High 1 · Reading series
Lesson 14 · What I Could Say No To
Audio track 14
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
Dear Haru,
You asked whether it was selfish to refuse another job for the school festival. You already designed the poster and checked the room schedule. Now someone wants you to manage the online page too, although you have a test next week.
I think you can say no to that extra task without saying no to the team. Tell them what you have completed, explain what time you still have, and ask which job matters most. If the online page is urgent, someone else may be able to take it. You could also show that person where the files are.
Last term, I said yes to every request and missed two deadlines. I thought I was being helpful, but nobody knew which work I could actually finish. A clear answer would have helped the group plan.
You do not need a perfect excuse. “I can finish the poster, but I cannot manage the page this week” is honest and useful.
From,
Mina
Sentence practice
Play any sentence in Dicvo’s Jenny English voice. Before playing all, choose how many times each sentence plays. A practice pause about as long as the sentence follows each play, including before the next sentence. The complete reading remains above.
Choose a sentence to begin.
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Dear Haru,
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You asked whether it was selfish to refuse another job for the school festival.
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You already designed the poster and checked the room schedule.
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Now someone wants you to manage the online page too, although you have a test next week.
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I think you can say no to that extra task without saying no to the team.
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Tell them what you have completed, explain what time you still have, and ask which job matters most.
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If the online page is urgent, someone else may be able to take it.
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You could also show that person where the files are.
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Last term, I said yes to every request and missed two deadlines.
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I thought I was being helpful, but nobody knew which work I could actually finish.
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A clear answer would have helped the group plan.
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You do not need a perfect excuse.
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“I can finish the poster, but I cannot manage the page this week” is honest and useful.
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From, Mina.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
春：
你问我，拒绝校园节的又一项工作是不是自私。你已经设计了海报、核对了教室使用时间。如今还有人希望你管理线上页面，可下周你要考试。
我认为你可以拒绝这项额外任务，而不等于拒绝整个团队。告诉大家你已完成什么、还剩多少时间，再问哪件事最重要。如果线上页面很急，也许别人可以接手；你还可以告诉那个人文件放在哪里。
上学期，我对每个请求都说‘好’，结果错过了两个截止日期。我以为自己很热心，却没人清楚我究竟能完成多少。若当时回答得明确些，团队也更好安排。
你不需要完美的借口。‘海报我能做完，但这周无法管理页面’既诚实，也有用。
米娜
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- selfish
- 自私的；春担心拒绝任务会这样。
- refuse
- 拒绝；可以拒绝额外工作。
- manage
- 管理；有人请她负责线上页面。
- although
- 虽然；下周还有考试这一限制。
- extra task
- 额外任务；在海报和排程之外的新工作。
- complete
- 完成；先说清已做好的部分。
- urgent
- 紧急的；若页面很急可另找人。
- deadline
- 截止日期；米娜曾因接太多任务而错过。
- actually
- 实际上；团队需要知道她真能做多少。
- excuse
- 借口；不必编造完美理由。
Background notes (Chinese)
设定可完成的工作范围，不等于不合作。信中建议先列明已经承担的任务，再说明时间限制与交接方式，让团队能按真实情况分工。