Comparing As We Study

　　通过对比来学习

　　We understand new things by comparing them to things we already know.

　　我们理解新事物时通过与我们熟知的事物进行对比。

　　To demonstrate this, try to describe a lime to someone who has never encountered one. Your depiction might go something like this:

　　要解释这一点，类似于试着向一个从没见过青柠的人描述青柠。你的描述可能像这样：

　　“It’s like a lemon, but it’s green. It tastes and smells like a mix between a lemon and a tomato vine.”

　　“它像柠檬，但是是绿色的。尝起来、闻起来像柠檬与番茄混合的味道。”

　　That person would most likely be able to identify a lime easily, because he or she will be able to consult stored knowledge to conjure new information.

　　对方很可能可以轻易勾画出青柠的形象，因为他(她)可以调用自己的知识储备形成新信息。

　　Any time you study new material, your brain consults stored knowledge to make sense of the new things you’re encountering. For example, if you live in the United States and you are required to learn about communism, you will most likely learn by comparing that system to a system you already know, like capitalism.

　　每次你学习新材料，大脑就会调用已有的知识储备来理解你碰上的新事物。比如，你住在美国，被要求学共产主义，你会把这个系统和你已知的系统，如资本主义作对比。

　　When you study terms to prepare for a test, you should always select two terms at the same time and describe the differences between them.

　　当你为了考试而学习术语，你应该选同时选两个术语，并描述这二者的区别。

　　Learning By Testing

　　通过测试来学习

　　Recent studies tell us that learning is enhanced through trial and error. When it comes to studying effectively, it turns out that testing is one of the best ways to prepare for testing!

　　最近的研究表明学习通过尝试与犯错来以巩固。要高效地学习，自我检测是备考的最佳途径!

　　There is good evidence that the very best way for you to learn is to take a series of practice tests. This means that the process of trying to answer questions, getting questions wrong, discovering why you were wrong, and correcting yourself—is the smartest study strategy of all.

　　一个有力的证明表示学习的最佳方法就是多次测验。这是一个试着答题、回答错误、分析错误、改正自我的过程，这是所有学习策略中最有效的。

　　Of course, if you want to do this right, you should have someone else prepare a few practice tests for you. This can be easy: just find a partner (or a group) and write questions for each other.

　　当然，如果你要正确地利用这个策略，还需要别人给你出题。这很简单：只要找一个学伴儿(或是学习小组)，几个人互相出题。

　　In summary, the science says this: if you want to study harder and smarter, you should start early, find a study partner, get active, and test yourself.

　　总之，最科学的方法就是：如果你要事半功倍地学习，就要早开始，找同伴，积极行动，检测自我。

（编辑：何莹莹）