Stop thinking and start doing
A) Most people have a dream in life, a vision of who or what they'd like to be in the future. At a minimum, everyone has interests and values that determine what they want out of their lives. Even so, trying to set achievable goals that you'll work for over the course of many years can be extremely challenging. It can be hard to know where to even begin, and the things you hope to achieve may seem impossible. But, if you're well prepared you may be able to set goals for your life that are just as fulfilling to work toward as to achieve.
B) We all have goals that we want to achieve in our lives. These goals may include learning a new language, eating healthier and losing weight, becoming a better parent,saving more money, and so on. It can be easy to assume that the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in the future is caused by a lack of knowledge. This is why we buy courses on how to start a business or how to lose weight fast or how to learn a new language in three months. We assume that if we knew about a better strategy, then we would get better results. We believe that a new result requires new knowledge.
C) What I'm starting to realize, however, is that new knowledge does not necessarily drive new results. In fact, learning something new can actually be a waste of time if your goal is to make progress and not simply gain additional knowledge.
D) It all comes down to the difference between learning and practicing.Thomas Sterner, in his book The Practicing Mind, explains the key difference between practicing and learning. He says: “When we practice something, we are involved in the deliberate repetition of a process with the intention of reaching a specific goal.”Here the words “deliberate”and “intention”are key, because they define the difference between actively practicing something and passively learning it.
E) Learning something new and practicing something new may seem very similar, but these two methods can have profoundly different results. Here are some additional ways to think about the difference. Let's say your goal is to get stronger and more fit. You can research the best instructions on weight lifting technique, but the only way to build strength is to practice lifting weights. Let's say your goal is to grow your startup. You can learn about the best way to make a sales pitch, but the only way to actually land customers is to practice making sales calls. Let's say your goal is to write a book. You can talk to a best-selling author about writing, but the only way to become a better writer is to practice publishing consistently
F) Passive learning creates knowledge. Active practice creates skill.Let’s consider a couple more reasons to prioritize active practice over passive learning. First, passive learning can be a stick that supports inaction. In many cases, learning is actually a way to avoid taking action on the goals and interests that we say are important to us. For example, let's say you want to learn a foreign language. Reading a book on how to learn a foreign language quickly allows you to feel like you are making progress (“Hey, I'm figuring out the best way to do this!”). Of course, you're not actually practicing the action that would deliver your desired outcome (speaking the foreign language).
G) In situations like this one, we often claim that we are preparing or researching the best method, but these rationalizations allow us to feel like we are moving forward when we are merely spinning our wheels. We make the mistake of being in motion rather than taking action.Learning is valuable until it becomes a form of procrastination(拖延).
H) Another point to consider is that practice is learning, but learning is not practice. Passive learning is not a form of practice because although you gain new knowledge, you are not discovering how to apply that knowledge.Active practice, meanwhile, is one ofthe greatest forms of learning because the mistakes you make while practicing reveal important insights.
I) Even more importantly, practice is the only way to make a meaningful contribution with your knowledge. You can watch an online course about how to build a business or read an article about a terrible disaster in a developing nation, but that knowledge is unproductive unless you actually launch your business or donate to those in need. Learning by itself can be valuable for you, but if you want to be valuable to others, then you have to express your knowledge in some way.
J) The last important point to consider is that practice focuses your energy on the process.Thomas Sterner once said,“Progress is a natural result of staying focused on the process of doing anything." The state of your life right now is a result of the habits and beliefs that you have been practicing each day. When you realize this and begin to direct your focus toward practicing better habits day-in and day-out, continual progress will be the logical outcome. It is not the things we learn nor the dreams we visualize that determine our results, but rather the habits that we practice each day. Fall in love with boredom and focus your energy on the process, not the product.
K) What does this all mean? Is passive learning useless? Of course not. In many cases, learning for the sake of learning can be a beautiful thing. Not to mention that soaking up new information can help you make more informed decisions when you do decide to take action. That said, the main point of this article is that learning by itself does not lead to progress. We often hide behind information and use learning as an excuse to delay the more difficult and more important choice of actually doing something. Spend less time passively learning and more time actively practicing.Stop thinking and start doing.
