this information to work out how to reduce those pressures and in turn to calculate the resources needed to make our unique heritage of historic places safe.
You can search for sites on the register by entering a site name, location, street or educational block in the box below.
Conservation areas
A nationwide survey of conservation areas indicates that approximately 1 in 7 is at risk from neglect (疏忽), decay (腐烂) or unpitying change.
Show your support for our campaign to save conservation areas from unavoidable decline and receive a free campaign pack by registering. There are some 9,300 conservation areas across England, meaning that we all live in or near to one or visit one regularly for work, shopping or rest. They are the element of England’s heritage that is all around us and which touches all of our lives. But until now no one had a clear idea what condition they were in.
Buildings
The task of assessing condition and risk started with buildings. Following a survey of all grades of listed buildings in London, English Heritage published in 1991 the first annual register of those at risk there.
The success of this London work led to the national buildings at risk strategy in 1998, and publication of a register of buildings at risk conversing all grade I and II listed buildings and structural scheduled monuments in the country, at risk and vulnerable (易受伤害的).
Parks & Gardens
There are 1,600 entries on the current English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. Sites at risk have typically been diversely (不利地) affected by development and neglect; often they have been changed by development and are faced with major change. Sometimes development beyond the boundary of a registered landscape can be just as harmful as construction within its boundaries; this is especially true that development would influence designed views that extend beyond the chosen site itself.
72．The purpose of using the information to work out how to reduce pressures is to_______.
A．assess each of English heritage’s different elements
B．identify those that are facing the greatest pressures and threats
C．calculate the resources needed to make heritage of historic sites safe
D．help you to search for sites at risk on the register
73．It can be inferred from “Conservation areas” that conservation areas across England_______.
A．are almost all at risk from neglect, decay or unpitying change
B．can be entered with a campaign pack free of charge
C．are in very close connection with our lives
D．are in whatever condition people are sure about
74．The text mainly talks about_______.
A．English heritage at risk
B．historic places of interest
C．English heritage register
D．location of English heritage
75．According to the last paragraph, the bad effect development has on the sites at risk is that_______.
A．it has changed the sites at risk with no intention
B．it can sometimes cause harm beyond the registered boundaries
C．it would affect the designed views instead of the chosen sites
D．it has neglected the local people of special historic interest