四、各类活动（activities）

1.约会（date）

约会是人们日常交际中重要的活动。当我们需要和别人一起参加某项活动，或拜访他人，就应当征求别人的意见，提前约定：

would dr. norman be able to see me at nine sharp tonight？（今天晚上九点诺曼医生有时间见我吗？）

alice， do you happen to be free this afternoon？（爱丽丝，你今天下午有空吗？）

i was wondering if you were doing anything on saturday evening？ （星期六晚上您是否有空？）

how about going on a hike tomorrow？ （去踏青，好吗？）

should i make an appointment with you for the next few days？（以后几天我还需要和你预约吗？）

对别人的邀请，我们应该先表示感谢，然后表明我们的态度，接受或者不接受。如果我们不能接受，就应向对方委婉表明缘故，并感谢对方的好意。

在英语中，我们可以经常这样说：

oh， surely i can， i‘d really appreciate it.（哦，当然可以，我非常乐意！）

that‘s settled then.（就这么定了。）

i‘d love to， but i……（我很想去，但是……）

我们也可以从下面的对话中体会：

a： good morning. doctor croat‘s office. can i help you？

b： i‘d like to make an appointment to see the dentist.

a： let me see. i can arrange for you to see the doctor in a week.

b： can‘t i see him tomorrow？

a： i‘m afraid you cant. the dentist is very busy these days.2.观光和旅游（visit and tour）

此类对话多为介绍性或喜好类内容，如介绍一个景点的特色、对某件纪念品的喜好等。其中涉及的内容较多，考核范围较广。

weve arranged for to visit the terracotta warriors. （我们为你安排了参观兵马俑。）

the exhibits are a feast for eyes.（这些展品使我大开眼界。）

i‘m impressed by this piece of work.（这些作品给我印象颇深。）

please give me some of your tourist brochures.（请给我一些你们的旅游资料。）

would you please tell me some of the attractions here.（可否介绍我一些这儿的名胜？）

is it worthwhile to see the ancient city？（此古城很值一看吗？）

what time do we depart？（我们什么时候出发？）

show your admission tickets， please！（请出示门票。）

请体会下面的对话：

a： oh， darling. our vacations coming tomorrow.

b： yeah， it‘s just wonderful！ so， do you have any plan for it？

a： umm， how about take a trip to hawaii？

b： hawaii‘s too hot for us to bear， my dear.

a： then， how about go to hong kong？

b： how can you think about that？ there is nothing interesting in hong kong！

a： but， but……swheresdo you really like to go？

b： beijing， my little sweetheart. do you know why？

a： i got it. because its so near to our home.3.商业往来（business）

商业往来是少见的一个特定场合，其词汇需要牢记，固定搭配如cut down， go up要熟悉。同时，商业往来多是很正式的谈判，要注意说话者的语气，以求更好地应付。

please have a look at these samples！（请看样品。）

we have the widest selections in the whole city.（我们拥有这整个城市最齐全的货品。）

our prices are the most reasonable.（我们的价格是最合理的。）

how much have they gone up？（上涨了多少？）

we can offer you better discount terms.（我们可以向你提供更为合理的折扣。）

i‘ve come to talk about the feasibility of a joint venture.（我来是为了商谈合资经营的可能性。）

we can cut down the price for you， how about two percent？（我们可以给你减价百分之二，怎么样？）

after signing the contract， lets have a drink to celebrate the successful cooperation.（签完合同后，让我们喝一杯以庆祝我们的合作愉快。）

its a pleasure to do business with you. （和你做生意是一件快乐的事情。）

请体会下面的对话：

a： ok， here were seated for our business.swheresis your sample？

b： here you are. you see that we can offer a wider selection than any others.

a： maybe you are right， but the prices here seem a little unreasonable.

b： we have to increase our prices， you know， because of the depression of oil market.

a： really？

b： sure，……and surely we can still cut down the price for you， our old trade partner. two percent， is it ok？

a： it sounds much better this time. ohm， ok， its done.

b： it‘s done. and i must say that it？？s a great pleasure to do business with you. so， how about have a drink？

a： to celebrate the successful cooperation？ interesting. ok， let‘s go.