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.

Betty and I are best friends. Our birthdays are on the same day, so every year we have a birthday party together. But this year, we had a costume party instead.

While we were writing the invitations, my mum came in and asked, “Why not invite John?” John had been in our class for only a few months, but he was already getting better grades in math than anyone else in class. I wrinkled(皱起) my nose, “Mum, he wears the same pants to school every day. How could he even afford a costume?” Mum said nothing. The next day, mum gave me an envelope with a shopping certificate(凭证) in it. “I thought it would be nice for you to give this to John.” Mum said. But how? We didn’t want to make John embarrassed. We discussed it for a long time. Finally, Betty and I had a good idea.

On the day of our party, kids arrived, dressed differently. John arrived, in an old sheet(床单), but still in the same brown pants as usual. We danced, ate snacks and played games in groups. Before eating the birthday cake, Betty said in a loud voice, “Now it’s time for the great prize game. It’s the following riddle…” It was a math game. None of us was surprised when John came up with the right answer first and walked off with the envelope.

Everything went on well as we planned. John wore a new pair of pants and a new shirt the next week. He felt happy. So did we.

When we help others, we need to find a proper way, or we may hurt them in another way.

1.The two girls and John were in the same _________.

A. group   B. family    C. team     D. class

2. John’s family may be very _________ according to the passage.

A. far         B. poor      C. rich       D. small

3.How did John get the prize during the party?

A. By helping others

B. By asking for help.

C. By getting good grades in study

D. By winning the math game.

4.John _________ with the shopping certificate after the party.

A. watched a basketball match

B. saw a movie

C. bought something to wear

D. made a phone call

5.Which of the following sentences is TRUE according to the passage?

A. John wasn’t good at math.

B. The two girls helped John in a proper way.

C. The two girls felt angry when John won the great prize.

D. John wore a new pair of pants and a new shirt to the party.