作者：孟庆伟英文写作
链接：https://www.zhihu.com/question/21116333/answer/551345804
回到题主的问题，如何看《经济学人》，我从两点来说：
1、首先，明确自己的目的，找到最适合自己的板块；
2、加大输入量，刻意练习，提高输出质量。
1、明确目的，找到最适合自己的板块
在来认领《经济学人》最精彩的 7 个版块 这篇文章中，我列举了在我心中最值得阅读的7个板块。
①如果正在准备雅思考试，Graphic Detail 一定不能错过
这一版块是《经济学人》9 月新增加的版块，非常适合准备雅思 A 类考试小作文和日常有数据分析写作需求的读者。
如何阅读 Graphic Detail？
学习如何组织数据；如何设计数据可视化；如何更好地利用图表来解释清楚一个现象。
②如果你正在准备GRE，那么 Essay 绝对适合你
Essay 的文章会特别深入地讲一个话题，字数为上万字。这一版块不定期会有，历史文章只能通过 Google 来检索。
如何阅读 Essay？
学习作者组织长文结构的方式，看段落之间是如何进行自然过渡和衔接的；研究作者是如何进行说理的，如何利用可视化数据增强文章论证的。
经典 Essay文章推荐：
The slumps that shaped modern finance
③如果你有严肃写作需求，阅读 Special Report
Special report 一般针对一个国家或一个主题进行多角度报道和分析。比如过去几个月涉及到的国家和地区有澳大利亚、西班牙、海湾地区、德国等，主题涵盖了市场竞争、医疗制度、人工智能、经济衰退、美国民主党人。
记者在写 Special Report 时会引用多本专著、期刊，也会参考国际组织、投行、咨询公司的报告，采访多名学者、分析师、相关行业从业者，所以这一版块写作周期较长。
如何阅读 Special report？
按兴趣选择主题，用几个小时完成阅读；在阅读过程中重点学习《经济学人》是如何选择、引用、概括相关参考资料来报道事件并佐证自己的观点。
推荐阅读：
Special report: Competition
Special report: Australia
④想要了解世界局势，学习如何概括、总结、分析事件，一定要读 Leaders
Leaders 是《经济学人》社论，也是它的镇刊之宝，一般由 5 篇文章组成，篇幅为一页左右，封面右上角一般会显示这部分的 3 篇文章。
每周一上午《经济学人》会开选题会（pitching meeting），每个版块负责人提议 Leaders 主题，讨论后确定 5 个主题。 Leaders 部分的文章不能单独存在，必须在其他版块（如 Briefing、区域版块等）有至少一篇文章来加强它的论证。加上 Leaders 的筹划和写作在整个《经济学人》中会占比较多的时间，所以这部分非常值得阅读。
如何阅读 Leaders？
在阅读中学习如何具体解释一个事件的背景；研究总结作者是怎样做分析的；如何给出解决方案。
经典 Leaders 文章推荐：
The right to die
Let them wed
⑤学习如何描写人物，Obituary 了解一下
我接触过的四五个《经济学人》记者和编辑都一致认为这个版块是最有分量、最值得阅读的版块。
《经济学人》的 obituary 和中文语境里的“讣告”意思不完全对等，应理解为人物传记或人物趣闻，用《经济学人》自己的话来说是“the world's most captivating people”。关于讣告专栏，《经济学人》如此介绍道：
The obituaries that appear in The Economist are remarkable because of the unpredictable selection of people to be written about, the surprising lives they lead - but also for the style in which the obituary is written.
所以，不像大多数媒体一样只报道名人，《经济学人》关注的更有“complete unknowns”；它的选择标准是这些人的生活是不是精彩，是不是值得写，是不是通过这些人可以看到共通的人性，亦或还能反映一个时代。
主笔人 Ann Wroe 对于讣告这种文体有自己的“讣告观”。她不关心她的写作对象是怎么死的，只关心他这一生是怎样过的。如果你读 Ann Wroe 的文字感觉像是在看电影的话，那是因为她的写作过程和导演的拍摄过程是一样的，他们都想把一个人的表情、形态、动作、语言、心理和个性表现出来；不同的是一种用摄像机，一种用笔头。
如何阅读 Obituary？
感受诗一般的语言；研究文章结构，学习开头、结尾的写法；学习如何筛选人物经历和细节，如何利用这些细节刻画人物、讲故事；学习如何使用精准的动词和名词。
2、加大输入量，刻意练习，提高输出质量
找到合适的打开方式，那么下一步就要利用好手里的材料，开始刻意练习。
①提高输入质量，背诵高质量内容
我们要注重输入的质量，保证高质量、高准确度地输入。
最好的办法、最短的路径是背诵，背诵含有最高频、最灵活、最地道、最实用的句型的句子，或是充分展开了某个观点、连贯性强、有极强说服力的段落。
比如，选自《经济学人》的这两个句子就值得背：
1. China has long seen education as a passport to success, which helps explain why the middle class is now focusing on foreign schools and universities.
