Question

Listen carefully; we would like to tell you something that could save your precious time and money! Best of all, it is free! It’s “no”. What do you ask? We’ll say it again. “No”. Sweet and simple “no”.

Say “no” at your office and see how quickly that pile of work on your desk disappears. “Saying “no” to others means you are saying “yes” to yourself,” said Leslie Charles, a professional speaker from East Lansing, Michigan.

Susie Watson, a famous writer, said people who always say “yes” need to say “no” without guilt （内疚） or fear of punishment.  “I would rather have someone give me a loving ‘no’ than an obligated （强制的）‘yes’”, she said.

Susie Watson says she feels “no” obligation to give an explanation when she says “no” either socially or professionally. Does she feel guilty about it? “Not at all,” said Watson, who is director of advertising and public relations at Timex Corp in Middle-bury. “Most people are afraid of saying “no”. My advice is to say “yes” only if you don’t mean ‘no’.”

Watson said “no” is the most effective weapon against wasting time. “Every year there are more demands on your time. Other people are happy to use up your time,” Watson said. Time saving appears to be “no’s” greatest friend. “No” can be your new friend, a powerful tool to take back your life. “No” may even take you further in the business world than “yes”. “No” is power and strength. “No” now seems completely correct. “Saying ‘no’ isn’t easy. But finally it’s greatly liberating,” Charles said. But, he added, a “no” project needs to be worked on every day because it is hard to change long-term habit.

But, he also warns: “Don’t go to extremes.  Don’t find yourself saying “no” to everything. In return you should learn to hear “no”.”

53. The underlined part “saying ‘yes’ to yourself” in the second paragraph means ______.

A. you can have more time to play with others

B. you needn’t care about other’s feeling if you are happy

C. you are selfish and treat others rudely

D. you can deal with your business as you have planned

54. When you say “no” to others you should say it in a ______.

A. secret way     B. polite way         C. proud way        D. guilty way

55 In Watson’s opinion, people can save much time on condition that ______.

A. they say “no” at a suitable time        B. they say “no” as much as possible

C. they are afraid of saying “no”         D. they make others angry at them

56. If a person says “no” to everything, the result he or she receives may be that he or she _____.

A. enjoys a wonderful life              B. makes a lot of money

C. faces difficulty in life                D. forgets to say “yes” in the end

Answer

 D

 B

 A

 C