下面是一篇“請(qǐng)求信”?？忌坏w會(huì)陳述理由的技巧，還要學(xué)會(huì)如何表達(dá)感謝和希望。推薦這道題目給讀者，是希望讀者體會(huì)在朋友之間寫信時(shí)，客氣和信任是一種主基調(diào)。其中的if條件句可經(jīng)常使用，不但可以緩和語(yǔ)氣，而且讓句式更富于變化。

2009年1月15日原題重現(xiàn)：

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are going to have a business trip and arrange you friend to look after your children
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter, you have to mention:
? Which kind of food your children like and dislike
? Which kind of activities your children can attend
? Arrange the time you will pick up your children

Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear

Sample Answer:

Dear Will,

I really appreciate （這比使用thank you.更為地道和真誠(chéng)；比使用I would like to express my gratitude.更為簡(jiǎn)潔，更適合筆者的身份。）your promise to look after my sweetheart, Betty. For your convenience of arrangement, I would like to let you know the eating habits of Betty and the activities she is going to attend during my upcoming trip.

Like most of the girls at her age, Betty is fond of sweets, but please do not give her too many candies or ice cream. Besides, she is allergic to Chinese leak and chili, so just keep her away if you cook the food alike（條件狀語(yǔ)從句是書信中最受推崇的句型。使用它可以向收信人委婉的提出建議。）. It is summer holidays, when Betty does not go to school. However, I have arranged her to play the piano with a pianist who is living in No.3, Building 5 of your community at 5pm: 7pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. I will be grateful if you pick her up（另一種表達(dá)請(qǐng)求的方式。禮貌而且自然）. By the way, if you buy something to her, please let me pay the bill after I am back.

I am going to China the day after tomorrow. If everything goes smoothly, I will stay there for 7 days, and return on 10th April. If you don’t mind, I will pick Betty up at around 8 o’clock then. Thanks for your kindness, and hope you will get along very well.

參考譯文：

真得很感謝你答應(yīng)幫我照顧我的小甜心，Betty。此外，為了方便你的安排，我想告訴你關(guān)于Betty的飲食習(xí)慣以及她會(huì)在我出差這段時(shí)間將參加一些活動(dòng)。

像大多數(shù)女孩子一樣，Betty也喜歡吃甜食，但是請(qǐng)一定不要給她太多的糖果和冰淇淋。此外，她對(duì)蔥和辣椒過敏，因此如果你們烹飪這類食物請(qǐng)不要讓她吃。因?yàn)楝F(xiàn)在是暑假，所以Betty不用去上學(xué)。但是，周一、周三的下午5點(diǎn)至7點(diǎn)我安排她和一個(gè)鋼琴老師學(xué)琴。屆時(shí)，麻煩你接送她去鋼琴老師的家。老師的家就在你的小區(qū)5樓4門。如果你們給Betty買了什么，等我回來后請(qǐng)一定要讓我來支付。

我后天就要去中國(guó)了。如果一切按計(jì)劃進(jìn)行，這次旅行預(yù)計(jì)7天，我將會(huì)在4月10日返回。要是你方便，我將會(huì)在那天晚上8點(diǎn)鐘左右去接Betty。再一次感謝您的慷慨，希望你們過得愉快。

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