Many people are in the habit of pressing the "close" button because they don't have the patience to wait.But lifts' "close" buttons are a complete trick, at least in the U．S.-the doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you press.

　　It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the U．S., making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter safely.Only repair workers can use the buttons to speed up the door closing process if they have special keys.

　　But to normal lift riders, the buttons aren't completely useless.According to psychologists, fake buttons can actually make you feel better by offering you a sense of control.

　　"A sense of control is very important.It reduces stress and increases well­being，" said Ellen J．Langer, a psychology professor at Harvard University.Experts also added that a lot of buttons that don't do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose.

　　For example, pedestrian crosswalk buttons don't live up to their names either.Pressing them used to help make the traffic signals change faster, but that was before computer­controlled traffic signals were introduced.

　　But psychologists found it interesting that even when people are aware of these little "white lies"， they still continue to push fake buttons because as long as the doors eventually close, it is considered to be worth the effort.

　　【解题导语】　本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了我们平时生活中所见到的按钮可能是不起作用的。

　　1．What is the author's purpose in writing the text?

　　A．To describe different fake buttons.

　　B．To explore the functions of fake buttons.

　　C．To analyze various habits of pushing buttons.

　　D．To explain the disadvantages of fake buttons.

　　B　解析：写作意图题。通读整篇文章可知，作者通过举例子介绍了不同地点的虚假按钮，其目的是探求这些虚假按钮的功能。故选B。

　　2．What can we learn about the "close" buttons on a lift in America?

　　A．They work when people press them hard.

B．They were designed for a sense of control.