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 bout 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