While most people choose mates who are like them in many ways, new research exposes a big and important exception: When it comes to spending habits, we tend to marry our opposites.Spendthrifts tend to marry tightwads, and tightwads tend to marry spendthrifts, says this New York Times feature based on researchers' examination of several surveys and a randomized (随机的) poll on the topic. While the reasons aren't clear, it could be that one partner sees in the other something he or she needs. If you're a spendthrift picking a mate, you might unconsciously be looking for help controlling bad spending habits. If you're a tightwad, you might feel a need to loosen up and have a little fun.Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California at San Diego, and the University of Michigan found the spending habits of "spendthrifts" (Para.2)?A. They are careful about spending money.B. They spend money in a wasteful manner.C. They are happy to spend money for others.D. They only want to spend money for themselves.
While most people choose mates who are like them in many ways, new research exposes a big and important exception: When it comes to spending habits, we tend to marry our opposites. Spendthrifts tend to marry tightwads, and tightwads tend to marry spendthrifts, says this New York Times feature based on researchers' examination of several surveys and a randomized (随机的) poll on the topic. While the reasons aren't clear, it could be that one partner sees in the other something he or she needs. If you're a spendthrift picking a mate, you might unconsciously be looking for help controlling bad spending habits. If you're a tightwad, you might feel a need to loosen up and have a little fun. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California at San Diego, and the University of Michigan found the spending habits of "spendthrifts" (Para.2)? A. They are careful about spending money. B. They spend money in a wasteful manner. C. They are happy to spend money for others. D. They only want to spend money for themselves.
题目解答
答案
我们来一步一步地分析这道题。
题目分析：
题目要求我们根据文章内容判断“spendthrifts”（挥霍者）的消费习惯是怎样的。
选项如下：
A. 他们对花钱很谨慎。
B. 他们以浪费的方式花钱。
C. 他们乐于为他人花钱。
D. 他们只想为自己花钱。
原文回顾：
我们来看文章中提到的相关内容：
> "Spendthrifts tend to marry tightwads, and tightwads tend to marry spendthrifts..."
这句话告诉我们，spendthrifts（挥霍者）和tightwads（守财奴）是消费习惯相反的人。
- Tightwads 是指那些对花钱非常谨慎、吝啬的人。
- 那么，与之相对的 spendthrifts 就是指那些花钱大手大脚、不加节制的人。
此外，文中还提到：
> "If you're a spendthrift picking a mate, you might unconsciously be looking for help controlling bad spending habits."
这句话进一步说明，spendthrifts 有“不良的消费习惯”，也就是花钱没有节制、容易浪费。
选项分析：
A. They are careful about spending money.
错误。这是 tightwads 的特征，不是 spendthrifts 的。
B. They spend money in a wasteful manner.
正确。spendthrifts 指的就是花钱大手大脚、浪费的人。
C. They are happy to spend money for others.
错误。文中没有提到 spendthrifts 是否喜欢为别人花钱，这不是定义他们消费习惯的关键。
D. They only want to spend money for themselves.
错误。文中也没有提到 spendthrifts 是否只为自己花钱。
最终答案：
$\boxed{B}$
解析
本题考查对文章中特定词汇含义的理解以及根据上下文进行推理判断的能力。解题思路是先明确题目要求判断“spendthrifts”的消费习惯，然后从文章中找到与“spendthrifts”相关的描述，通过与“tightwads”的对比以及对相关语句的分析来确定其消费习惯特点，最后将各选项与分析结果进行对比得出答案。
- 文章中提到“Spendthrifts tend to marry tightwads, and tightwads tend to marry spendthrifts”，这表明“spendthrifts”和“tightwads”的消费习惯相反。
- 通常“tightwads”指的是对花钱非常谨慎、吝啬的人，那么与之相反的“spendthrifts”就是花钱大手大脚、不加节制的人。
- 文中还提到“If you're a spendthrift picking a mate, you might unconsciously be looking for help controlling bad spending habits”，进一步说明“spendthrifts”有“不良的消费习惯”，也就是花钱没有节制、容易浪费。
- 对各选项进行分析：
- A选项 “They are careful about spending money”，这是“tightwads”的特征，不是“spendthrifts”的，所以A选项错误。
- B选项 “They spend money in a wasteful manner”，与我们分析得出的“spendthrifts”花钱大手大脚、浪费的特点相符，所以B选项正确。
- C选项 “They are happy to spend money for others”，文中没有提到“spendthrifts”是否喜欢为别人花钱，这不是定义他们消费习惯的关键，所以C选项错误。
- D选项 “They only want to spend money for themselves”，文中也没有提到“spendthrifts”是否只为自己花钱，所以D选项错误。