2. The hunger for degrees is understandable: these days they are a requirement for a decent job and an entry ticket to the middle class.
一旦背下，在写教育类、社会类、文化类作文时就能直接用这两个句子了。
②刻意临摹句子
临摹句子，即找到好的句子，剔除里面的具象名词，填入自己想表达的新的意思的词。
这样做的好处是：
通过临摹给自己更多体会和内化的机会；
可以确保句型（包括语法）是正确的，替换名词出错的可能性很小，这样就能确保自己的输出是正确的。
也就是说，在没有权威、及时、可靠的反馈的情况下，可以通过控制可能出错的因素来最大程度上减少出错的可能性。
那么，怎样的句子算好呢？
如果一个句子或句型满足以下任何一种感叹，那么就值得学习：
我靠，原来这种意思是这么表达啊？
我靠，原来这种意思还能这么表达啊？
哇，这么表达真漂亮（简洁、妙等）！
为什么是这样的？
因为学习的过程就是认知的过程，而高效的认知一定是遵循认知原则和规律的。
就句子的学习来说，我们最感兴趣的、最容易掌握的是和我们最相关的，在生活、工作、交际中最可能使用的句子和句型。
我一直认为，从单词书里学来的单词不如从阅读和生活中积累的单词令人印象深刻。真正的语言学习（认知）需要一个具体的语境。阅读中的句子提供了最基本的“有效认知单位”（自造概念），即句子。
因此，和常识相悖的是，最基本的、最高效的英语学习目标不是字词，而是句子，具体的句子，有血有肉的句子，有具体场景的句子，让你有 WOW 的感觉的句子。找到这些句子，去临摹。
下面是从《经济学人》一篇关于拉丁裔美国人的文章中随手选出的“有感觉”的句子：
原句 : Hispanics are transforming the definition of what it means to be a mainstream American.
句型提炼：X is transforming the definition of what it means to be a Y.
临摹造句：
Migrant workers（农民工）in China are transforming the definition of what it means to be an urbanite（城里人）.
Ever- and fast-changing technology is transforming the definition of what it means to be tech-savvy（科技通）.
简单来说，临摹句子可以总结成以下 3 点：
确定有感觉的句子，感知、体会和内化句子
提炼句子主干或句型
结合自己的知识和经验造句
③刻意练习句子改写
句子临摹是依样画葫芦，而句子改写则是通过改写举一反三，内化自己积累到的语言点，提升表达力。
就练习改写句子而言，目的不一定是“to achieve greater clarity”，而是有意识地去唤醒、激活、调动、揣摩、使用自己积累的语料，让消极的积累变活。
也就是说，“句子改写法”的最大好处是解决没有机会练习输出的问题。
那么什么样的句子适合“句子改写法”呢？
如果你读到一个句子精辟、巧妙、简洁、清晰、有感染力地表达了一个意思，就可以试着拿来改写。
《经济学人》里有很多句子都适合拿来改写。
怎么改写呢？
可以分改写前、改写和改写后三步：
①改写前解读：
阅读句子，理解句子的字面意思，深层次的意思，表达和强调的侧重，体会句子的语气和句式特点。
②改写：
改写时有意识强化积极词汇、表达和句型，尝试使用消极词汇、表达和句型。
③改写后体会：
我们经常说“体会”和“内化”，但真正怎样去做呢？将自己改写的句子和原句作比较的过程就是在体会和内化。可以问问自己有什么区别，比如原句表达是不是更精炼，主要信息是不是强调得更好，给了你怎样的感受，是不是留下了更深的印象。
以上是我阅读《经济学人》的一些心得体会，希望能够帮到各位知友。
出处：我是如何阅读《经济学人》的？ - 孟庆伟英文写作的文章 - 知乎https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/25564526
本文写于2017年2月22日，最初发布于微信公众号「孟庆伟英文写作」（微信ID: justintheeconomist）。
How I Read The Economist
Experience from a veteran reader of The Economist
Considering The Economist has become the de facto bible for many English learners, especially intermediate to advanced enthusiasts seeking to improve their writing, it is fitting to share how I read the newspaper. I prefer to write in English because two other articles written in English with regard to The Economist seem well received. Plus, writing in English is ineffably enjoyable.