Acquisition of new knowledge may not guarantee the progress that you aim to make.
C
题干译文:
获得新知识可能并不能保证你想要取得的进步。
答案解析:
C。由题干关键信息new knowledge和guarantee the progress that you aim to make定位到C段。该段首句提到，我开始意识到，新的知识并不一定会带来新的结果。下文进一步解释，事实上，如果你的目标是取得进步，而不仅仅是获得额外的知识，那么学习新东西实际上是在浪费时间。由此可知，题干是对上述信息的概括提炼，其中new knowledge是原词复现，而may not guarantee the progress that you aim to make对应原文中的does not necessarily drive new results和if your goal is to make progress。
Your current situation in life is built on the beliefs and habits you have been practicing daily.
J
题干译文:
你现在的生活状况是建立在你每天都在实践的信念和习惯之上的。
答案解析:
J。由题干关键信息current situation in life和the beliefs and habits you have been practicing daily定位到J段。该段第三句提到，你现在的生活状态是你每天一直实践的习惯和信念的结果。由此可知，题干是对该句内容的同义转述。其中Your current situation in life对应原文中的The state of your life right now，而is built on the beliefs and habits you have been practicing daily对应原文中的is a result of the habits and beliefs that you have been practicing each day。
Knowing the best way to learn a foreign language will not enable you to speak it without actual practice.
F
题干译文:
知道学习一门外语的最佳方法并不能使你在没有实际练习的情况下会说这门外语。
答案解析:
F。由题干关键信息the best way to learn a foreign language和speak it without actual practice定位到F段。该段最后三句提到，例如，假如说你想学习一门外语。读一本关于如何快速学习一门外语的书会让你觉得自己在进步(“嘿，我正在弄清楚学习外语的最佳方法!”)。当然，你实际上并没有在练习能让你达到预期效果的行动(说这门外语)。由此可知，题干是对原文内容的概括总结。题干中的Knowing the best way对应原文中的figuring out the best way，而to learn a foreign language属于原词重现，will not enable you to speak it without actual practice对应原文中的you're not actually practicing the action that would deliver your desired outcome (speaking the foreign language)。
People may find it demanding to create a goal which will take a long time to achieve.
A
题干译文:
人们可能会发现制定一个需要很长时间才能实现的目标是很困难的。
答案解析:
A。由题干关键信息demanding、create a goal和take a long time to achieve定位到A段。该段第三句提到，即便如此，试图设定可实现的目标，并为之努力多年，也可能极具挑战性。由此可见，题干是对该句的同义转述，其中create a goal which will take a long time to achieve对应原文中的set achievable goals that you'll work for over the course of many years，而may find it demanding对应原文中的can be extremely challenging。
Learning and practicing seem to be very much alike, but the two processes can lead to quite different outcomes.
E
题干译文:
学习和实践似乎非常相似，但这两个过程可能导致完全不同的结果。
答案解析:
E。由题干关键信息Learning and practicing、very much alike和quite different outcomes定位到E段。该段第一句提到，学习新事物和实践新事物可能看起来非常相似，但这两种方法可能产生截然不同的结果。由此可知，题干是对原文内容的同义转述。题干中的Learning and practicing对应原文中的Learning something new and practicing something new，而seem to be very much alike对应原文中的may seem very similar，而but the two processes can lead to quite different outcomes对应原文中的but these two methods can have profoundly different results。
Absorbing new information is helpful in making better decisions prior to action.
K
题干译文:
吸收新信息有助于在行动之前做出更好的决定。
答案解析:
K。由题干关键信息Absorbing new information和helpful in making better decisions prior to action定位到K段。该段第五句提到，更不用说吸收新信息可以帮助你在决定采取行动时做出更明智的决定。由此可知，题干是对原文内容的同义转述。题干中的Absorbing new information对应原文中的soaking up new information，而is helpful in making better decisions prior to action对应原文中的can help you make more informed decisions when you do decide to take action。
Sometimes we may feel like we are making progress by doing some research or making preparations, but actually we are staying at the starting point.
