Writing a formal letter

What does GM stand for?

genetically modified

                                                                          

Is it the same as natural food?

Listening practice: Listen to the tape and do the exercises in Part A.

Check and correct the information.

Step 1: confirming information

Answers: 2. fatter—faster 3. keep—don’t help keep 4. more expensive—cheaper 5. is ^a—not 6. better than—the same as 7. are ^given—not 8. cheaper—more expensive 9. are ^kept—not 10. would not pay—don’t mind paying

1. Safety of GM food

2. Possible side effects3. Taste compared with normal food

4. Cost

5. Need for government control6. Popularity for buyers

Discussion

Interview your classmates about his/her opinions on GM food. You may use useful expressions(P54) and vocabulary(P55).

Will you choose GM food?

7 ……

a formal letter

an address a datethe receiver’s name

job title and address a formal greeting

a formal endingthe signature

Step 3: writing a letter about GM food

I am writing to ask whether you plan to sell GM food in your supermarket. It is reported that with the development of modern science and technology, more and more GM food have appeared in market. Different people have different attitudes toward it, for example,…while…

In general, I consider GM food…

However, I think it needs to be approached with caution and carefully monitored by government. I suggest that…

Dear Mr. Smith,

Finish the letter

Opinions for or against GM food Your opinions about GM food What you think the supermarket

should do

You can find more information about GM food on http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/0,2759,178400,00.html

homework

You can find more information about GM food on http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/0,2759,178400,00.html

Finish your letter to the manager.

12 Heping North StreetChangzhou26 October,2006

Mr. SmithPublic Relations Manager*Yanlin West Road ChangzhouDear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to ask whether you plan to sell GM food in your supermarket. It isreported that with the development of modern science and technology, more and more GM food have appeared in market. Different people have different attitudes toward it, for example…while…

In general, I consider GM food…

However, I think it needs to be approached with caution and carefully monitoredby government. I suggest that…

Yours sincerely,……Joyce Pei

receiver’s name

job titlereceiver’s address

yur address

the date

formal greeting

formal ending

your namesignature

1. cost n .[U] the amount of money needed to buy, do or make something:

For many parents, two salaries are essential to cover the cost of (= pay for) school fees.

对于许多父母来说 , 两份薪水支付上学的费用是很基本的 .

plural noun the cost of something:

We need to cut our advertising costs.我们需要削减我们的广告费用 .

n. [S or U] something which is given, needed or lost in order to obtain a particular thing:

He earned a lot of money but at the cost of his health.

他挣了很多钱 , 却以牺牲了自己的健康为代价 .

v .[T] cost, cost

"How much does this book cost (= What is the price of this book)?"

这本书值多少钱 ?

[+ two objects]

The trip will cost you $1000.

这次旅行将会花费你 1000 美元 .

costly : adj. expensive: 昂贵的

a costly item

2. look forward to :

[+ ing form of v./n.]

She was looking forward to seeing the grandchildren again.

她盼望着再次看到她的孙子孙女们 .

带 to doing 的常用结构

1. 动词 + 介词 to+ 动名词(1)admit to doing sth 承认做了某事

(2) apply to doing sth 适用于做某事

(3) object to doing sth 反对做某事(4) see to doing sth 负责做某事

(5) stick to doing sth 坚持做某事

(6) take to doing sth 喜欢上做某事， 逐渐习惯做某事

2. 动词 + 宾语 + 介词 to+ 动名词

(1)apply oneself to doing sth 专心致力于做某事(2) devote sth / oneself to doing sth 把…献给 / 献身于做某事

(3) limit sth to doing sth 把…限制在做某事的范围内(4) reduce sb to doing sth 使某人沦为做某事

(5) give one’s life to doing sth 献身于做某事(6) pay attention to doing sth 注意做某事

(7) set one’s mind to doing sth 决心做某事

(8) addict oneself to doing 沉溺于做某事

3. be + 形容词 + 介词 to+ 动名词

be equal to doing sth 能胜任做某事

be used to doing sth 习惯于做某事

be opposed to doing sth 反对做某事

be reduced to doing sth 使某人沦为做某事

be devoted to doing sth 献身、致力于做某事

be limited to doing sth 把…限制在做某事的范围内

3. majority : n.

1) [S] the larger number or part of something:

2)[C] in an election, the difference in the number of votes between the winning person or group and the one that comes second:

The majority of the employees have university degrees.

大部分雇员有大学文凭 .

The Socialists won by a narrow/large majority.

社会主义者以大部获胜 .

4. conclude : v. 1)[I or T] to end a speech, meeting or piece of writing:

2) [T] to judge or decide something after some consideration:

[+ that]

3)[T] to complete an official agreement or task, or arrange a business deal

She concluded the speech by reminding us of our responsibility.

她通过使我们想起我们的责任结束了演讲 .

The jury concluded from the evidence that the defendant was innocent.

陪审团从证据得出结论这个被告是清白的 .

conclusion :  n.

相关短语： reach/come to /draw a conclusion 得出结论

5. urge : v. [I or T]

[+ to infinitive]

[+ that]

Lawyers will urge the parents to take further legal action.

律师们将会催促这些父母采取进一步的行动 .

Investigators urged that safety procedures at the site should be improved.

调查人员催促这个地方的安全措施应该被改进 .

NOTE: urge 后的宾语从句中动词要用虚拟语气，即（ should ） + 动词原形。其它类似的词有：

suggest, advise, propose, ask, demand, require, request, insist, order 等。

6. seek : v . [T] sought, sought FORMAL

1)to try to find or get something, especially something which is not a physical object:

2) to ask for advice, help, approval, permission, etc:

Are you actively seeking jobs?

你在积极地寻找工作 ?吗

Legal advice should be sought before you take any further action.

在你采取进一步的行动前你应该寻求法律上的建议 .

v. [I + to infinitive] sought, sought FORMAL to try or attempt:

They sought to reassure the public.

他们试图使公众放心 .

7. practice : (1) n. [U] action rather than thought or ideas:

(2) n .[C or U]something that is usually or regularly done, often as a habit, tradition or custom:(3) n. [C or U]when you do something

regularly or repeatedly to improve your skill at doing it:

I can't see how your plan is going to work in practice.

我不能明白你的计划在实践中怎样运行 .

It's common practice in the States to tip the hairdresser.

在美国给理发师消费是很普遍的 .

I need to get some more practice before I take my driving test.

在我参加驾驶测试前我需要更多的练习 .

practise : v .[I or T]

[+ ing form of verb]

我每天练习说英语 . I practise speaking English every day.

相关短语或表达：

Practice makes perfect. 熟能生巧。

put sth. into practice 把…付诸于实践

practise doing sth.

in practice 在实践中out of practice疏于练习