My students often tell me that they do not have "enough time" to do all their homework. My response often is “You have as much time as the president." I usually carry on a bit about there being twenty-four hours in the day for everyone, and suggest that "not enough time" is not an acceptable explanation of not getting something done.
Once in graduate school, I tried to prove to my professor that I was working hard. His answer was "That's irrelevant (不相干).What's important is the quality of your work.” That led me to a new idea: the quality of the work, which is perhaps best explained in a sign: "Don't work harder. Work smarter."
If you can't get more time, as few of us can, the only solution is to improve the quality of your work. That means improving ways to get more out of the same time. That should lead us to an analysis of our work habits, which for students should be read as "study habits".
Then as a smart student, you will seek to improve those skills that you use in study, chiefly reading and writing. If you can, it will pay off in all your subjects.
As to improving reading, one suggestion is to take a quick nap when you feel reading puts you to sleep, which later helps you read better. The second solution is to speed up.
But there are other issues. First, you need to find a place where you can work without unnecessary disturbances. Second, you need to take control. Success depends on realizing that you have to take active control over what you are doing. Third, you might as well get hold of a good book on reading and master the reading skills that pay off in all your classes.
Talking about advice on good writing habits, you simply have to master the writing skills. Increasing your efficiency in both reading and writing will pay off immediately in terms of the quality of your work and in terms of the time spent doing it. Then you will be able to do better work in less time. And maybe you will find time to play golf with the president.
67. What's the main idea of the passage?
A. In fact, everyone has as much time as the president.
B. The key to having enough time is to improve work quality.
C. Reading and writing matter a lot in finishing homework.
D. Not having enough time is unacceptable for unfinished work.
68. According to the author, the students do not have enough time to get their work done mainly because ______.
A. they lack good learning habits
B. they only have 24 hours a day
C. they feel sleepy while reading
D. they are not good at writing
69. The author believes a most important way for a student to improve work quality is to______.
A. improve reading and writing skills
B. find a quiet place to read and write
C. take control over his or her work
D. read and write in all classes
70. According to the passage, "Don't work harder" means that ______ .
A. one should not be more devoted to one's work
B. one should not spend more time in working
C. working harder is not allowed in our daily life
D. working harder is not the key point in work