Question

Choosing the Right Resolution (决定)

     Millions of Americans began 2014 with the same resolution they started 2013 with, a goal of losing weight. However, setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake.

     To reach our goal of losing weight --- the output, we need to control what we eat --- the input ( 输入). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input. This is a bad way to construce goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of resolving to lose weight, try an actionable resolution: “I’ll stop having desert for lunch,” or “I’ll walk every day for 20 minutes.” Creating a goal that focuses on a well-specified input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome.

     Recently a new science behind incentives (激励) , including in education, has been discussed. For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school. In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books, while in others, the incentives were based on output, like results on exams. His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect on output. Fryer’s conclusion was that the intensives for inputs might be more effective because do not knoe how to do better on exam, aside from general rules like “study harder.” Reading certain books, on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control.

      As long as you have direct control over your goal, you have a much higher chance of success. And it’s easier to start again if you fail, because you know exactly what you need to do.

      If you want to cut down on your spending, a good goal would be making morning coffee at home instead of going to a cafe, for example. This is a well-specified action-based goal for which you can measure your success easily. Spending less money isn’t a goal because it’s too general. Similarly, if you want to spend more time with your family, don’t stop with this general wish. Think about an actionable habit that you could adopt and stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday.

      In the long run, these new goals could become a habit.

1.The writer thinks that setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake because _______ .

A. it is hard to achieve for most Americans

B. it is focused too much on the result

C. it is dependent on too many things

D. it is based on actionable decisions

2.In Roland Fryer’s research, some students did better than the others because ______ .

A. they obeyed all the general rules

B. they paid more attention to exams

C. they were motivated by their classmates

D. they were rewarded for reading some books

3.According to the writer, which of the following statements is a good goal?

A. “I’ll give up desert.”      B. “I’ll study harder.”

C. “I’ll cut down my expense”  D. “I’ll spend more time with my family”

4.The writer strongly believes that we should ________ .

A. develop good habits and focus on the outcome

B. be optimistic about final goals and stick to them

C. pick specific actions that can be turned into good habits

D. set ambitious goals that can balance the input ang output

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.C

【解析】文章大意：人们总是为自己的减肥设立目标，但是又总是无法成功。作者告诉我们那是愿望我们只关注了输出，而忽视了输入的影响。同时作者还通过实验告诉我们要养成采取行动的习惯。

1.推理题。根据文章第二段1,2行To reach our goal of losing weight --- the output, we need to control what we eat --- the input ( 输入). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input.可知为了实现我们减肥的目的，我们需要控制我们的输入，而不是只关注结果（输出）。这就是我们只为自己设立减肥的目标的错误所在：只注意结果。故B正确。

2.推理题。根据文章第三段4,5行His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect on output.可知当以输入为基础的时候，激励会有很好的结果。再根据第三段2,3行In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books可知针对输入的激励是让他们读书。故D项说法：奖励他们读书是有效的。故D正确。

3.推理题。根据文章第二段可知要想减肥，很重要的是控制住我们的输入。选项里的A项：“I’ll give up desert.” 我将放弃甜点。这就属于控制输入。故A正确。

4.推理题。根据文章倒数第二段最后一句Think about an actionable habit that you could adopt and stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday.可知作者建议我们快乐那些我们能够采纳也能够坚持的行动习惯。也就是说作者认为我们要采取一些能够成为习惯的行动。故C正确。