Question

Whenever we see a button, we want to press it because we know that something will happen. This is true in most cases, for example, on a doorbell. But some buttons are actually fake(假的), like the “close” button on a lift.

Many people are in the habit of pressing the “close” button because they don’t have the patience to wait for the lift doors to shut. But lifts’ “close” buttons are a complete trick, at least in the US － the doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you press.

It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the US, making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter. Only US firefighters and repairmen can use the buttons to speed up the door-closing process if they have a code or special keys.

But to normal lift riders, the buttons aren’t completely useless. According to psychologists, fake buttons can actually make you feel better by offering you a sense of control.

“A sense of control is very important. It reduces stress and increases well-being,” said Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard University. Experts also added that a lot of buttons that don’t do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose.

For example, pedestrian crosswalk buttons don’t live up to their names either. Pressing them used to help make the traffic signals change faster, but that was before computer controlled traffic signals were introduced.

But psychologists found it interesting that even when people are aware of these little “white lies”, they still continue to push fake buttons because as long as the doors eventually close, it is considered to be worth the effort.

1.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A. To explore the functions of fake buttons.

B. To describe different fake buttons.

C. To analyze various habits of pushing buttons.

D. To explain the disadvantages of fake buttons.

2.What can we learn about the “close” buttons on a lift in America?

A. They work when people press them hard.

B. They were designed for a sense of control.

C. They never speed up the door-closing process.

D. They take the safety of the disabled into account.

3.What can we infer about pedestrian crosswalk buttons?

A. They can make people feel better.

B. They help computers work faster.

C. They can control the traffic signals.

D. They help pedestrians cross safely.

4.Which may be the best title for the passage?

A. Buttons in the USA. B. Buttons Always Lie

C. Buttons May not Work D. “Close” Buttons on Lifts

Answer 1