Question

【题目】 When taking an elevator, do you often push the “close” button? You hope by pushing it, the elevator door will close faster. But what if the button is actually fake（假的）?

Karen Penafiel is the executive director（执行董事）of the US National Elevator Industry. She said that elevators’ “close” buttons are a complete trick, at least in the US, and that doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you push.

In the 1990s the Americans with Disabilities Act（《美国残疾人法案》）was passed in the US. It means all elevators have to stay open long enough to allow disabled（残疾的）people to enter. Only US firefighters and elevator workers can really use the buttons with special keys.

But the buttons aren’t completely useless. According to psychologists（心理学家）, fake buttons can make you feel better. They give you a sense of control that can help reduce stress. That’s why some other buttons in our lives are fake, too.

For example, many offices in the US have fake thermostats（温控器）. People may feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workspace.

You were told that traffic light buttons could help make the traffic signals change faster. But they may not really work either.

However, even when people know these little “white lies”, they still push fake buttons. As long as the doors finally close, it seems worthy.

John Kounios is a psychology professor at Drexel University in the US. He told The New YorkTimes that he always pushes the traffic light buttons. “After all, I’ve got nothing else to do while waiting. So why not push the button on the off chance that this one will work?”

【1】You push the “close” button in the US, the elevator door will ________.

A.close immediatelyB.not be completely open

C.play a trick on youD.not close as fast as you wish

【2】The US, in order for disabled people to go in safely, ________.

A.elevator workers will press the “open” button for them

B.they will be given a special key to use in the elevators

C.all elevators are designed to open long enough

D.no “close” button is fixed on the elevators

【3】Which of the following is NOT mentioned as fake?

A.Thermostat buttons.B.Elevator buttons.

C.Traffic light buttons.D.Power buttons.

【4】There are quite a few fake buttons in our lives because they can ________.

A.control people’s sensesB.help people feel better

C.control the temperatureD.tell “white lies”

【5】The underlined words “on the off chance” in the last paragraph most probably mean “______”.

A.with the little hopeB.without any plan

C.with a great opportunityD.without any possibility

【6】The best title for the passage is ________.

A.Button pushing societyB.Useless buttons

C.Buttons for disabled peopleD.Fake elevator buttons

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】C

【3】D

【4】B

【5】A

【6】A

【解析】

当坐电梯的时候，你是不是经常按“关门”按钮？你希望通过按它，电梯门关的快一点。但是如果这个按钮实际上是假的怎么办？本文介绍了我们生活中的一些假的按钮。

【1】细节理解题。根据that doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you push.可知你用力按按钮门并不会快点关。故选D。

【2】细节理解题。根据It means all elevators have to stay open long enough to allow disabled（残疾的）people to enter. 为了让残疾人有足够的时间进电梯，所有的电梯都必须开很长时间。故选C。

【3】细节理解题。文中第三段介绍假的电梯按钮；第四段介绍假的温控器按钮；第六段介绍交通灯按钮是假的。只有D选项文中并未提及。故选D。

【4】细节理解题。根据According to psychologists（心理学家）, fake buttons can make you feel better. 可知从心理学角度讲，假的按钮会让你感觉更好。故选B。

【5】词义猜测题。So为连词，表示“因此”。根据上句After all, I’ve got nothing else to do while waiting. 毕竟等待的时间也没有事做，因此……。Why not表示“为什么不……”；this one will work可推测此句意为“因此为什么不按有一点希望的按钮，万一这个好使呢？”故选A。

【6】主旨大意题。本文通过对电梯假的按钮，介绍了我们生活中有很多假的按钮，通过按钮也反映了一些社会问题。D和C选项只是说了电梯按键，片面；B选项中这些按钮并不是没用的。因此Button pushing society符合文章意思。故选A。