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Text 1
The secret to eating less and being happy about it may have been cracked years ago — by McDonald’s. According to a new study from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, small non-food rewards — like the toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals — stimulate the same reward centers in the brain as food does.
The researchers, led by Martin Roman, carried out a series of experiments to see if people would choose a smaller meal if it was paired with a non-food item.
They found that the majority of both kids and adults opted for a haft-sized portion when combined with a prize. Both options were priced the same.
Even more interesting is that the promise of a future reward was enough to make adults choose the smaller portion. One of the prizes used was a lottery ticket（彩票）, with a $10, $ 50 or $100 payout, and this was as effective as a tangible gift in persuadingpeople to eat less.
“The fact that participants were willing to substitute part of a food item for the mere prospect of a relatively small monetary award is interesting,” says Roman.
He theorizes that it is the emotional component of these intangible prizes that make them effective. In fact, vaguely-stated possibilities of winning a prize were more effective than options with hard odds included.
“One explanation for this finding is that possible awards may be more emotionally provoking than certainty award.” says Roman. “The uncertainty of winning provides added attraction and desirability through emotional thrills.” The possibility of receiving an award also produces a state of hope — a state that is in itself psychologically rewarding. In other words, there’s a reason why people like to gamble.
How might this knowledge be used to help people eat more healthily?
One possibility is a healthy option that offers the chance to win a spa（温泉疗养）weekend. Or maybe the reward of a half-sized portion could be a half-sized dessert to be claimed only on a future date. That would get you back in the restaurant— and make you eat a little less.
1. What do we learn about McDonald’s inclusion of toys in its Happy Meals?
A. It may shed light on people’s desire to crack a secret.
B. It has proved to be key to McDonald’s business success.
C. It appeals to kid’s curiosity to find out what is hidden inside.
D. It may be a pleasant way for kids to reduce their food intake.
2. What is the finding of the researchers led by Martin Roman?
A. Reducing food intake is not that difficult if people go to McDonald’s more.
B. Most kids and adults don’t actually feel hungry when they eat half of their meal.
C. Eating a smaller portion of food does good to the health of kids and adults alike.
D. Most kids and adults would choose a smaller meal that came with a non-food item.
3. What is the most interesting in Martin Roman’s finding?
A. Kids preferred an award in the form of money to one in the form of a toy.
B. Adults chose the smaller portion on the mere promise of a future award.
C. Both kids and adults felt satisfied with only half of their meal portions.
D. Neither children nor adults could resist the temptation of a free toy.
4. How does Martin Roman interpret his finding?
A. The emotional component of the prizes is at work.
B. People now care more about quality than quantity.
C. People prefer certainty awards to possible awards.
D. The desire for a future reward is overwhelming.
5. What can we infer from Martin Roman’s finding?
A. People should eat much less if they wish to stay healthy and happy.
B. More fast food restaurants are likely to follow McDonald’s example.
C. We can lead people to eat less while helping the restaurant business.
D. More studies are needed to find out the impact of emotion on behavior.
Text 2
Tight-lipped elders used to say, “It’s not what you want in this world, but what you get.”
Psychology teaches that you do get what you want if you know what you want and want the right things.
You can make a mental blueprint of a desire as you would make a blueprint of a house, and each of us is continually making these blueprints in the general routine of everyday living. If we intend to have friends to dinner, we plan the menu, make a shopping list, and decide which food to cook first, and such planning is an essential for any type of meal to be served.
Likewise, if you want to find a job, take a sheet of paper, and write a brief account of yourself. In making a blueprint for a job, begin with yourself, for when you know exactly what you have to offer, you can intelligently plan where to sell your services.
This account of yourself is actually a sketch of your working life and should include education, experience and references. Such an account is valuable. It can be referred to in filling out standard application blanks and is extremely helpful in personal interviews. While talking to you, your could-be employer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your “wares” and abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner.
When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something tangible to sell. Then you are ready to hunt for a job. Get all the possible information about your could-be job. Make inquiries as to the details regarding the job and the firm. Keep your eyes and ears open, and use your own judgment. Spend a certain amount of time each day seeking the employment you wish for, and keep in mind: Securing a job is your job now.
6. What do the elders mean when they say, “It’s not what you want in this world, but what youget.”?
A. You’ll certainly get what youwant.
B. It’s no usedreaming.
C. You should be dissatisfied with what youhave.
D. It’s essential to set a goal foryourself.
7. A blueprint made before inviting a friend to dinner is used in thispassageas _______________.
A. an illustration of how to write an application for a job
B. an indication of how to secure a good job
C. a guideline for job description
D. a principle for job evaluation
8. According to the passage, one must write an account of himself before starting to find a job because _______________.
A. that is the first step to please the employer
B. that is the requirement of the employer
C. it enables him to know when to sell his services
D. it forces him to become clearly aware of himself
9. When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something _______________.
A. definite to offer
B. imaginary to provide
C. practical to supply
D. desirable to present
Text 3
With the start of BBC World Service Television, millions of viewers in Asia and America can now watch the Corporation’s news coverage, as well as listen to it. And of course in Britain listeners and viewers can tune into two BBC television channels, five BBC national radio services and dozens of local radio station. They are brought sport, comedy, drama, music, news and current affairs, education, religion, parliamentary coverage, children’s programs and films for an annual license fee of ?83 per household.
It is a remarkable record, stretching back over 70 years — yet the BBC’s future is now in doubt.
The Corporation will survive as a publicly-funded broadcasting organization, at least for the time being, but its role, its size and its programs are now the subject of a nation-wide debate in Britain.
The debate was launched by the Government, which invited anyone with an opinion of the BBC— including ordinary listeners and viewers — to say what was good or bad about the Corporation, and even whether they thought it was worth keeping. The reason for its inquiry is that the BBCs royal charter runs out in 1996 and it must decide whether to keep the organization as it is, or to make changes.
Defenders of the Corporation — of whom there are many — are fond of quoting the Americanslogan “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” The BBC “isn’t broke”, they say, by which they mean it is not broken (as distinct from the word ‘broke’, meaning having no money), so why bother to change it?
Yet the BBC will have to change, because the broadcasting world around it is changing. The commercial TV channels — ITV and Channel 4 — were required by the Thatcher Government’s Broadcasting Act to become more commercial, competing with each other for advertisers, and cutting costs and jobs. But it is the arrival of new satellite channels — funded partly by advertising and partly by viewers’ subscriptions — which will bring about the biggest changes in the long term.
10. The world famous BBC now faces _______________.
A. the problem of news coverage
B. an uncertain prospect
C. inquiries by the general public
D. shrinkage of audience
11. In the passage, which of the following about the BBC is not mentioned as the key issue?
A. Extension of its TV service to Far East.
B. Programs as the subject of a nation-wide debate.
C. Potentials for further international co-operations.
D. Its existence as a broadcasting organization
12. The BBC’s “royal charter” (Line 4, Paragraph 3) stands for _______________.
A. the financial support from the royal family
B. the privileges granted by the Queen
C. a contract with the Queen
D. a unique relationship with the royal family
13. The foremost reason why the BBC has to readjust itself is no other than _______________.
A. the emergence of commercial TV channels
B. the enforcement of Broadcasting Act by the government
C. the urgent necessity to reduce costs and jobs
D. the challenge of new satellite channels
