invitations such as e-mails and phone invitations are becoming more acceptable. Analysis: such as means “of the same kind, like” and should be followed by nouns or noun phrases.
Translation: 虽然邀请函通常通过信函方式发出，但目前像电子邮件、电话邀请 等非正式邀请越来越被普遍使用。 Example: Our discussions were all about issues such as education and climate change.
2. (Para. 4) It’s also acceptable to include an RSVP notation and your phone number or address on the invitation for more accurate planning.
Analysis: It’s also acceptable to do ? means “It’s also good enough to be received to do ?”
Translation: 如果为了使计划更加周密，也可以在邀请函中加上请回复的字样，以及电话号码或联系地址。
3. (Para. 5) If a “Please reply by” a given date is included in the invitation, be polite enough to reply by that date.
Analysis: If ? is a conditional clause followed by an imperative sentence Translation: 如果邀请函中包括“请于某日之前回复”的字样，则需要在规定日期前回复。
Example: If you choose to invite your guests by phone, remind them again in writing two weeks before the gathering.
Example: It’s acceptable to play tricks on your friends on April 1st.
4. (Para. 6) Never ask to bring a guest unless the invitation states “Mr. Louis Winthorp and Guest.”
Analysis: Never ? unless ? is “double negative”, which means “You can bring a guest if the invitation states ?”
Translation: 如若邀请函上没有说明“邀请某某先生和朋友”，不要向邀请方要 求带同伴。
Example: Some people are never happy unless they are in the limelight showing off.
2 Important Words 1. in advance
before in time 提前 e.g.
Can I sign up for this course in advance?
Quality Buildings usually hire its temporary workers well in advance as the need arises. 2. seminar
n. a small class of usually advanced students meeting to study some subject with a teacher 讨论会，研讨班 e.g.
He I’m very sorry about not setting the seminar on time. There is a computer network seminar tomorrow afternoon. 3. uphold
v. to support, prevent from being weakened or taken away 支持，赞成 e.g.
I want to love as a kind of faith to uphold.
All staff uphold integrity-based quality first principle. 4. image
n. the opinion people have of a person, organization, product etc. 形象 e.g.
The hotel industry is working hard on improving its image. The party has to project the right image. 5. given
a. fixed for a purpose and stated as such 给定的，特定的 e.g.
The work must be done within the given time.
At any given time, the status of technical progress is relatively inflexible. 6. likely
ad. probably 可能 e.g.
I’d very likely have done the same thing in your situation.
As likely as not (very probably), the meeting will take place in the village pub. Passage 2 :
Information Related to the Reading Passage
This is an informal invitation letter between friends. The tone of this letter is casual. The language is not so formal. This kind of informal invitation letter is often written in the first person. For example, “in the hope that it will be possible for you both to spend a few days with us during your stay in England.” “and it would be nice if you could come then, too.” But a formal invitation card is usually written in the third person. Text
An Invitation Letter My dear Michael,
It seems ages since we heard from you — and even longer since you went to work in China. But recently we happened to bump into Charlie Wright at a party, and from him we learnt that you and Lucia will be coming to England over the Christmas holidays. So I am writing straightaway — to make sure this reaches you well before you leave Shanghai — in the hope that it will be possible for you both to spend a few days with us during your stay in England.
I am still teaching English Literature in a university and I am getting well along with my colleagues. I also have some Chinese students here, who are very friendly and intelligent.
I imagine you will be spending Christmas with your parents, but surely you will have some time after that before your Christmas holidays end. We shall be having two
other friends of ours staying with us over the New Year weekend, and it would be nice if you could come then, too. Mike and Rosa Griffiths are old friends and a very nice couple; I’m sure you will like them. They used to live in China, too, so we shall have something in common. And if we get some decent weather, we might all go off one day and visit the Carters — I’m sure we can get Uncle Arthur to lend us his minibus.
There’s not a great deal to report from our end. Mary is well and still enjoying her school teaching (at least, I think so); the children are growing up at a terrifying rate; I am still working for Sanderson’s and like it well enough — though occasionally pining for the footloose days of long ago. But let’s hope you will soon be here to see for yourselves — and help us see the New Year in!
I’d better stop here now; I’m supposed to be spending this evening writing Christmas cards. Write or phone as soon as you can — and come!
Love from us all! Language Points
1 Explanation of Difficult Sentences
1. (Para. 1) It seems ages since we heard from you.
Analysis: It seems ages since ... means “It seems a long time since ...” Translation: 似乎很长时间没有收到你的信了。 Example: It seems ages since I saw you in Shanghai.
2. (Para. 1) So I am writing straightaway — to make sure this reaches you well before you leave Shanghai — in the hope that it will be possible for you both to spend a few days with us during your stay in England.
Analysis: To make sure ... is an adverbial of purpose, and in the hope, a prepositional phrase is used also as an adverbial of purpose.
Translation: 所以我马上写信，好让你在离开上海之前肯定收到这封信——希望你们俩能在英格兰逗留期间和我们一起住几天。
3. (Para. 3) I imagine you will be spending Christmas with your parents, but surely you will have some time after that before your Christmas holidays end.
Analysis: Surely is used to express that someone is certain or almost certain about something.
Translation: 我猜想你将在你的父母家过圣诞节, 但肯定在你的圣诞节假日结束之前还会有一些时间。
Example: These children surely deserve something better than a life on the streets. Example: I am sending this card to you today — to make sure you receive it before the Christmas Day.
4. (Para. 4) I am still working for Sanderson’s and liking it well enough — though occasionally pining for the footloose days of long ago.
Analysis: Sanderson’s here refers to a company implying Sanderson’s company; though is introducing a participle clause pining for ... and serving as the adverbial of concession.
Translation: 我还在桑德森公司工作，而且工作很称心——虽然偶尔我也渴望从前自由自在的日子。
Example: They are working happily with Kent’s, though sometimes pining for the footloose school days. 2 Important Words 1. bump into
to meet somebody by chance 偶然碰到，偶然遇到 e.g.
We bumped into Kate when we were in London last week. She bumped into his tray, knocking the food onto his lap. 2. straightaway
ad. do without delay, especially it has to be done urgently 马上，立刻 e.g.
I’ll come around straightaway with the files. We’d better start work straightaway. 3. colleague