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①　Helping others is one of the fastest ways to build trust at work. The colleague who always says yes becomes the reliable partner, the dependable problem-solver, the person everyone turns to when deadlines loom. Yet what begins as a strength can quickly turn into a liability. Professionals who are too generous with their time risk being stretched thin, overlooked for advancement, and quietly resentful of the very culture they helped create.
②　At first, saying yes feels rewarding. Colleagues express gratitude. Managers see you as dependable. Teams run smoother because you step in to handle gaps others leave behind. Over time though, the pattern creates an uneven load. Work that should have been shared becomes concentrated on the shoulders of the same few people. Eventually, performance suffers. Deadlines slip because there is simply too much on one person’s plate. Creativity declines because there is no space for deep thinking. Burnout builds quietly, fueled by the frustration of always being the one to help but never the one to advance.

③　Ironically, always saying yes does not just create exhaustion. It can damage how others perceive you. Colleagues begin to see you as the helper rather than the leader. Managers may rely on you for execution but overlook you for strategy. After all, people tend to reward those who protect their own boundaries, not those who endlessly absorb extra tasks.

④　It may sound counterintuitive, but one of the most powerful career strategies is learning to decline requests. Saying no is not about being selfish. It is about protecting the ability to deliver your best work. When you draw clear boundaries, colleagues begin to respect both your time and your judgment.
⑤　How to set boundaries without burning bridges? The challenge is that declining requests can feel risky. No one wants to appear uncooperative. Yet it is possible to protect boundaries without damaging relationships. The key is how you frame the response.
⑥　One approach is to explain your priorities clearly. Instead of a flat refusal, you might say, “I want to give this the attention it deserves, but I’m currently focused on another deadline. Can we revisit this next week?” This communicates both respect and limits.
⑦　Another strategy is to offer alternatives. Redirecting a request to someone better positioned to help shows that you are still supportive. After all, protecting your time does not mean leaving others stranded.
⑧　Finally, it helps to be proactive. By sharing what you are working on and what you can realistically take on, you make it easier for colleagues to understand your boundaries. Transparency reduces the risk of misunderstanding.

⑨　Over time, these practices shift how others perceive you. Instead of being the person who always says yes, you become the professional who chooses wisely. That shift can make the difference between being valued as a helper and being recognized as a leader.

1.1.It can be inferred that the author believes shared workload is crucial for maintaining ______.

A personal gratitude

B managerial dependence

C team creativity and efficiency

D individual deadlines

解析：选C。 C推理判断题。第②段指出，当工作集中在少数人身上时，会导致“Creativity declines”和“Deadlines slip”。由此可以反向推断，作者认为工作量共享对于维持“团队创造力（creativity）”和“效率（efficiency，与deadlines slip相对）”至关重要。A项“个人感激”和B项“管理依赖”是过度帮助初期带来的感觉，并非作者认为的关键；D项“个人截止日期”过于具体和片面。故选C。

2.2.What can be inferred about professionals who always say “yes”?

A They are often promoted for their generosity.

B They may be perceived as lacking leadership qualities.

C They usually receive more strategic tasks.

D They gain respect from all colleagues.

解析：选B。 B推理判断题。第③段提到，总是答应请求的人会被视为“the helper rather than the leader”，且管理者可能只依赖其执行任务而非委以战略工作，由此可推断他们可能被认为缺乏领导力。A项与原文“overlook you for strategy”矛盾；C项“承担更多战略任务”未提及；D项“获得所有同事尊重”与“被视为助手”不符。故选B。

3.3.What is the author’s attitude toward saying “no” at work?

A Skeptical and critical.

B Cautious and hesitant.

C Indifferent and neutral.

D Supportive and strategic.

解析：选D。D观点态度题。第④段明确提到“one of the most powerful career strategies is learning to decline requests”，并强调拒绝请求是为了“protecting the ability to deliver your best work”，可见作者持支持态度，且认为这是策略性的（strategic）。A项“怀疑批评”、C项“中立”、B项“谨慎犹豫”均与原文立场不符。故选D。

4.4.The phrase “burning bridges” in Paragraph 5 most likely means ______.

A destroying relationships

B building connections

C refusing all requests

D ignoring deadlines

解析：选A。 A词义猜测题。根据第五段上下文，“without burning bridges”后文提到“declining requests can feel risky”和“without damaging relationships”，可见该短语指“不破坏人际关系”。A项“破坏关系”最贴近；B项“建立联系”与原文相反；C项“拒绝所有请求”过于绝对；D项“忽略截止时间”与上下文无关。故选A。

5.5.Which of the following is suggested as an effective way to decline a request?

A Promising to handle it after finishing all current tasks.

B Clearly explaining your current priorities and limitations.

C Directly refusing and suggesting the asker solve it.

D Accepting the request but delivering lower-quality work.

解析：选B。 B细节理解题。第⑥段明确提出，关键是如何组织回应。随后第⑥段给出的具体方法是解释优先级：“I’m currently focused on another deadline”。B项“清晰地解释你当前的优先级和限制”是对此方法的同义转述。A项“承诺完成所有当前任务后处理”会导致负担过重，与建议相悖；C项“直接拒绝并让提问者自己解决”不够礼貌，可能损害关系；D项“接受请求但交付低质量工作”违反了原文“protecting the ability to deliver your best work”（保护交付最佳工作的能力）这一核心目的。故选B。