Most of us know little about the mental processes that lie behind our decisions. Luckily,

Most of us know little about the mental processes that lie behind our decisions. Luckily, what psychologists 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’re a part of it. Whenever you make up your mind, your brain’s emotional center 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. Damasio thinks this may be because our brains store emotional memories of past choices, 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 anger can lead us to make quick decisions without much thinking.
All emotions affect our thinking and motivation, so it may be best to avoid making important decisions under their influence. Yet strangely there’s 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.
【小题1】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.【小题2】Damasio’s study suggests that .A．emotions are the enemy of decision makingB．our brain has nothing to do with decision makingC．people with physical damage find it hard to make up their mindsD．our emotional memories of past choices can affect present decisions【小题3】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.【小题4】What do we learn from the text?A．Emotions are a part of decision making.B．Sad people always make the worst choices.C．No emotion seems to help us make good choices.D．Only sad feelings affect our thinking and motivation.D

(答案→)D 解析：本文是通过探究从影响我们做决定或选择的因素上出发，阐述思维过程的重要性。【小题1】总结归纳题。根据第一段Most of us know little about the mental processes that lie behind our decisions. Luckily, what psychologists are finding may help us all make better choices.可知文章突出的是过程的重要性。答案为D。【小题2】细节题：根据第二段最后一句Damasio thinks this may be because our brains store emotional memories of past choices, which we use to help the present decision making.讲的是过去做过的决定对现在的决定通常会有影响。故答案为D。【小题3】细节题：根据第三段最后一句It seems anger can lead us to make quick decisions without much thinking，正是生气让那些购物的人不去多做决定。答案选B。【小题4】主旨题： 根据第四段All emotions affect our thinking and motivation, so it may be best to avoid making important decisions under their influence.归纳出情绪对我们做决定的重要性。答案选A。

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