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 are a part of it. Whenever you make up your mind, your brain’s emotional centre 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. Damasia thinks this may be because our brains store emotional memories of past choice, 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 that 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 is 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.

51. 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.

52. What does the underlined word “central” mean?

　 A. 中心的　　　 B.中央的　 　C.起决定作用的　 　 D.后悔的

53.Damasia’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.

54.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.

55. What do we learn from the text?

　 A. Emotions are a part of decision-making.

　 B. Sad people always make worse choices.

　 C. No emotion seems to help us make good choices.

　 D. Only sad feeling affect our thinking and motivation.

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 are a part of it. Whenever you make up your mind, your brain’s emotional centre 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. Damasia thinks this may be because our brains store emotional memories of past choice, 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 that 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 is 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.

51. 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.

52. What does the underlined word “central” mean?

　 A. 中心的　　　 B.中央的　　 C.起决定作用的　 D.后悔的

53.Damasia’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.

54.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.

55. What do we learn from the text?

　 A. Emotions are a part of decision-making.

　 B. Sad people always make worse choices.

　 C. No emotion seems to help us make good choices.

　 D. Only sad feeling affect our thinking and motivation.

I __________ monkeys __________ swim．

　　A．think；can't　　B．don't think；can

　　C．not think；can D．don't think；can't

Puppy love(早恋)is common among students all over the world. In the west, people think puppy love is a harmless and healthy part of a teenager’s life—harmless, sure, like beers at family picnic！In China, parents and teachers think it is a problem:it can distract(转移)students from achieving success at school.

Well, puppy love is distracting! But then again, it gives the young a chance to learn about true love. It’s cool to love someone, or be loved by someone else instead of your mom and your dad. Puppy love is natural and beautiful；it can help you later in life when you meet your Mr.or Ms.Right. It can make you a better person so that you know how to use your love to help other people.

If you find yourself “in love”,it’s OK, but…wait! Right now, you have a lot of more important things to do. Think of these questions:Will you still love him or her in ten years? Do you have enough education to find a good job and live a happy life with your “crush”in the future? What would do if you found someone better than your crush? I bet you are not sure of the answers.

True love will come when you’re much older. Now, you should try to be the best person you can be, and do the very best you can do. That means doing well at school and being a good son or daughter first.

( ) 41.What do western people think of puppy love?

　　　 A.They think it is strange.

　　　 B.They think it is special.

C.They think it is harmful.

　　　 D.They think it is common.

( ) 42.Why do Chinese parents worry about puppy love?

A.Because they think their son or daughter will be unhealthy.

B.Because they think their son or daughter will beers at family picnic.

C.Because they think their son or daughter will care less about their study.

D.Because they think it gives the young a chance to learn about true love.

( ) 43.What does the underlined word“crush”mean?

　　 A.迷恋　　 B.冲撞　　　 C.对象　　　 D.梦想

( ) 44.What should you do if you find yourself“in love”?

A.Tell it to the one you love.

B.Find someone better.

C.Decide that you will still love him or her in ten years.

D.Wait, try your best to do well at school and be a good son or daughter at home.

( ) 45.What’s the best title for the article?

A.Parents and Students　　　　　 B.Puppy Love

C.True Love　　　　　　　　　　 D.Love and Study

-- How was the game?

-- ______.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

[　　]

A. I think it is great　　 B. I thought it is great

C. I think it was great　　D. I thought it was great