If you want to be productive, you must complete work. Almost everything we do has many stages to completion and in many situations, you don't actually create value until you finish the last stage. Farmers can't sell their grain until it is harvested. Automakers can't sell cars that have made it 90% of the way through the assembly line (生产线). Most employers aren't going to pay you for having a degree unless you finished the last class and graduated.
Now all those things require starting, but if you have work in progress, the most valuable thing you can do is to pick something and finish it. Finishing is where you start benefiting from the value you've created. I've noticed that many successful people aren't the ones who are the smartest or have the best ideas. They are often the ones who do the best job of taking an idea and completing it. A good idea fully carried out is better than a great idea that never gets completed.
Does this mean you need to finish everything you start? Not necessarily, but if you don't think something is worth finishing, be honest with yourself and terminate the project. Don't leave hundreds of half finished efforts lying around physically or mentally acting like you are going to come back and pick them up. If you need to drop something, do so strategically and intentionally. If you've put significant effort into a project, you may still benefit from finishing it even if you wouldn't start it again based on changed circumstances. For example, if you are in your last few months before graduating from college and realize you don't want to career in what you are majoring in, you probably should go ahead and graduate because there is significant value in having the degree—even if you don't intend to actually work in that field.
What projects do you have that are currently in progress? Can you find something and finish it?
本文是一篇议论文。文章作者主要讨论了并非所有事情开始了都需要完成。
1．Why do many people become successful according to the author?
A．They are the smartest.
B．They have the best ideas.
C．They start things smoothly.
D．They make ideas fully completed.
答案：D
解析：细节理解题。根据文章第二段I've noticed that many successful people aren't the ones who are the smartest or have the best ideas. They are often the ones who do the best job of taking an idea and completing it. A good idea fully carried out is better than a great idea that never gets completed.可知，成功的人是那些能够把自己的好想法付诸实践并完成的人。故选D。
2．What does the underlined word “terminate” in paragraph 3 mean?
A．Develop. B．End.
C．Plan. D．Support.
答案：B
解析：词义猜测题。根据文章第三段Not necessarily, but if you don't think something is worth finishing, be honest with yourself and terminate the project.根据语境可知，开始了的事情未必将要全部完成。如果你认为某事不值得做，要忠实于自己，并可以终止它。故选B。
3．According to the author, which of the following is the correct way of creating value?
A．A man decides to finish all he starts to do.
B．Farmers hurry to sell their crops before they are ripe.
C．A college student chooses to study until he gets his degree.
D．A student keeps a halffilled stamp album around for future use.
答案：C
解析：细节理解题。根据文章第三段前两句可知选项A错误；根据文章第一段Farmers can't sell their grain until it is harvested.可知选项B错误；根据文章第三段最后一句可知选项C正确；根据文章第三段Don't leave hundreds of half finished efforts lying around physically or mentally acting like you are going to come back and pick them up.可知选项D错误。故选C。
4．What is the best title for the text?
A．Finishing vs. Starting
B．Well Begun is Half Done
C．Planning vs. Performing
D．It is Easier Said than Done
答案：A
解析：标题判断题。根据文章大意：文章作者主要讨论了并非所有事情开始了都需要完成。所以用标题Finishing vs. Starting。故选A。