G
题干译文:
有时我们可能会觉得通过做一些研究或准备我们就在进步，但实际上我们还停留在起点上。
答案解析:
G。由题干关键信息making progress 、doing some research or making preparations和we are staying at the starting point定位到G段。该段第一句提到，在这类情况下，我们往往声称我们正在准备或研究最好的方法，但是这些合理化的说法让我们觉得自己在前进，而实际上我们只是在白费力气。由此可知，题干是对该句内容的同义转述。其中Sometimes对应原文中的Insituations like this one，而we may feel like we are making progress by doing some research or making preparations对应原文中的we often claim that we are preparing or researching the best method, but these rationalizations allow us to feel like we are moving forward， 而actually we are staying at the starting point对应原文中的we are merely spinning our wheels.
We are inclined to think that a lack of knowledge prevents us from advancing to a better future.
B
题干译文:
我们倾向于认为知识的匮乏会阻碍我们走向更美好的未来。
答案解析:
B。由题干关键信息a lack of knowledge和prevents us from advancing to a better future定位到B段。该段第三句提到，我们很容易认为，你现在所处的位置和你未来想要达到的位置之间的差距是由知识的匮乏所造成的。换句话说，我们倾向于认为知识的匮乏会阻碍我们走向更美好的未来。由此可知，题干是对原文内容的同义转述。题干中的We are inclined to think that对应原文中的It can be easy to assume that，而a lack of knowledge prevents us from advancing to a better future是对原文the gap between where you are now and where you want to be in the future is caused by a lack of knowledge的概括总结。
Learning can benefit you by itself, but only practice can turn what you learn into meaningful contributions.
I
题干译文:
学习本身可以使你受益，但只有实践才能将你学到的东西转化为有意义的贡献。
答案解析:
I。由题干关键信息Learning can benefit you by itself、practice和meaningful contributions定位到I段。该段首句提到，更重要的是，实践是用你的知识做出有意义贡献的唯一途径。接下来举例进行论证，最后一句总结到，学习本身对你来说可能是有价值的，但是如果你想对别人有价值，那么你必须用某种方式表达你的知识。由此可知，题干是对原文内容的概括总结。其中Learning can benefit you by itself对应原文中的Learning by itself can be valuable for you，practice是原词复现;而but only practice can turn what you learn into meaningful contributions对应原文中的practice is the only way to make a meaningful contribution with your knowledge。
Practice involves repeating a process intentionally to attain a particular objective.
D
题干译文:
练习就是有意地重复一个过程以达到一个特定的目标。
答案解析:
D。由题干关键信息Practice、repeating a process intentionally和attain a particular objective定位到D段。该段第三句引用托马斯·斯特纳的话提到，他说:“当我们练习某件事时，我们是在有意识地重复一个过程，目的是达到一个特定的目标。”由此可知，题干是对托马斯·斯特纳原话的同义转述，其中Practice对应原文中的When we practice something，involves对应原文中的are involved in，repeating a process intentionally对应原文中的the deliberate repetition of a process，而to attain a particular objective对应原文中的 with the intention of reaching a specific goal。
