Homestay Dinner: Refusing Politely and Leaving the Table
Yui is staying with the Miller family in Canada. On her third night, Mrs. Miller serves apple pie after dinner. Yui has already eaten one piece and is full. It is 6:50 p.m., and Yui plans to meet a friend at the movie theater at 7:30; the theater is a 10-minute walk away. Mrs. Miller spent the afternoon baking the pie and says, 'There's one more piece. Would you like it?' Yui wants to refuse politely, thank her, and leave for the movie soon. She remembers that in Canada, guests often say something positive before saying no. She also does not want to explain her schedule in detail at the table. The examiner asks you to choose the best reply from three options: A. 'No, I don't want it.' B. 'Thank you, it was delicious, but I'm full. I should leave for the movie now.' C. 'I'm fine.' Then the examiner asks what Yui should say when she leaves the table.
1. Choose the best reply and explain why the other two are weaker.
Read the worked answer
B is best. It thanks Mrs. Miller, compliments the pie ('it was delicious'), gives a reason ('I'm full'), and explains that she must leave for the movie. This refuses the second piece without rejecting the host's effort.
A ('No, I don't want it') is grammatically fine but sounds blunt. It rejects the pie itself, not just the extra piece, and gives no reason. C ('I'm fine') is too short and unclear. Mrs. Miller may understand it as 'I don't need anything,' but it does not acknowledge the pie or explain why Yui is refusing. In a homestay, a short 'I'm fine' can seem cold.
2. What should Yui say when she leaves the table? Give one sentence and explain its function.
Read the worked answer
Example: 'Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Miller. The pie was wonderful. I'll be back by 9:30.'
This works because it does three jobs: it thanks the host, it compliments the food, and it gives a clear return time. The return time is practical information a host family needs, especially when a guest goes out in the evening. It also avoids explaining every detail of Yui's schedule at the table, which would be too much information in this situation.