1To combat the trap of putting a premium on being busy, Cal Newport, author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, recommends building a habit of “deep work” – the ability to focus without distraction.
主干主语：Cal Newport；谓语：recommends；宾语：building a habit of “deep work”
结构句首不定式短语 To combat… 作目的状语。主语后插入同位语 author of… 标明身份。宾语为动名词短语 building…；破折号后 the ability… 是 deep work 的同位语，对其下定义。putting a premium on being busy 为动名词短语作 of 的宾语。
译文为了摆脱把忙碌当回事的陷阱，卡尔·纽波特——《深度工作：在分心世界里专注成功的规则》一书作者——建议养成“深度工作”的习惯，即不受干扰地专注的能力。
考点put a premium on 后接名词/动名词，意为“重视、推崇” · 破折号后同位语对抽象名词作解释
2There are a number of approaches to mastering the art of deep work – be it lengthy retreats dedicated to a specific task; developing a daily ritual; or taking a “journalistic” approach to seizing moments of deep work when you can throughout the day.
主干主语：a number of approaches；谓语：are（there be 结构）
结构There be 句型。破折号后 be it… or… 为让步结构（whether it be 的省略倒装），列举三种途径，分号并列。dedicated to… 为过去分词短语修饰 retreats；when you can throughout the day 为时间状语从句修饰 seizing。
译文掌握深度工作这门艺术有多种路径——无论是专为某项任务而设的长时间闭关、养成每日仪式，还是采取“记者式”做法，在一天中能抓住的片刻见缝插针地深度工作。
考点be it A or B：让步状语的倒装省略 · approach to 后接动名词
3While the researchers assumed that the well-structured daily plans would be most effective when it came to the execution of tasks, they were wrong: the detailed daily plans demotivated students.
主干主语：they（researchers）；谓语：were；表语：wrong
结构While 引导让步状语从句（“尽管”而非“当”）。从句中 assumed 后接 that 宾语从句；when it came to… 为固定时间/方面状语。主句后冒号引出对 wrong 的具体说明，构成解释性并列。
译文尽管研究者以为结构严谨的每日计划在执行任务时最有效，他们却错了：过于详细的每日计划反而让学生失去了动力。
考点while 表让步时与 although 近义 · when it comes to + 名词/动名词：谈到、就……而言
4Harford argues that inevitable distractions often render the daily to-do list ineffective, while leaving room for improvisation in such a list can reap the best results.
主干主语：Harford；谓语：argues；宾语：that 从句
结构argues 后接 that 宾语从句。从句内 while 连接两个并列分句作对比：前一分句 render + 宾语 + 宾补 ineffective；后一分句主语为动名词短语 leaving room…，谓语 can reap。
译文哈福德认为，不可避免的干扰常常使每日待办清单失效，而在清单中留出即兴发挥的空间，反而能收获最好的效果。
考点render + 宾语 + 形容词：使……处于某种状态 · while 连接对比，后一分句主语为动名词
5“Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body…[idleness] is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done,” he argues.
主干主语：he；谓语：argues；宾语：引语（Idleness is…）
结构引语为并列复合句：分号前 not just A, B or C；分号后 as…as 同级比较，省略重复的 indispensable。省略号后插入语 paradoxically 打断主谓。necessary to 后接动名词 getting…。he argues 为引述倒装位置。
译文他主张：“闲散不只是休假、放纵或恶习；它对大脑之不可或缺，正如维生素 D 之于身体……吊诡的是，闲散恰恰是做成任何工作所必需的。”
考点as + adj. + to A as X is to B 的比较结构 · necessary to + 动名词