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Compulsive shoppers may have a new psychological excuse to blame for their wild shopping. Psychologists at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand are studying the “shop-till-you-drop” habit as a behavioral disorder similar to compulsive eating. Compulsive shoppers frequently buy more than they can afford or more than they need, and it causes them distress.

“It becomes a problem when you are out of control,” psychology lecturer Neville Blampied said. “When you are feeling bad and blue, what do you do? Some people eat chocolate cake and ice cream. Some people take the credit card and go out to the shop.” Bank managers understand the problem because they have to deal with people who have to be persuaded to stop using their cards drawing money.

Compulsive shopping was first discovered in 1915, although it was then known as oniomania（购物狂）. Few studies have been done on the problem.

An advertisement in a Christchurch paper, calling for people to take part in an experimental treatment program designed by Mr. Wilson, attracted 10 replies. But the problem, said Mr. Wilson, is “clearly not rare”. He thinks that compulsive shopping should be treated with drugs. “As psychologists we are interested in non-drug treatments for behavioral difficulties,” Mr. Wilson said.

Compulsive eaters or shoppers get a kick from their habit. “Both activities provide an immediate kind of kick and you feel a bit better,” he said. “You have long-term problems, but human beings are extremely good at not seeing long-term problem and are very sensitive to short-term benefits,” he said.

The aim of the treatment was to help people find better ways of managing their emotions. The program, consisting of 10 one-hour weekly lessons and two follow-up treatments, is loosely based on teaching stress management.

“You often have to start to get people to correctly recognize their emotions. Not being able to know what you really feel weakens your ability to solve the problems connected with what's making you feel that way,” Mr. Wilson said.

1．What is this article mostly about?

A．Signs of compulsive shopping.

B．Studies of compulsive shopping.

C．Comparison of compulsive shopping and compulsive eating.

D．An experimental treatment program designed by Mr. Wilson.

2．The compulsive shoppers will go shopping when____.

A．they have lots of money

B．they are taking drugs

C．they are feeling sad

D．they win a prize

3．The underlined word “it” （Line 4, Para. 1）most probably refers to____.

A．compulsive eating

B．a new psychological excuse

C．the study done by Blampied

D．the behavior of wild shopping

4．Which of the following is considered important in treating compulsive shoppers?

A．Teaching them to manage their money better.

B．Teaching them to understand their emotions.

C．Persuading them not to draw money from the bank.

D．Treating them with right drugs.

5．When the writer says that compulsive shoppers get a kick from their habit, he means that they____.

A．feel anxious after their wild shopping

B．feel better after treatment from psychologists

C．are better able to deal with stress problems

D．have a feeling of excitement after shopping

1．【答案】B

【精析】本题的命题意图是检测学生对全文主旨的概括能力。全文讲述的是关于“强迫性购物及其治疗方法的研究”，故选B项。

2．【答案】C

【精析】细节考查题。由第二段“When you are feeling bad and blue, what do you do? ... Some people take the credit card and go out to the shop.”即可得到答案。

3．【答案】D

【精析】此处的it实际上是指“Compulsive shoppers frequently buy more than they can afford or more than they need”这一状况。

4．【答案】B

【精析】由倒数第二段第一句可知治疗的目的是为了帮助人们寻找控制情绪的最佳办法，即心病还需心药医。

5．【答案】D

【精析】由文章第五段关键句“Both activities provide an immediate kind of kick and you feel a bit better”并联系上下文可知，购物狂能从疯狂购物中获得快感，故选D项。