Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1You ............... be right about the figures, but I am not convinced the conclusion follows from them.
Wrong!
"may" diplomatically concedes a possible truth before giving a reservation; "must" would sound like an obligation or forced conclusion here.
2............... , but the last paragraph seems to contradict the evidence we discussed earlier.
Wrong!
"I may be missing something" softens disagreement by making the speaker’s understanding the possible problem, rather than blaming the other person.
3I’m not ............... that this approach will protect the client, given the precedent set last year.
Wrong!
"entirely persuaded" expresses qualified disagreement with an argument; the cue is the following evidence-based reservation.
4I agree the risk is real; I’m less sure, however, whether ............... .
Wrong!
"that necessarily follows" questions the logic of the conclusion without attacking the person or idea outright.
5Given the mixed results, it would be fair ............... that we need to revisit the assumptions.
Wrong!
"to say" fits the cautious evaluation “it would be fair to say”; the sentence diplomatically limits a conclusion rather than declaring triumph.
6My difficulty is ............... , not with the amount of work the team has done.
Wrong!
"with the premise" directs disagreement at the idea, not the person, which is more diplomatic in a professional exchange.
7I’d take a ............... on the timetable, especially if the legal review runs into next week.
Wrong!
"slightly different view" signals disagreement mildly; “slightly” reduces the force of the contrast.
8Could we ............... before we close the discussion?
Wrong!
"look at it another way" invites a reframing without assigning blame, which keeps the disagreement collaborative.
9I ............... disagree with the recommendation, because it understates the reputational risk.
Wrong!
"respectfully" explicitly marks the disagreement as courteous; “flatly” emphasizes blunt refusal.
10I have some ............... about the proposal, which I’d like to talk through before we reject it.
Wrong!
"reservations" suggests cautious concerns rather than outright opposition, which fits the request to discuss them first.
11I ............... , though I would draw a different conclusion from the same evidence.
Wrong!
"see the point you’re making" acknowledges the other person’s reasoning before introducing disagreement.
12Perhaps we should ............... until we’ve heard the regional team’s concerns.
Wrong!
"hold off on deciding" postpones judgement until more evidence is available, avoiding premature rejection.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- You may be right about the figures, but I am not convinced the conclusion follows from them.
- I may be missing something , but the last paragraph seems to contradict the evidence we discussed earlier.
- I’m not entirely persuaded that this approach will protect the client, given the precedent set last year.
- I agree the risk is real; I’m less sure, however, whether that necessarily follows.
- Given the mixed results, it would be fair to say that we need to revisit the assumptions.
- My difficulty is with the premise , not with the amount of work the team has done.
- I’d take a slightly different view on the timetable, especially if the legal review runs into next week.
- Could we look at it another way before we close the discussion?
- I respectfully disagree with the recommendation, because it understates the reputational risk.
- I have some reservations about the proposal, which I’d like to talk through before we reject it.
- I see the point you’re making , though I would draw a different conclusion from the same evidence.
- Perhaps we should hold off on deciding until we’ve heard the regional team’s concerns.
