Have you ever pressed the pedestrian button at a crosswalk and wondered if it really worked? They’re called “placebo(安慰剂)buttons”一buttons that mechanically sound and can be pushed,but provide no functionality.
In New York City, only about 100 of the 1, 000 crosswalk buttons actually function. Crosswalk signals were generally installed before traffic jam had reached today’s levels.
But while their function was taken over by more advanced systems—such as automated lights or traffic sensors — the physical buttons were often kept, rather than being replaced at further expense. Other cities,such as Boston,Dallas and Seattle,have gone through a similar process, leaving them with their own placebo pedestrian buttons. In London, which has 6, 000 traffic signals, pressing the pedestrian button results in a reliable “Wait” light. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that the “green man”— or “pedestrian stage” in traffic signal design profession — will appear any sooner.
“We do have some crossings where the green light comes on automatically, but we still ask people to press the button because that enables accessible features,’’ said Glynn Barton, director of network management at Transport for London.
These features, such as blind tracks and hearable traffic signals, help people with visual disorder cross the road and only function when the button is pressed. As for the lights, a growing number of them are now combined and become a part of an electronic system that detects traffic and adjusts time frequency accordingly (giving priority to buses if they’re running late, for example), which means that pressing the button has no effect.
According to Langer, a Harvard psychologist, placebo buttons give us the illusion (错觉)of control — and something to do in situations where the alternative would be doing nothing. In the case of pedestrian crossings, they may even make us safer by forcing us to pay attention to our surroundings. “They serve a psychological purpose at the very least,” she added.
1.Why are the physical buttons still kept in some cities?
A. Because it may cost money to replace them.
B. Because they remain as memories of a city.
C. Because do have real functions in traffic.
D. Because they can result in reliable lights.
2.Which of the following word can replace the underline word “features” in Paragraph 4?
A. Functions. B. Uses.
C. Equipment. D. Facilities.
3.If you pressed a “placebo button” in London, what would happen?
A. All traffic would be affected. B. Some kind of sound might appear.
C. Pedestrians came first to cross the road. D. “Green man” were bound to show up earlier.
4.What can we know about “placebo buttons” from Langer’s words?
A. They can really control traffic. B. They serve little functions.
C. They may work mentally. D. They can help the blind.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Have you ever pressed the pedestrian button at a crosswalk and wondered if it really worked? They’re called “placebo(安慰剂)buttons”一buttons that mechanically sound and can be pushed,but provide no functionality.
In New York City, only about 100 of the 1, 000 crosswalk buttons actually function. Crosswalk signals were generally installed before traffic jam had reached today’s levels.
But while their function was taken over by more advanced systems—such as automated lights or traffic sensors — the physical buttons were often kept, rather than being replaced at further expense. Other cities,such as Boston,Dallas and Seattle,have gone through a similar process, leaving them with their own placebo pedestrian buttons. In London, which has 6, 000 traffic signals, pressing the pedestrian button results in a reliable “Wait” light. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that the “green man”— or “pedestrian stage” in traffic signal design profession — will appear any sooner.
“We do have some crossings where the green light comes on automatically, but we still ask people to press the button because that enables accessible features,’’ said Glynn Barton, director of network management at Transport for London.
These features, such as blind tracks and hearable traffic signals, help people with visual disorder cross the road and only function when the button is pressed. As for the lights, a growing number of them are now combined and become a part of an electronic system that detects traffic and adjusts time frequency accordingly (giving priority to buses if they’re running late, for example), which means that pressing the button has no effect.
According to Langer, a Harvard psychologist, placebo buttons give us the illusion (错觉)of control — and something to do in situations where the alternative would be doing nothing. In the case of pedestrian crossings, they may even make us safer by forcing us to pay attention to our surroundings. “They serve a psychological purpose at the very least,” she added.
1.Why are the physical buttons still kept in some cities?
A. Because it may cost money to replace them.
B. Because they remain as memories of a city.
C. Because do have real functions in traffic.
D. Because they can result in reliable lights.
2.Which of the following word can replace the underline word “features” in Paragraph 4?
A. Functions. B. Uses.
C. Equipment. D. Facilities.
3.If you pressed a “placebo button” in London, what would happen?
A. All traffic would be affected. B. Some kind of sound might appear.
C. Pedestrians came first to cross the road. D. “Green man” were bound to show up earlier.
4.What can we know about “placebo buttons” from Langer’s words?
A. They can really control traffic. B. They serve little functions.
C. They may work mentally. D. They can help the blind.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The machine is so advanced that it will start ______ you press the button.
A. constantly B. cautiously
C. instantly D. severely
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
If you’ve ever compared a woman’s button-up shirt to a man’s, you’ve probably noticed that the buttons are on the opposite sides. This would make sense if all women were left-handed and all men were right-handed, but because the majority of all people are right-handed, that’s clearly not the reason. So what gives?