本文节选自网站www.wikihow.com上一篇题为“How to Set Goals for Life”的文章。本文主要探讨了 学习与实践之间的区别，强调了与被动学习相比，主动实践对于个人成长和目标实现的重要性。作者倡 议减少被动学习的时间，增加主动实践的时间，停止思考，开始行动。
停止思考，开始行动
A) 在生活中，大多数人都有一个梦想，一个关于他们未来想成为什么样的人的愿景。至少，每个人都有自己的兴趣和价值观，它们决定了人们想从生活中得到什么。即便如此，试图设定可实现的目标，并为之努力多年，也可能极具挑战性。甚至很难知道从哪里开始。你希望实现的事情似乎是不可能的。但是，如果你做好了充分准备，你也许能够为你的人生设定目标。朝着这些目标而努力和实现目标一样令人充满成就感。
B) 我们在生活中都有想要实现的目标。这些目标可能包括学习一门新语言，吃得更健康和减肥，成为更好的父母，存更多的钱，等等。我们很容易认为，你现在所处的位置和你未来想要达到的位置之间的差距是由知识的匮乏所造成的。这就是我们购买关于如何创业、如何快速减肥或者如何在三个月内学会一门新语言的课程的原因。我们假设如果我们知道一个更好的策略，那么我们就会得到更好的结果。我们认为新的结果需要新的知识。
C) 然而，我开始意识到，新的知识并不一定会带来新的结果。事实上，如果你的目标是取得进步，而不仅仅是获得额外的知识，那么学习新东西实际上是在浪费时间。
D) 这一切都归结为学习和实践之间的区别。托马斯·斯特纳在他的《练习心境》一书中解释了练习和学习之间的关键区别。他说:“当我们练习某件事时，我们是在有意识地重复一个过程，目的是达到一个特定的目标。”在这里，“刻意”和“意图”是关键，因为它们定义了主动练习某件事和被动学习某件事之间的区别。
E) 学习新事物和实践新事物可能看起来非常相似，但这两种方法可能产生截然不同的结果。这里有一些其他的方法来思考两者的区别。假如说你的目标是变得更强壮、更健康。你可以研究关于举重技术的最佳指导，但增强力量的唯一方法是练习举重。假如说你的目标是发展你的创业公司。你可以了解推销的最佳方式，但真正获得客户的唯一方法就是练习打销售电话。假如说你的目标是写一本书。你可以和畅销书的作者谈论写作，但是成为一名更好的作家的唯一方法是坚持不懈地练习发表(作品)。
F) 被动学习创造知识。积极的练习创造技能。让我们再考虑几个优先考虑主动练习而不是被动学习的理由。首先，被动学习可以是助长不作为的帮凶。在很多情况下，学习实际上是一种逃避的方式，以此逃避对我们认为重要的目标和兴趣采取行动。例如，假如说你想学习一门外语。读一本关于如何快速学习一门外语的书会让你觉得自己在进步(“嘿，我正在弄清楚学习外语的最佳方法!”)。当然，你实际上并没有在练习能让你达到预期效果的行动(说这门外语)。
G) 在这类情况下，我们往往声称我们正在准备或研究最好的方法，但是这些合理化的说法让我们觉得自己在前进，而实际上我们只是在白费力气。我们犯了一个错误，那就是我们只是处于行动的状态却并未采取行动。学习是有价值的，直到它成为一种拖延形式。
H) 另外需要考虑的一点是，实践就是学习，而学习不是实践。被动学习不是一种实践的形式，因为尽管你获得了新知识，但是你并没有发现如何应用这些知识。与此同时，积极的练习是最好的学习形式之一，因为你在练习过程中犯的错误揭示了重要的见解。
I) 更重要的是，实践是用你的知识做出有意义贡献的唯一途径。你可以观看一门关于如何创业的在线课程，或者阅读一篇关于一个发展中国家发生可怕灾难的文章，但是这些知识并没有什么益处，除非你真的开始创业或者向那些有需要的人捐款。学习本身对你来说可能是有价值的，但是如果你想对别人有价值，那么你必须用某种方式表达你的知识。
J) 最后要考虑的重要一点是，实践将你的精力集中在过程上。托马斯·斯特纳曾经说过:“进步是专注于做任何事情的过程的自然结果。”你现在的生活状态是你每天一直实践的习惯和信念的结果。当你意识到这一点并开始将你的注意力集中在日复一日地养成更好的习惯上，持续的进步将是必然的结果。决定我们结果的不是我们学到的东西，也不是我们想象的梦想，而是我们每天所实践的习惯。爱上无聊，把精力集中在过程上，而不是结果上。
K) 这一切意味着什么?被动学习没有用吗?当然不是。在很多情况下，为了学习而学习可以是一件美好的事情。更不用说吸收新信息可以帮助你在决定采取行动时做出更明智的决定。也就是说，本文的重点是学习本身并不能带来进步。我们经常躲在信息背后，以学习为借口，推迟做更困难、更重要的事情--实际采取行动。少花点时间被动学习，多花点时间主动练习。停止思考，开始行动吧。