High 3 · Reading series
Lesson 42 · The Petition We Rewrote
Audio track 42
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
Our petition demanded, “Keep the community center open every night.” The sentence attracted signatures quickly. Then the center manager explained that staff could not cover seven evenings with the current budget. Some people who signed had meant only the weeks before exams.
We paused the campaign and asked signers what hours they actually needed. Their answers were varied. A study group wanted two later evenings; an art group needed one weekend room; several families asked for a better way to reserve space. We rewrote the petition to request a trial of extended hours on selected days, a public review of costs, and a clear reservation system.
The new version was longer and gathered signatures more slowly. It was also easier for the town to respond to honestly. We kept the first version in our notes and explained why we had changed it.
A strong slogan can open a conversation. If it claims more than supporters truly asked for, it can close the path to a workable decision.
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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Our petition demanded, “Keep the community center open every night.”
-
The sentence attracted signatures quickly.
-
Then the center manager explained that staff could not cover seven evenings with the current budget.
-
Some people who signed had meant only the weeks before exams.
-
We paused the campaign and asked signers what hours they actually needed.
-
Their answers were varied.
-
A study group wanted two later evenings; an art group needed one weekend room; several families asked for a better way to reserve space.
-
We rewrote the petition to request a trial of extended hours on selected days, a public review of costs, and a clear reservation system.
-
The new version was longer and gathered signatures more slowly.
-
It was also easier for the town to respond to honestly.
-
We kept the first version in our notes and explained why we had changed it.
-
A strong slogan can open a conversation.
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If it claims more than supporters truly asked for, it can close the path to a workable decision.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
我们的请愿书要求“社区中心每晚开放”，很快收集到签名。随后，中心负责人解释：按现有预算，工作人员无法覆盖一周七个晚上。有些签名者其实只希望考试前几周延长时间。
我们暂停活动，问签名者真正需要什么时段。答案各不相同：学习小组想要每周两晚延时；艺术团体需要一个周末房间；几户家庭希望预约空间更方便。于是，我们重写请愿书，请求在选定日期试行延时开放、公开审查成本，并建立清楚的预约制度。
新版更长，收集签名更慢，却也更便于镇政府诚实回应。我们保留初版在笔记里，说明修改原因。
有力的口号可以开启对话；若它要求的比支持者实际想要的更多，也可能堵住通往可行决定的路。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- petition
- 请愿书；要求改变开放时间。
- demanded
- 要求；初稿主张每晚开放。
- signatures
- 签名；很快收集到许多。
- current budget
- 现有预算；不足以排七晚班。
- campaign
- 活动；随后暂停调整。
- signers
- 签名者；实际需求不一致。
- varied
- 各不相同的；需要不同时间。
- reservation
- 预约；希望制度更清楚。
- selected
- 选定的；只在部分日期试行。
- workable
- 可行的；诉求要能落实。
Background notes (Chinese)
原诉求没有区分不同群体的实际需要，也忽略人力预算；修改后提出有限试行和成本审查。