15．No one can deny that buttons are an important device．Whenever we see a button，we are eager to press it because we know something will happen．This is true in most cases，for example on a doorbell and on the"on/off"button on the TV．But some buttons are actually fake，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 scam （骗局），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．
"Perceived （能够感知的） control is very important．It reduces stress and increases well-being，"Ellen J．Langer，a psychology professor，said，"having a lack of control is associated with depression．"
Experts have revealed that a lot of buttons that don't do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose．For example，many offices in the US have fake thermostats （温度调节器） because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workspace．
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．
"That habit is here to stay，"John Kounios，a psychology professor，said．"Even though I have real doubts about the traffic light buttons，I always press them．After all，I've got nothing else to do while waiting．So why not press the button in the hope that this one will work？"
25．What was the author's main purpose in writing the article？D
A．To explore people's different habits when it comes to pushing buttons．
B．To describe some different kinds of fake buttons．
C．To explain the advantages and disadvantages of fake buttons．
D．To analyze the functions of fake buttons．
26．In America，the"close"buttons on liftsA．
A．are fake for the convenience of disabled people
B．work only when people press them hard for a while
C．were specially designed to give people a sense of control
D．cannot speed up the process of closing the door in any case
27．The underlined part"for this same purpose"in Paragraph 6 refers toB．
A．making people more patient
B．giving people perceived control
C．helping people to build up confidence
D．making people with depression feel better
28．According to John Kounios，people who press fake buttonsC．
A．should give up this habit
B．consider what they do to be meaningless
C．probably do so to kill time
D．don't know that what they press is fake．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们描述了各种各样的假按钮，它们可以给人更好的控制感．
解答 25．D．推理判断题．根据第一段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可知作者写文章的目的是描述不同的假按钮；故选D．
26．A．细节理解题．根据第三段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可知美国电梯上的"关闭"按钮是考虑到残疾人的安全；故选A．
27．B．推理判断题．根据文章Pressing them used to help make the traffic signals change faster，but that was before computer controlled traffic signals were introduced可知人行道按钮可以让人感觉更好；故选B．
28．C．推理判断题．根据第一段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可知文章最佳标题为不工作的按钮；故选C．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
