A
(2018·河南郑州外国语学校第六次调考)A large body of research has been developed in recent years to explain many aspects of willpower. Most of the researchers exploring self－control do so with an obvious goal in mind: How can willpower be strengthened? If willpower is truly a limited resource, as the research suggests, what can be done to make it stay strong?
Avoiding temptation is an effective method for maintaining self－control, which is called the “out of sight, out of mind” principle. One recent study, for instance, found office workers less attracted to candy in the desk drawer than that on top of their desks, in plain sight.
The research suggesting that we possess a limited reservoir of self－control raises a troubling question. When we face too many temptations, are we to fail? Not necessarily. Researchers don't believe that one's willpower is ever completely exhausted. Rather, people appear to hold some willpower in reserve, saved for future demand. The right motivation allows us to tap into those reserves, allowing us to carry on even when our self－control strength has been run down. High motivation might help overcome weakened willpower at least to a point.
Willpower may also be made less vulnerable to being exhausted in the first place. Researchers who study self－control often describe it as being like a muscle that gets tired with heavy use. But there is another aspect to the muscle comparison, they say. While muscles become exhausted by exercise in the short term, they are strengthened by regular exercise in the long term. Similarly, regular practices of self－control may improve willpower strength.
The evidence from willpower exhaustion studies also suggests that making a list of resolutions on New Year's Eve is the worst possible approach. Being exhausted in one area can reduce willpower in other areas, so it makes more sense to focus on a single goal at a time. In other words, don't try to quit smoking, adopt a healthy diet and start a new exercise plan at the same time. Taking goals one by one is a better approach. Once a good habit is in place, Baumeister says, you'll no longer need to draw on your willpower to maintain the behavior. Eventually, healthy habits will become routine, and won't require making decisions at all.
Many questions about the nature of self－control remain to be answered by further research. Yet it seems likely that with clear goals, good self－monitoring and a little practice, you can train your willpower to stay strong in the face of temptation.
语篇解读：大部分研究意志力的人是带着这样一个明确的目标进行研究的：如何增强意志力？如果意志力真是一种有限的资源，那我们能做些什么来增强意志力呢？避免诱惑和强烈的动机、定期锻炼自我控制力、一次定一个目标，这些都是增强意志力的方法。
1．From the studies in the passage we learn that ________.
A．people have unlimited self－control
B．high motivation ensures one's success
C．willpower is hardly completely exhausted
D．too many temptations often lead to failure
[解析] 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Researchers don't believe that one's willpower is ever completely exhausted.”可知，一个人的意志力不可能完全耗尽。
[答案] C
2．Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Willpower can also become tired and exhausted like muscles.
B．We are likely to train our willpower against temptations in any cases.
C．Making New Year resolutions is the worst idea.
D．We can only focus on one goal at a time.
[解析] 细节理解题。根据第四段中的“Researchers who study self－control often describe it as being like a muscle that gets tired with heavy use.”可知，研究者经常把自我控制力比作肌肉，如果过度使用，会变得疲惫。
[答案] A
3．The author compares self－control to muscles ________.
A．to prove the long－term effects of willpower
B．to argue that self－control can be easily used up
C．to show the significance of regular exercise
D．to explain the benefits of practicing self－control
[解析] 推理判断题。文章第四段把意志力和肌肉相比较：肌肉可以通过长期规律的锻炼得到加强，同样地，练习自控力也可以提高意志力。
[答案] D
4．To develop a good habit, which of the following does the author prefer?
A．“I will give up dessert and do exercise.”
B．“I will set three goals this new semester.”
C．“I will keep myself from any temptation.”
D．“I will read an English novel every month.”
[解析] 推理判断题。倒数第二段主要说明，目标要清晰，不要一次定太多目标，最好一次定一个。按此标准，D项比较符合题意。
[答案] D
