We maintain that in general a focus on positive information benefits welbbeing．However，there are probably conditions when a chronic tendency to focus on positive material is maladaptive．One such context，we presumed，is decisionmaking，especially when options include both positive and negative features．①When making decisions，negative features of options often have higher diagnostic value．If a person who is deciding whether to renew a health care plan remembers that she likes her physician but forgets that the plan does not pay for the hip surgery she needs，a suboptimal decision could be made．② Corinna and I designed another study with two primary aims：to see whether in a decision context older people would review positive features of options more than negative features；and if this was the case，to see if we could eliminate the effect by modifying goals with instructions．③Using computer-based decision scenarios，60 0lder and 60 younger adults were presented with positive，negative，and neutral information about ostensible health care options．Some scenarios presented characteristics of physicians． Others presented features of health care plans．The information was hidden behind colored squares，and participants had to click on the square to see the information．They were told that positive information was behind white squares and negative information was behind black squares．We then observed how often participants examined the positive information versus the negative information．Later we tested their memory for the information．As we predicted，older adults reviewed and recalled a greater proportion of positive information than did younger adults．Most important，participants in one group were repeatedly reminded t0“focus on the facts”and in this group the preference for positive information disappeared．
　　Human need is the basis for virtually all of science．If we rise to the challenge of an aging population by systematically applying science and technology to questions that improve quality of life in adulthood and old age，longer—lived populations will inspire breakthroughs in the social，physical，and biological sciences that will improve the quality of life at all ages．④Longevity science will reveal ways to improve learning from birth to advanced ages and to deter age—related slowing in cognitive processin9．Longevity science will draw enormously on insights about individuals’genomic predispositions and the environmental conditions that trigger the onset of disease．⑤Longevity science will help us understand how stress slowly but surely affects health．Most of the challenges of longer-lived populations will require interdisciplinary collaborations．Psychological science must be a part of this process． [414 words]
　　1．The author holds that when making decisions, ______
　　A．positive information should be focused
　　B．all options should be carefully diagnosed
　　C．negative information should be considered
　　D．maladaptive information should be avoided
　　2．It can be inferred from the text that______
　　A．a suboptimal decision originates from negative information
　　B．an optimal decision primarily results from positive information
　　C．negative information is less beneficial than positive information
　　D．both positive and negative information is needed for decision making
　　3．The study made by the author and Corrinna shows that______
　　A．older people focus more on positive information
　　B．there are more positive features than negative ones
　　C．younger people focus more on negative information
　　D．it is easier for positive information to be remembered
　　4．The author argues that longevity science______
　　A．improves the quality of life for both old and young
　　B．contributes to the improvement of biological functions
　　C．meets the challenge of longer life in developed nations
　　D．inspires breakthroughs in various disciplines of sciences
　　5．According to the text，it is advisable to be aware of______
　　A．the negative features of options
　　B．the dark side of the positive effect
　　C．the challenge of an aging population
　　D．the typical process of decision making

　难句透析
　　①One such context，we presumed，is decisionmakin9，especially when options include both positive and negative features]．
　　【结构】两个逗号之间的“we presumed”是插入语。方括号所标示的“when options include…features”用做时间状语从句。
　　【释义】我们认为，做决定就属于这种过程，特别是当选项既涉及积极因素又涉及消极因素时，更是如此。
　　②Uf a person(who is deciding(whether tO renew a health care plan))remembers(that she likes her physician but forgets(that the plan does not pay for the hip surgery she needs>)]，a suboptimal decision could be made．