Question

We were told for years that positive thinking was the key to achieving our goals. Now more and more evidence suggests exactly the opposite: that spending a lot of time thinking about your hopes and dreams may make you less likely to put in the work required to actually achieve those dreams. So if positivity is out, what should we replace it with?

New York University psychologist Gabriele Oettingen talked about a four-step plan she’s come up with from her years of research. Oettigen explained the plan as WOOP.

Wish: First, define your goal. “Think about a wish that is dear to you,” Oettingen said. “What is it you really want? This could be running a marathon or losing a certain amount of weight.” Your wish doesn’t have to be huge; it just has to be real, something you truly want.

Outcome: Keeping your goal in mind, ask yourself: If this wish of mine is realized, what is the best possible outcome? “Very often, it is a feeling,” Oettingen said, “You define that outcome, and you imagine that outcome.”

Obstacles (障碍): After you’re let yourself daydream for a little while about what it will feel like when your goal is accomplished, bring your mind back down to reality. “Then you sat, ‘What is it in me that holds me back from experiencing that wish, that outcome?’” Oettinger said. “Very often it’s an emotion, it’s those same old habits. And you imagine that obstacle.”

Plan: “Once you’re imagined that obstacle,” Oettingen said, “you’ll understand what you need to do to overcome it.” If this obstacle pops up, then you’ll do something to get over it and keep going after your goal.

Oettingen’s research has shown that this method has helped people eat more fruits and vegetables; it’s also helped students achieve better grades in school, and it has even helped people act less insecure in their romantic relationships.

1.In the traditional opinion, what is the key to achieving our goals?

A. Positive thinking.    B. Enough evidence.

C. Opposite suggestions.    D. Replacement of positivity.

2.The word “reality” in Paragraph 5 probably refers to the fact that ________.

A. you have imagined more than you can do

B. you are held back by some obstacles to achieve

C. you have never experienced such a wish or outcome

D. your emotion contributes to forming your same old habits

3.The examples in the last paragraph are used to ________.

A. prove WOOP’s effectiveness

B. encourage readers to be positive

C. offer more possible practical outcomes

D. attract more people to apply this method

4.The method WOOP works mainly because you ________.

A. have a strong wish    B. keep a goal in mind

C. come up with a plan    D. overcome an obstacle

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】本文介绍纽约大学心理专家Oettigen 所研究的WOOP方法。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段第一句We were told for years that positive thinking was the key to achieving our goals.（多年来我们被告知积极的思考是取得成功的关键。）可知，故选A。

2.词义猜测题。根据Obstacles (障碍)中bring your mind back down to reality. （让你的思想回到现实。）和What is it in me that holds me back from experiencing that wish, that outcome?（是什么阻挡我体验那个愿望，那个结果？）由此可推知，划线词的意思是“你被一些障碍阻挡了实现目标”这一事实。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段Oettingen’s research has shown that this method has helped people eat more fruits and vegetables; it’s also helped students achieve better grades in school, and it has even helped people act less insecure in their romantic relationships.可知，Oettingen的研究表明这种方法已经帮助人们吃更多的水果和蔬菜；它也帮助学生取得更好的分数，它甚至帮助人们在他们的浪漫关系中更加安全。故最后一段用例子在证明WOOP的效果。故选A。

4.推理判断题。根据Plan中 “Once you’re imagined that obstacle（一旦你想象那个障碍）Oettingen said, “you’ll understand what you need to do to overcome it.（你会明白你需要做什么来克服它。）If this obstacle pops up, then you’ll do something to get over it and keep going after your goal.（如果这个障碍出现，那么你将想法去克服它，继续追赶你的目标。）由此可推知WOOP方法起作用主要是因为你克服了一个障碍。故选D。