Part B: Subheading Matching (2021)

How to Disagree with Someone More Powerful than You

41. ___________________

You may decide it’s best to hold off on voicing your opinion. Maybe you haven’t finished thinking the problem through, or you want to get a clearer sense of what the group thinks. If you think other people are going to disagree, too, you might want to gather your army first. People can contribute experience or information to your thinking—all the things that would make the disagreement stronger or more valid. It’s also a good idea to delay the conversation if you are in a meeting or other public space. Discussing the issue in private will make the powerful person feel less threatened.

42. ___________________

Before you share your thoughts, think about what the powerful person cares about—it may be the credibility of their team or getting a project done on time. You’re more likely to be heard if you can connect your disagreement to a higher purpose. State it overtly, contextualizing your statements so that you’re seen not as a disagreeable subordinate but as a colleague who’s trying to advance a common objective. The discussion will then become more like a chess game than a boxing match.

43. ___________________

This step may sound overly deferential, but it’s a smart way to give the powerful person psychological safety and control. You can say something like, “I know we seem to be moving toward a first-quarter commitment here. I have reasons to think that won’t work. I’d like to lay out my reasoning. Would that be OK?” This gives the person a choice, allowing him to verbally opt in. And, assuming he says yes, it will make you feel more confident about voicing your disagreement.

44. ___________________

You might feel your heart racing or your face turning red, but do whatever you can to remain neutral in both your words and actions. When your body language communicates reluctance or anxiety, it undercuts the message. It sends a mixed message, and your counterpart gets to choose what signals to read. Deep breaths can help, as can speaking more slowly and deliberately. When we feel panicky, we tend to talk louder and faster. Simply slowing the pace and talking in an even tone helps calm the other person cool down and does the same for you. It also makes you seem confident, even if you aren’t.

45. ___________________

Emphasize that you’re only offering your opinion, not gospel truth. It may be a well-informed, well-researched opinion, but it’s still an opinion, so talk tentatively and slightly understate your confidence. Instead of saying, “If we set an end-of-quarter deadline, we’ll never make it,” say, “This is just my opinion, but I don’t see how we will make that deadline.” Having asserted your position (as a position, not as a fact), demonstrate equal curiosity about other views. Remind the person that this is your point of view, and then invite critique. Be open to hearing other opinions.

Options

[A]Stay calm. 

[B]Stay humble. 

[C]Be realistic about the risks. 

[D]Identify a shared goal. 

[E]Decide whether to wait. 

[F]Ask permission to disagree. 

[G]Don’t make judgments. 

答案解析 (Answers & Analysis)

41. 对应 [E] Decide whether to wait. (决定是否等待)
【定位】段落首句：“You may decide it’s best to hold off on voicing your opinion（你可能觉得推迟说出意见是最好的）”。末尾提到：“It’s also a good idea to delay the conversation（推迟谈话也是个好主意）”。“hold off”和“delay”均对应选项中的“wait”。

42. 对应 [D] Identify a shared goal. (确定共同目标)
【定位】段落核心句：“You’re more likely to be heard if you can connect your disagreement to a higher purpose（如果你能将分歧与更高的目的联系起来）”。随后提到：“...trying to advance a common objective（努力推进一个共同的目标）”。“purpose/objective”对应选项中的“goal”，“common”对应“shared”。

43. 对应 [F] Ask permission to disagree. (请求允许提出异议)
【定位】段落举例部分：“I’d like to lay out my reasoning. Would that be OK?（我想陈述我的理由。可以吗？）”。紧接着说：“This gives the person a choice, allowing him to verbally opt in（这给了对方选择权，让他口头上同意参与）”。“Would that be OK?”正是请求许可的表现。

44. 对应 [A] Stay calm. (保持冷静)
【定位】段落描写了心跳快、脸红等生理反应，建议“remain neutral（保持中立/平静）”。提到通过“Deep breaths（深呼吸）”和“talking in an even tone（用平稳语调说话）”来“helps calm the other person cool down and does the same for you”。“calm”是该段核心关键词。

45. 对应 [B] Stay humble. (保持谦逊)
【定位】段落强调意见不是“gospel truth（绝对真理）”，建议“talk tentatively（试探性地说）”并“understate your confidence（淡化你的自信）”。最后建议“invite critique（欢迎批评）”和“Be open to hearing other opinions”。这些都是“谦逊（humble）”的具体表现。