Defend a nuanced position
Give a conditional recommendation at a committee hearing.
Address the municipal committee
You are an independent adviser at a fictional Pontechiaro committee hearing. Give a two-minute recommendation about the proposed twelve-week Tuesday/Thursday library extension from 19:00 to 21:00. State a qualified claim: the pilot is worth considering, but a vote should wait for a staffing plan, updated cost, and night-bus access check. Use the 120 voluntary survey replies accurately: 78 favour, 26 oppose, 16 have no preference; 34 say they might attend weekly. Explain why these are not observed visits or a representative city sample. Give the €2,800 plus €900 estimate, €4,000 ceiling, and €300 estimated margin. Include cause, purpose, concession, and restriction.
- Poiché la biblioteca chiude alle diciannove, una prova limitata merita attenzione.· Because the library closes at 19:00, a limited trial deserves attention.
- Definiamo criteri affinché il risultato sia valutabile.· Let us define criteria so that the result can be assessed.
- Benché il sondaggio sia favorevole, il campione è volontario.· Although the survey is favourable, the sample is voluntary.
- Sosterrei il voto solo a condizione che arrivino i controlli mancanti.· I would support a vote only if the missing checks arrive.
Answer a strong objection
A committee member says: “There are forty seats and thirty-four people plan to come, so the pilot will fill the room. Approve it now.” Give a 30–45-second answer that concedes the possible demand but rejects the inference from capacity and intention to attendance. Suggest measuring actual visits if a pilot is later authorised. Repeat your main statement with only five keywords, and check that your position does not become an unconditional yes or no. No recording or automatic speaking assessment is supplied.
- Riconosco il possibile interesse, ma quaranta è la capienza, non la frequenza prevista.· I recognise possible interest, but forty is capacity, not predicted attendance.
- Trentaquattro persone hanno espresso un’intenzione, non prenotato un posto.· Thirty-four people stated an intention; they did not book a place.
- Se il pilota sarà autorizzato, conteremo le visite effettive.· If the pilot is authorised, we will count actual visits.
- La raccomandazione resta condizionata; il comitato non ha ancora votato.· The recommendation remains conditional; the committee has not voted yet.