筆者が自分の主張を伝える最小単位がパラグラフ（段落）です。
英語の論説文の場合、一つのパラグラフに一つのトピック（何について書かれているか）と一つのメイン・アイデア（筆者が一番言いたいこと）を盛り込む、という文章作成技法があります。
この文章作成技法を逆に使い、トピックと特にメイン・アイデアに注目し、それ以外の部分を読み飛ばしながら、文章全体の大意をつかむ読み方です。
Pick up !
TOPIC : Refusing a person's request
There are relatively few people who, when asked to do something by someone they know, find it easy to say no. Sometimes this is because they fear it might make them appear selfish or troublesome − particularly if they don't feel able to come up with a good reason for their refusal. However, it can be essential to your well-being that you learn to say no. Allowing yourself to become overburdened can lead to excessive stress which, as everyone knows, creates its own problems.
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