An age-old theory is that it all has to do with the well-known fact that women can’t dress themselves. I’m kidding. of course (I dress myself nearly every day!), but many years ago, it was a lot harder for females to get dressed. As Live Science puts it: “Depending on the era, men might wear waistcoats and wool jackets. But women’s clothing was far more elaborate, and could consist of a dozen or more garments. Thus, especially in middle and upper-class society, men generally dressed themselves, whereas women did not. Instead, maids and servants might spend an hour or more dressing the lady of the house.” So, it’s long been thought that women’s buttons were placed on the opposite side to cater to the servants dressing them.
But as Elle recently pointed out, buttons on women’s shirts weren’t introduced until 1860—hundreds of years after servants were first used in the dressing room.
Or, according to Cosmopolitan UK, maybe babies are the reason. Women usually hold a child on their left side to free up a dominant hand and a shirt that opens on the right makes breastfeeding easier.
Or, there’s another reasonable but depressing theory.
In Man and Woman: A Study of Secondary and Tertiary Sexual Characters, 1894, Havelock Ellis writes that women’s clothes were designed so that the women had to button themselves with the “inferior (下等的)” left hand as an indicator of their social position as not on the same level as men.
Sigh. We prefer the breastfeeding explanation.
1.From Para. 1 we can learn that ________.
A.the buttons on women’s shirts are on the left
B.the buttons on men’s shirts are on the left
C.That all women are left-handed would make sense
D.That the majority of opeple are right-handed makes no sense
2.By adding what Elle pointed out, the author wants to ________.
A.prove that the buttoning way was originally to cater to the servants
B.show that the reason mentioned above is doubtful
C.introduce a new reason to account for the present buttoning way
D.convince the readers that servants were used much later
3.Why did the author find the reason pointed out by Havelock Ellis depressing?
A.It made no sense at all. B.It suggested discrimination against women.
C.It seemed painful that women used left hands. D.It forced women to button themselves.
4.Which explanation for women’s buttoning shirts does author favor?
A.Women cannot dress themselves.
B.It makes breastfeeding babies easier.
C.It caters to the servants dressing them.
D.It indicates women’s social position isn’t on the same level as men.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Do you ever throw away food at home? Have you ever thought about what happens to the food that shops and supermarkets don't sell? Well,you might be shocked to find out that about one third of food produced for humans gets wasted. What's more,around 800 million people in the world don't live a healthy life for lack of food.
Many people in the UK and across the world are trying to do something with this situation. They are trying their best to make use of eatable food that is thrown away.
For example,there is a coffee bar in Leeds (UK) whose meals are all cooked with unsold food from supermarkets. The spare food is turned into delicious food to feed the hungry people of Leeds. Customers just pay what they can afford or help the bar wash something. In just ten months,10,000 people were fed at this bar.
Besides,the UK's first food waste supermarket opened last year. The supermarket works on a “pay as you feel” basis. Customers pay whatever they want. Some lowincome families have said that it has changed their lives.
“Fuel for School” is another food waste project. Spare food from supermarkets such as dairy,vegetables,fruit and bread is used to feed hungry schoolchildren whose families may not be able to afford to buy them lunch.
More coffee bars like Leeds are being opened in other parts of the UK such as Bristol and Manchester,and it is now becoming a worldwide event.
I think this is an amazing step as food waste is one of the world's biggest problems. I also believe that the law should be changed,so that supermarkets don't throw away so much good food.
1.What does the author think of the coffee bar's action?
A.He thinks it very good. B.He is worried about it.
C.He is doubtful about it. D.He thinks it interesting.
2.What's the goal of “Fuel for School”?
A.Help poor kids choose healthy food to eat.
B.Deal with bad food from supermarkets.
C.Make kids perform well in their study.
D.Feed students from poor families.
3.Which of the following does the author advise?
A.We buy food based on our ability.
B.More coffee bars are opened in Leeds.
C.Restaurants offer children food for free.
D.Governments take action to reduce food waste.
4.What is the best title of the text?
A.The Problem of Food Waste Should Be Solved
B.Fuel for School Offers Food to The Poor
C.Different Actions to Solve the Problem of Food Waste in UK
D.Spare Food From Supermarkets Is Thrown Away
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Have you ever thought of joining a book club and buying new books through the post? Here at the International Book Club, we already have many members buying books from us by mail.
Immediate benefits:
●As a special offer, you may choose any reduced-price books from our new members' book list, to the value of $6 in total (plus postage and packing). By doing this, you will save pounds on the publishers' prices.
●Tick the box on your form to order a free watch.
●If you reply within seven days, we will send you another free gift carefully chosen from our book list by our staff.
●Order a DVD from the many on offer in our list, at half the recommended(推荐) retail price.
●When you've joined:
As a member, you'll enjoy savings of between 30% and 50% off the publisher's price on every book you buy, and what's more, they'll come straight to your door. Your free club magazine arrives once a month, to keep you up-to-date with the latest bestsellers. This means that every year we offer over 1,000 books to choose from. On the Internet, you can find all our titles for the year on our exclusive members' website.