How the newspaper should be read depends on a few factors. There is no single right way to do it. Motivation, English proficiency, time budget, environment and mood all play a part. Each will determine how you read it. Sophisticated readers know these factors well, and normally have their own reading habits. Beginners can be overwhelmed, so some advice may be helpful.
Nobody is born a sophisticated reader. The general guide would be to pick any The Economistissue, print or digital, skim it page by page, and get a sense of how each section feels. Once done, you should find what interests you the most, what somewhat interests you, what challenges you and what bores you. Alternatively, Wiki The Economist and read the introduction of the newspaper. Hyperlinks on Wiki will direct you to learn more about your interested references. Stick to your favorite section(s) and allocate the bulk of your time. Whenever you have time, try the sections you find slightly interesting. Choose one challenging article once in a while and confront it. Forget about the boring parts, they are not for you, at least not now.
Favorite sections can help you become a habitual reader. At first, for example, I mostly read articles on China. I was just exposed to The Economist and found I could easily relate to its perspectives on a country I lived in. Many concepts and ideas were familiar, and I was able to focus on its vocabulary, syntactic gymnastics, arguments and narrative skills. Gradually I familiarized with its writing style, a springboard to other sections. While the China section cannot be wrong for any newbie, you should discover what your favorite is. If you are a literature and humanities major, start from the back--Obituary and Books and Arts; those keen on current affairs should find Leaders a decent starting point; students specializing in business, sciences, economics and finance can find their respective enclaves. A watcher of a particular country or continent? Go gently into the regional sections.
What fails to strike you as deserving at first may turn out to be the most delightful. In my case Obituary is such a gem. When I first read The Economist back in 2007, stories in Obituary were far beyond my grasp. Their vocabularies were too wide; sentence structures too intimidating; depictions too complicated; stories too esoteric; and writing style too unfamiliar. As my reading and overall knowledge of English bettered, Obituary started to make sense to me. Not only that, it is beautifully written and captivating and is nonfiction at its best. I cannot wait to take a look at Obituary every week after I download a new issue. So reexamine the sections as you read. You never know how and how much you will be amazed.
Some sections are better read at one sitting. Briefing, Special Report, Technology Quarterly and International all feature heavily referenced and meticulously written articles with considerable length. Charts, tables and pies fill them. The Economist correspondents very often collect data from multiple sources--universities, consultancies, think tanks and research institutes--and make visually appealing graphs, some of which can even be regarded as works of art. These sections are particularly useful if you are working on broad themes in preparation for an essay at school or GRE issue topics. Budget enough time, get a cup of Latte and enjoy.
Bite-sized sections, in contrast, are perfect for elevators and waits. Nothing beats The World This Week (including Politics, Business and KAL's cartoon) and Letters if you want to kill time, be it taking an elevator or waiting in a not terribly long line.
In terms of the actual reading methods, I take a whole-to-part approach. Each week I would download the new issue, read its cover and highlights, scroll down the contents, read titles and bylines (or one-sentence summaries) and identify a few must-reads. Then I would revisit the The Economist app throughout the week. Normally I would pick one of the must-reads, read the first paragraph, first sentences of each paragraph and the last paragraph. This way, I can get the gist of each piece within less than one minute. If I have lots of time and am interested in the topic, I will keep reading it from start to finish.
Within a particular article, I focus on the parts that wow me. Some articles start with stunning sentences. Some stand out because of effectiveness or elegance of arguments. Some leave a lasting impression for they end in a witty or surprising note. Some make good points despite their lighthearted prose.
Reading habits change as you change. One only becomes a mature reader by reading. For many people, starting to read matters more than how to read. Perhaps it's time to start to read now.
