Part B Read the following text carefully and then
translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation should be
written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2.
We’ve all had to start conversations that we dreaded having --
everything from asking for a raise to asking for a divorce to asking for help
with the laundry. These strategies help the conversation go more
smoothly. 61) Let’s say you need to call a friend whom you
haven’t seen in a few years to ask for a favor. Don’t chat and chat, then
casually mention the favor at the end. You’re not going to fool him about why
you called. It’s better to say something like, "It’s so great to talk to you. I
really want to catch up and hear everything that’s been going on for the last
few years, but first, I have to tell you the reason I called. " Otherwise, the
person on the other end tends to feel wary and distracted. 62)
If you have to talk about some sort of dishonesty or bad service, work
yourself into a mild state of mind. Explain the situation in a
straightforward way. Joke around. Show that you’re a reasonable
person. This is obvious, but picks your moment. Look for a
moment of calm, lack of interruption, and physical comfort. 63) Also, if the
conversation will be particularly painful to the other person, choose
circumstances that are the most comfortable for him or her, not for you.
Sometimes, you should wait; you might get a better result. Think
about why the subject is difficult for you. Do you hate to talk about money Are
you afraid of someone Are you worried about damaging a relationship One of the
most helpful of the commandments is "Identify the problem". 64) If you
examine why you’re dreading a particular conversation, you might be able to deal
with it in a different way. Write a note instead of having a
conversation. When writing, you can pick your words exactly, and by
communicating that way, you allow the other person to react privately, with time
for reflection. Or you can write a note alerting the person to the fact that a
painful conversation is necessary. It sounds simplistic, but if
you know you’re going to broach a difficult subject on a particular day, get
plenty of sleep and exercise in the period before. Feeling energetic,
well-rested, and calm in body will put you in better spirits.
Obviously, the tips aren’t universally applicable. You wouldn’t take notes
when confronting your teenager and you wouldn’t bring your spouse to your
performance review. 65) But by thinking constructively about how to broach a
difficult subject, you might make it less painful and more productive, for
everyone.