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 Reimann, 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 half-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 persuading people 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 Reimann.
He theorizes that it is the emotional component, of these intangible prizes that make them effective. In fact, vaguely-stated possibilities of winning a prized 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 awards,” says Reimann. “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.
What do we learn about McDonald’s inclusion of toys in its Happy Meals?
What is the finding of the researchers led by Martin Reimaiin?
What is most interesting in Martin Reimann’s finding?
How does Martin Reimann interpret his finding?
What can we infer from Martin Reinmann’s finding?
问题1选项
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 kids’ curiosity to find out what, is hidden inside.
D.It may be a pleasant way for kids to reduce (heir food intake.
问题2选项
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.
问题3选项
A.Kids preferred an award in the form of money to one in the form of a toy.
B.Adulls 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.
问题4选项
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.
问题5选项
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.
第1题:D
第2题:D
第3题:B
第4题:A
第5题:C
【定位】根据题干中的McDonald’s和toys in its Happy Meals定位至前3段。
【解析】本题询问麦当劳Happy Meals套餐放有玩具这一做法。第1段首句实际是说，麦当劳的某种做法能让人少吃些，同时仍能快乐些。第2句指出，这做法就是Happy Meals套餐放有玩具，而这种做法能像食物 一样刺激大脑的“奖励中心”(stimulate the same reward centers)。第2、3段进一步说明研究的具体发 现，指出无论是孩子还是成年人，当食物配有奖品时，大部分人会选择分量减半的套餐(a half-sized por¬tion )。 由此可推断D项“这是让孩子们减少食物摄入的好办法”。
【定位】根据题干中的the finding of the researchers定位至第2、3段。
【解析】本题询问以Martin Reimann为首的研究有何发现，第1段中According to a new study和第3段 They found that后的内容都是研究的发现。其中第3段指出无论是孩子还是成年人，当食物配有奖品时 (when combined with a prize,其中的 prize 指代第 1、2 段提到的 non-food rewards 和 non-food item), 大部分人会选择分量減半 (opted for a half-sized portion)的套餐。D项“如果配有非食品奖励，大多数的孩子和大人都会选择分量较少的食物”表述与原文一致，故为答案。选项中的choose对应原文中的opted for； a smaller meal “分量较少的套餐”对应 a half-sized portion “分量减半的套餐”;came with a non-food item 对应 combined with a prize。
【定位】根据题干中的most interesting和Martin Reimann定位至第4段第1句。
【解析】文章第4段首句的Even more interesting与题干中的most interesting对应，故其后的内容即为答案。该部分意为哪怕只是承诺将来会得到回报(the promise of a future reward)，就足以让成年人选择更少的分量，B项“成年人只需要得到将来有回报的承诺就会选择较少分量的食物”表述与之一致，故为答案。
【定位】根据题干中的interpret定位至第6段首句。
【解析】本题询问Martin Reimann如何解读他的发现。第6段首句指出他提出一种理论(theorizes)，认为 是这些非实物奖励产生的情感因素(emotional component)使然(make them effective)。A项“起作用的是奖品中的情感因素”与原文匹配，故为答案。选项中的be at work “产生作用”与原文的make them effective“使之有效”为同义转换。
【定位】根据出题顺序规律，定位至文末。
【解析】本题询问对Martin Reimann的发现可作何推断。文章的最后两段提出如何将研究结果应用于实际中。最后一段举例，比如将食物分量减半，可获得半份甜品，但是仅供下次享用。最后一句评论这种做法会让你再次光顾(get you back)餐厅，同时让你少吃点(eat a little less)。由此可推测C项“我们可以引导人们少吃点，同时还能帮助餐饮业”为答案。
