Non-artists spent about 40 percent of the
time looking at objects, while artists focused on them only 20 percent of the time.

The results suggested that non-artists were busy converting pictures into concepts,
while artists were busy looking at contours and shadows.

Essentially, all this research tells us that having an “artistic point of view” is not
a myth after all!

Non-artists spent about 40 percent of the time looking at objects, while artists focused on them only 20 percent of the time.

looking at은 무엇을 하면서 시간을 보냈는지 추가적인 설명을 하기 위해 쓰였다. them은 앞 절의 objects를 지칭한다.

The results suggested that non-artists were busy converting pictures into concepts, while artists were busy looking at contours and shadows.

suggest는 ‘…를 시사하다’의 의미이며, 그 뒤에 목적어로 that이 이끄는 명사절이 사용되었다. <be busy -ing>는 ‘…하느라 바쁘다’는 의미이다.

Essentially, all this research tells us that having an “artistic point of view” is not a myth after all!

동명사구 having an “artistic point of view”가 that이 이끄는 명사절의 주어이며, 동명사 주어는 단수로 취급하므로 동사 is를 사용하였다.

My dream was to return home, ~ shares that dream ― to go back home and build a better life.

to return은 to부정사의 명사적 용법으로 ‘(집으로) 돌아오는 것’을 뜻한다. that dream을 구체적으로 설명하기 위해 대시(-)를 사용했으며, 이는 곧 to go back home and build a better life를 의미한다.

I am proof that it is possible to overcome adversity and make a positive impact on the lives of others.

<it(가주어) ~, to(진주어) ...> 구문이며 to overcome과 (to) make가 병렬구조로 연결되었다.

~ to make a difference, no matter how big or small.

no matter how는 ‘(그 변화가) 얼마나 … 간에 상관없이’라는 뜻으로 big or small 뒤에 it is(=the difference is)가 생략되었다.