Question

【题目】 Choosing the Right Resolution

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 construct 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 dessert for lunch,” or “I'll walk every day for 20 minutes.” Creating a goal that focuses on 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 when based on output. Fryer's conclusion was that the incentives for inputs might be more effective because students do not know how to do better on an 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 yo 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 dessert.”

B. “I'll study harder.”

C. “I'll cut down my expenses.”

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 habit

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

Answer 1

【答案】 【1】 B

【2】 D

【3】 A

【4】 C

【解析】这是一篇议论文，文章的中心大意：我们在设定自己的目标时应该以过程为导向，而不是以结果为导向。把注意力放在过程上，更有利于目标的实现。

【1】细节题。根据题干关键词setting weight loss as a goal定位在文中首段尾句，具体选项内容在文中第二段匹配与之对应信息。A选项所答非所问，内容不匹配题干问题。B选项为第二段第四句同义改写，文中第二段强调要focus on input，not output所以正确。C选项细节不够明确。D选项based on过于绝对。

【2】细节题。根据题干关键词some students did better than the others 定位在文中第三段，具体选项内容在文中第二段匹配与之对应信息。A选项文中未提及，无事生非。B选项文中为提及，无事生非。C选项张冠李戴，they were motivated by Fryer ,而不是by classmates。D选项对应第三段第五句话Fryer's conclusion was that the incentives for inputs might be more effective because students do not know how to do better on an exam，所以正确。

【3】 推断题。根据题干信息 a good goal回原文定位第五段第一句话， 根据作者举例推断出 a good goal的概念为具体的目标，根据文章中心，好的目标一定是以过程为主要导向的。A是讲放弃甜点，是减肥中的过程。而BCD都是以结果为导向。故选A。

【4】 主旨大意题。文章最后一句其实是在呼应开头，是起到强调主旨的作用。“从长远来看，这些新的目标能够变成习惯”。 新的目标指的正好与首段的相反，要注重过程的行动的目标。故C项更能符合主旨。