Being a member:
All we are asking you to do while you are a member is to choose four books during your first year. After that, you can decide on the number of books you wish to take.
In each of our monthly club magazines, our experienced staff choose a Club Choice book — a work of fiction or a reference title which they feel is particularly worth buying, and which is offered at an extra-special price. However, if you do not want this book, just say so in the space provided on the form. We will always send the book if we do not receive this.
So, return your application form today, but hurry — it's not every day we can make you an offer like this. To apply to become a member, all you need to do is simply fill in the enclosed form and return it in the envelope supplied.
Before you know it, your books will be with you. Please don't send any money now, as we will send you your bill with the books. And remember, you have up to a fortnight to decide if you wish to keep the books you have ordered. You should then either return the books or send your payment.
1.Which of the following doesn't belong to the benefits of being a club member?
A. Order a free watch.
B. Get a gift for nothing.
C. Get four books for free in the first year
D. Order a DVD at a low price.
2.Every month the club provides a free club magazine in order to ________.
A. Let readers know the number of books to be sold
B. Attract more and more readers to join the club
C. Make readers know the club's development
D. Keep readers well informed of recent best-selling books
3.If a book is worth $100, how much will a member probably save if he buys one?
A. $40. B. $60. C. $20. D. $70.
4.What should you do if you want to join the book club?
A. Just send the club an email.
B. Ask other club members to recommend you to the club.
C. Fill in an application form and return it to the club.
D. Apply for a membership card.
5.After you get your books, you should ________.
A.Choose whether to keep them or not after you read them carefully
B.Decide whether to keep them or not within a certain period of time
C.Express your idea in the space provided in the book
D.Send money to the club at once
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there’s whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job's pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas:
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating(使孤立) jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don't happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers?
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy?
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won't know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.
1.What is unnecessary in your job hunting?
A. Assessing your skills
B. Going to different areas
C. Matching your skills with a position
D. taking your personality into consideration
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Isolating jobs usually drive people mad.
B. Interactive jobs make people shy easily.
C. Extreme people tend to work with others.
D. Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs.
3.What is the missing word about a job search in the following chart?
A. Design B. Skills
C. Cooperation D. Hobbies
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A. Lifestyles and Job Pay B. Jobs and Environment
C. Job Skills and Abilities D. Personalities and Jobs
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there's a whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job’s pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas;
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don't happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers?
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy?
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won't know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.
1.What is unnecessary in your job hunting?
A. Assessing your skills B. Going to different areas
C. Matching your skills with a position D. taking your personality into consideration
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Isolating jobs usually drive people mad.
B. Interactive jobs make people shy easily.
C. Extreme people tend to work with others.
D. Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs.
3.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph one mean?
A. Before you select your job, you should assess your skills and match them with your position
B. There are more important things than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job.
C. Nothing is important than assessing skills and match them with the position when selecting job.
D. You should ignore your skills when you select job.
4.What is the missing word about a job search in the following chart?
A. Design. B. Changes.
C. Cooperation. D. Hobbies.
5.What is the best title for this passage?
A. Lifestyles and Job Pay B. Jobs and Environment
C. Job Skills and Abilities D. Personalities and Jobs
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there’s whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job's pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas:
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating(使孤立) jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don't happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers?
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy?
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won't know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.
1.This passage mainly talks about the importance of _______.
A.different jobs B.personalities
C.personal skills D.job’s pay
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Isolating jobs usually drive people mad.
B.Interactive jobs make people shy easily.
C.Extreme people tend to work with others.
D.Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs.
3.What is the missing word about a job search in the following chart?
A.Design B.Skills C.Cooperation D.Hobbies
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A.Lifestyles and Job Pay B.Jobs and Environment
C.Job Skills and Abilities D.Personalities and Jobs
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there's a whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job's pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas;
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating(使孤立)jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don't happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers?
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy?
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won't know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Isolating jobs usually drive people mad.
B. Interactive jobs make people shy easily.
C. Extreme people tend to work with others.
D. Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs.
2.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph one mean?
A. Before you select your job, you should assess your skills and match them with your position
B. There are more important things than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job.
C. Nothing is important than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job.
D. You should ignore your skills when you select job.
3. What is the missing word about a job search in the following chart?
A. Design. B. Changes. C. Cooperation. D. Hobbies.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there's a whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job's pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas;
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating(使孤立)jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don't happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers?
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy?
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won't know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Isolating jobs usually drive people mad.
B.Interactive jobs make people shy easily.
C.Extreme people tend to work with others.
D.Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs.
2.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph one mean?
A. Before you select your job, you should assess your skills and match them with your position
B. There are more important things than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job.
C. Nothing is important than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job.
D You should ignore your skills when you select job.
3.What is the missing word about a job search in the following chart?
A.Design. B.Changes. C.Cooperation. D.Hobbies.
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A.Lifestyles and Job Pay B.Jobs and Environment
C.Job Skills and Abilities D.Personalities and Jobs
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析