Read the text. Is too much choice making us unhappy? (1) Years ago there were only two kinds of coffee – black or white. But nowadays when you go into a coffee shop in the UK you are given about twenty different options. Do you want a Cappuccino, a Latte, a Caramel Macchiato, an Americano, or a White Mocha? (2) 1 . . In big supermarkets we have to choose between thousands of products – my local supermarket has 35 different kinds of milk! When we are buying clothes or electrical gadgets, looking for a hotel on a travel website, or just deciding which TV channel to watch, we are constantly forced to choose from hundreds of possibilities. (3) . However, university researchers have discovered that too much choice is making us feel unhappy and dissatisfied. The problem is that we have so many options that we get stressed every time we have to make a decision, because we are worried about making the wrong one. Then when we choose one thing we feel bad because we think we are missing other opportunities, and this makes us dissatisfied with what we have chosen. (4) . Professor Mark Lepper at Stanford University in America found that people who tried six kinds of jam felt happier with their choice than those who were offered 24 jams to taste. (5) . Professor Lepper suggests that we should try to relax when we have to choose something to buy. ‘Don’t take these choices too seriously or it will become stressful,’ he says. ‘If you pick a sofa from IKEA in 30 seconds, you’ll feel better than if you spend hours researching sofas – because you won’t know what you’re missing.’
1. Math and science are used by engineers to solve problems and create new products and services. (Active: Engineers use math and science to solve problems and create new products and services.)
- Explanation: In the passive form, the subject (engineers) becomes the object (math and science) and the verb (use) is changed to the passive form (are used).
2. This book has been designed by Alan Darbyshire as a full programme of study for mechanical engineering students. The material has been structured into sections by the author. Each section is complemented by in-text questions, Key Points, and Activity panels, making this an ideal book for classroom learning and independent study. (Active: Alan Darbyshire has designed this book as a full programme of study for mechanical engineering students. The author has structured the material into sections. In-text questions, Key Points and Activity panels complement each section making this an ideal book for classroom learning and independent study.)
- Explanation: In the passive form, the subject (Alan Darbyshire/the author) becomes the object and the verb (designed/structured/complemented) is changed to the passive form.
3. The first portable kidney dialysis machine was developed by Milton Roy, a chemical engineer, in 1964. (Active: Milton Roy, a chemical engineer, developed the first portable kidney dialysis machine in 1964.)
- Explanation: In the passive form, the subject (Milton Roy) becomes the object and the verb (developed) is changed to the passive form.
4. The first American satellite was launched by United States aerospace engineers on January 31, 1958 in response to the USSR launching Sputnik on October 4, 1957. (Active: United States aerospace engineers launched the first American satellite on January 31, 1958 in response to the USSR launching Sputnik on October 4, 1957.)
- Explanation: In the passive form, the subject (United States aerospace engineers) becomes the object and the verb (launched) is changed to the passive form.
5. State-of-the-art techniques are being successfully implemented into the development of different projects by the largest Russian marine engineering design bureau "Rubin". (Active: The largest Russian marine engineering design bureau "Rubin" is successfully implementing state-of-the-art techniques into the development of different projects.)
- Explanation: In the passive form, the subject (the largest Russian marine engineering design bureau "Rubin") becomes the object and the verb (implementing) is changed to the passive form.
6. Many doors can be opened to university graduates by a degree in electrical engineering because electrical engineering is so broad and acquired skills are transferable. (Active: A degree in electrical engineering can open many doors to university graduates because electrical engineering is so broad and acquired skills are transferable.)
- Explanation: In the passive form, the subject (a degree in electrical engineering) becomes the object and the verb (can open) is changed to the passive form.
7. Civil engineering can be associated with bridges, roads, buildings, and factories by most people. Indeed, it can be viewed as something that covers everything we need in life. (Active: Most people associate civil engineering with bridges, roads, buildings, and factories. Indeed, we can view it as something that covers everything we need in life.)
- Explanation: In the passive form, the subject (most people/it) becomes the object and the verb (associate/view) is changed to the passive form.
