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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
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 Damasia, 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,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.
1. What does the underlined word "central" mean? [ ]
A. in the middle
B. easy to reach
C. important
D. having power
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 feelings affect our thinking and motivation.
