2. Phobia is intense and continuous fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. Because of this intense and constant fear, the phobic person often leads a restricted life. The fear is out of proportion to the real situation, and the victim is fully aware that the fear is not rational. Some phobic people are able to face their fears. More commonly, however, they avoid the situation or object that causes fear.There are three major types of phobias. Simple phobias are fears of specific objects or situations such as animals, closed spaces, and heights. Simple phobias, especially the fear of animals, may begin in childhood and continue into adulthood. Social phobias, the second type, are fears of appearing stupid or shameful in social situations. The third type, agoraphobia, is the fear of open, public places and situations (such as public vehicles and crowded shopping centers) from which escape is difficult; people with agoraphobia tend increasingly to avoid more situations until eventually they become housebound.Although agoraphobia is more often seen in treatment than the other types of phobias, it is not believed to be as common as simple phobias. Taken together, the phobias are believed to affect five to ten persons in 100. Agoraphobia and simple phobias are more commonly found in women than in men; the distribution of social phobias is not known. Agoraphobia, social phobias, and simple phobias tend to run in families.Behavioral techniques have proved successful in treating phobias, especially simple and social phobias. One technique involves gradually confronting the phobic person with situations or objects that are increasingly close to the feared ones. Exposure therapy, another behavioral method, has recently been shown more effective. In this technique, phobic people are repeatedly exposed to the feared situation or object so that they can see that no harm comes to them; the fear gradually fades.1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true about phobic people?A: They fear because they live a restricted life.B: They fear because they are not rational people.C: They fear only when they find themselves a victim.D: They fear even when they know their fear is unnecessary.2. What do people with simple phobias most likely fear?A: Seeing snakes or spiders.B: Meeting childhood friends.C: Staying in a big empty room.D: Having dinner at a friend's home.3. Which of the following situations do people with social phobias probably try to avoid?A: Doing online shopping.B: Talking to their family members.C: Standing on the top of a building.D: Attending someone's birthday party.4. What does the author tell us about people with agoraphobia?A: They never step out of their home.B: They are afraid of seeing the doctor.C: They fear staying in crowded places.D: They want to escape from their family.5. What will phobic people experience when they receive exposure therapy?A: They are brought to the situation or object that they fear.B: They are encouraged to be close to other phobic people.C: They are exposed to the situation or object they don't fear.D: They are prevented from doing anything that may harm them.
2. Phobia is intense and continuous fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. Because of this intense and constant fear, the phobic person often leads a restricted life. The fear is out of proportion to the real situation, and the victim is fully aware that the fear is not rational. Some phobic people are able to face their fears. More commonly, however, they avoid the situation or object that causes fear.
There are three major types of phobias. Simple phobias are fears of specific objects or situations such as animals, closed spaces, and heights. Simple phobias, especially the fear of animals, may begin in childhood and continue into adulthood. Social phobias, the second type, are fears of appearing stupid or shameful in social situations. The third type, agoraphobia, is the fear of open, public places and situations (such as public vehicles and crowded shopping centers) from which escape is difficult; people with agoraphobia tend increasingly to avoid more situations until eventually they become housebound.
Although agoraphobia is more often seen in treatment than the other types of phobias, it is not believed to be as common as simple phobias. Taken together, the phobias are believed to affect five to ten persons in 100. Agoraphobia and simple phobias are more commonly found in women than in men; the distribution of social phobias is not known. Agoraphobia, social phobias, and simple phobias tend to run in families.
Behavioral techniques have proved successful in treating phobias, especially simple and social phobias. One technique involves gradually confronting the phobic person with situations or objects that are increasingly close to the feared ones. Exposure therapy, another behavioral method, has recently been shown more effective. In this technique, phobic people are repeatedly exposed to the feared situation or object so that they can see that no harm comes to them; the fear gradually fades.
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true about phobic people?
A: They fear because they live a restricted life.
B: They fear because they are not rational people.
C: They fear only when they find themselves a victim.
D: They fear even when they know their fear is unnecessary.
2. What do people with simple phobias most likely fear?
A: Seeing snakes or spiders.
B: Meeting childhood friends.
C: Staying in a big empty room.
D: Having dinner at a friend's home.
3. Which of the following situations do people with social phobias probably try to avoid?
A: Doing online shopping.
B: Talking to their family members.
C: Standing on the top of a building.
D: Attending someone's birthday party.
4. What does the author tell us about people with agoraphobia?
A: They never step out of their home.
B: They are afraid of seeing the doctor.
C: They fear staying in crowded places.
D: They want to escape from their family.
5. What will phobic people experience when they receive exposure therapy?
A: They are brought to the situation or object that they fear.
B: They are encouraged to be close to other phobic people.
C: They are exposed to the situation or object they don't fear.
D: They are prevented from doing anything that may harm them.