Phobia

　　Phobia is intense and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. Because of this intense and persistent fear, the phobic person often leads a constricted life. The anxiety is typically out of proportion to the real situation, and the victim is fully aware that the fear is irrational.

　　Phobic anxiety is distinguishable from other forms of anxiety only in that it occurs specifically in relation to a certain object or situation. This anxiety is characterized by physiological symptoms such as a rapid, pounding heartbeat, stomach disorders, nausea, diarrhea, frequent urination, choking feelings, flushing of the face, perspiration, tremulousness, and faintness. Some phobic people are able to confront their fears. More commonly, however, they avoid the situation or object that cause the fear---an avoidance that impairs the sufferers freedom.

　　Psychiatrists recognize three major types of phobias. Simple phobias are fears of specific objects or situations such as animal, closed spaces, and heights. The second type, agoraphobia, is fear of open, public places and situations from which escape is difficult; agoraphobics tend increasingly to avoid more situations until eventually they become housebound. Social phobias, the third type, are fears of appearing stupid or shameful in social situations. The simple phobias, especially the fear of animal, may begin in childhood and persist into adulthood. Agoraphobia characteristically begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, and social phobia is also associated with adolescence.

　　Although agoraphobia is more often seen in treatment than the other types of phobia, it is not believed to be as common as simple phobia. Taken together, the phobias are believed to afflict 5 to 10 persons in 100. Agoraphobia and simple phobia are more commonly diagnosed in women than in men; the distribution for social phobia is not known. Agoraphobias, social phobias, and animal phobias tend to run in families.

　　Behavioral techniques have proved successful in treating phobias, especially simple and social phobias. One technique, systematic desensitization, 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 affective. In this technique, phobics are repeatedly exposed to the feared situation or object so that they can see that no harm befalls them; the fear gradually fades. Antianxiety drugs have also been used as palliatives. Antidepressant drugs have also proved successful in treating some phobias.

　　1. According to the passage, a phobic person has fear

　　A) because he thinks life is terrible.

　　B) because the things before him are really fearful.

　　C) even if he knows that his fear is unnecessary.

　　D) for he is always threatened by others.

　　2. All the following symptoms may be experienced by a phobic EXCETP

　　A) sweating.

　　B) trembling.

　　C) forgetting things.

　　D) feeling like vomiting.

　　3. When faced with the object or situation they are afraid of, most phobics

　　A) try to stay away from the object or situation.

　　B) try to pick up courage and fight the object or situation.

　　C) go to their doctors so as to gain freedom.

　　D) know that their fears are the same with other forms of anxiety.

　　4. People suffering from agoraphobia may be afraid of

　　A) staying with dogs and cats.

　　B) taking the bus in rush hours.

　　C) standing on top of a high building.

　　D) staying alone at home.

　　5. Systematic desensitization and exposure therapy are similar ways of treating phobias

　　A) because both involve gradual exposure of phobics to fear stimuli

　　B) because both are behavioral methods.

　　C) because both use antianxiety drugs.

　　D) because both use antidepressant drugs.

　　KEY: CCABB

　　Phobia

　　Phobia is intense and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. Because of this intense and persistent fear, the phobic person often leads a constricted life. The anxiety is typically out of proportion to the real situation, and the victim is fully aware that the fear is irrational.

　　Phobic anxiety is distinguishable from other forms of anxiety only in that it occurs specifically in relation to a certain object or situation. This anxiety is characterized by physiological symptoms such as a rapid, pounding heartbeat, stomach disorders, nausea, diarrhea, frequent urination, choking feelings, flushing of the face, perspiration, tremulousness, and faintness. Some phobic people are able to confront their fears. More commonly, however, they avoid the situation or object that cause the fear---an avoidance that impairs the sufferers freedom.

　　Psychiatrists recognize three major types of phobias. Simple phobias are fears of specific objects or situations such as animal, closed spaces, and heights. The second type, agoraphobia, is fear of open, public places and situations from which escape is difficult; agoraphobics tend increasingly to avoid more situations until eventually they become housebound. Social phobias, the third type, are fears of appearing stupid or shameful in social situations. The simple phobias, especially the fear of animal, may begin in childhood and persist into adulthood. Agoraphobia characteristically begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, and social phobia is also associated with adolescence.

　　Although agoraphobia is more often seen in treatment than the other types of phobia, it is not believed to be as common as simple phobia. Taken together, the phobias are believed to afflict 5 to 10 persons in 100. Agoraphobia and simple phobia are more commonly diagnosed in women than in men; the distribution for social phobia is not known. Agoraphobias, social phobias, and animal phobias tend to run in families.

　　Behavioral techniques have proved successful in treating phobias, especially simple and social phobias. One technique, systematic desensitization, 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 affective. In this technique, phobics are repeatedly exposed to the feared situation or object so that they can see that no harm befalls them; the fear gradually fades. Antianxiety drugs have also been used as palliatives. Antidepressant drugs have also proved successful in treating some phobias.

　　1. According to the passage, a phobic person has fear

　　A) because he thinks life is terrible.

　　B) because the things before him are really fearful.

　　C) even if he knows that his fear is unnecessary.

　　D) for he is always threatened by others.

　　2. All the following symptoms may be experienced by a phobic EXCETP

　　A) sweating.

　　B) trembling.

　　C) forgetting things.

　　D) feeling like vomiting.

　　3. When faced with the object or situation they are afraid of, most phobics

　　A) try to stay away from the object or situation.

　　B) try to pick up courage and fight the object or situation.

　　C) go to their doctors so as to gain freedom.

　　D) know that their fears are the same with other forms of anxiety.

　　4. People suffering from agoraphobia may be afraid of

　　A) staying with dogs and cats.

　　B) taking the bus in rush hours.

　　C) standing on top of a high building.

　　D) staying alone at home.

　　5. Systematic desensitization and exposure therapy are similar ways of treating phobias

　　A) because both involve gradual exposure of phobics to fear stimuli

　　B) because both are behavioral methods.

　　C) because both use antianxiety drugs.

　　D) because both use antidepressant drugs.

　　KEY: CCABB