LESSON 46: HOW TO DECLINE AN INVITATION?--怎样谢绝邀请？

CONTENTS

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS 常用语

II. SAMPLE 范文

III. TIPS 掌握写作要领

IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS 精通常用词组和句型

V. UPGRADING YOUR ENGLISH 英语升级

VI. GOODIES & GIFTS 实用小礼物

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
常用语

1. How to start your letter?

Thank you for your invitation to speak before your fund-raising committee.

I sincerely appreciate your inviting me to the presentation at the 1998 Trade Fair.

I appreciate your invitation to participate next month in Online Marketing Workshop as the speaker on Web design.

I would like to express my appreciation for your asking me to speak at the ______ Seminar.

2. How to tell the recipient that you can't accept his/her invitation?

Unfortunately, I have been scheduled to lead a production meeting on the same day.

Although I think the entire day would be most worthwhile, I have a previous commitment and thus cannot attend the conference at this time.

However, our firm focuses on handheld products exclusively, and we don't sell components for desktop systems.

Unfortunately, I will be visiting the company's overseas service centers during the seminar and cannot break away even for a day, so I will have to decline the invitation.

3. How to end your letter?

If you have other workshops in the future that will feature the same subject, I would be glad to speak, schedule permitting.

If we do decide to sell desktop products, we will be sure to contact you.

We wish you good luck with your new product and thank you for thinking of us.



II. SAMPLE
范文

Dear ____________:

Thank you for inviting me to talk about the latest development in the production of healthy food at next month's FMA Seminar. I would like very much to join the discussion and offer my own views to business people and professionals.

Unfortunately, I've got to go to Mexico next month to visit some of our factories. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the seminar.

If you plan to have other seminars in the future that will feature the same subject, I would be glad to speak, schedule permitting. Thanks again for the invitation.

Sincerely yours,



______________[name]
______________[title]



III. TIPS
掌握写作要领

1. Thank the recipient for inviting you.
2. Tell the recipient why you are not able to accept the invitation.
3. If you feel so, tell the recipient that you would be glad to have another opportunity.
4. Express good will and thank the recipient again for the invitation.



IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS
精通常用词组和句型

Fill in the blanks with words chosen from the list below. Add capitalization when necessary:

sure, thus, unfortunately, express, happy, your, could, opportunity, other, such

Dear ___________:

I would like to (1) my appreciation for (2) inviting me to speak at your seminar on new developments in handheld appliances.

I am (3) it would be a wonderful (4) for me to discuss (5) an interesting topic with your young engineer. (6) , I have a previous commitment and (7) cannot help at this time. I would be (8) to speak if you (9) give me an opportunity at some (10) time.

Thank you again for your invitation.

Yours sincerely,



____________[name]
____________[title]




V. UPGRADING YOUR ENGLISH
英语升级


Here are some simple exercises that help you practice with authentic "online" English.
1. Click on a word or phrase that fits the sentence:

  1. The reward for filling _____ this survey is a free copy of Office 2000.
    (A) in
    (B) out
    (C) off
    (D) at

  2. Both countries are stepping _____ research into the Y2K problem despite an acute shortage of funds and a lack of knowledge about how to detect the problem.
    (A) on
    (B) up
    (C) out
    (D) in

  3. You can get a free PC if you can ______ ads and spend your time filling up surveys.
    (A) get on with
    (B) make away with
    (C) take up with
    (D) put up with

  4. Leading manufacturers of flat-panel computer displays planned to raise prices _____ 30 percent in the April-June period as market conditions recovered.
    (A) so much as
    (B) as much to
    (C) as much as
    (D) in much of

  5. The two companies said they will team _____ to equip homes for full networking which will link all digital devices.
    (A) up
    (B) together
    (C) in
    (D) none

  6. The Internet is the fastest growing area for software piracy, _____ could cost software companies as much as $1 billion a year.
    (A) that
    (B) it
    (C) which
    (D) what

  7. You'll have free e-mail and free Net access if you have high tolerance ______ advertising.
    (A) on
    (B) in
    (C) for
    (D) with

  8. Federal securities regulators approved a rule allowing companies to release data on their Web sites _____ traditional news media.
    (A) with
    (B) on
    (C) over
    (D) through

  9. The company is _____ up its efforts to develop an interactive television product that may be launched as early as the third quarter of 1999.
    (A) stepping
    (B) stamping
    (C) stressing
    (D) spending

  10. The leading computer chip maker teamed up _____ the top toy manufacturer to produce a unique new product that could change the way kids have fun.
    (A) none
    (B) to
    (C) at
    (D) with




2. Click on a choice that best explains the highlighted word or phrase in the sentence:

  1. When you read in the paper that the annoying itch on your ankle may be a sign of a brain tumor, take it with a grain of salt.
    (A) pay special attention to it
    (B) give careful consideration to it
    (C) keep it to yourself
    (D) don't just blindly accept it

  2. The judge will decide whether a federal law designed to keep online pornography away from children violates free speech guarantees or is a permissible way to keep tabs on potentially harmful material.
    (A) eliminate potentially harmful material
    (B) keep a watch over potentially harmful material
    (C) forbid people to download potentially harmful material
    (D) expose potentially harmful material

  3. Easter Air Lines has imposed a surcharge in an effort to encourage people to book their tickets on its Internet site.
    (A) discount
    (B) price hike
    (C) additional charge
    (D) price reduction

  4. The Internet auctioneer company said it would work with law enforcement officials investigating possible fraud in sales conducted on its site, but stressed it was not liable for such actions.
    (A) was not legally responsible for such actions
    (B) was not involved in such actions
    (C) had not been aware of such actions
    (D) was not attempting to cover up such actions

  5. In public libraries, access to adult Web sites will be blocked on some computer terminals in an effort to keep curious minors from seeing pornography on the Internet.
    (A) people belonging to an ethic minority
    (B) pre-school children
    (C) people who are low in social status
    (D) people under full legal age

  6. Web browsers are fending off a swarm of bugs this week, ranging from minor technical glitches to a major security hole.
    (A) negligence
    (B) draw backs
    (C) minor defects
    (D) miscalculations

  7. The 1998 performance of key firms in the electronics sector is likely to have been hit by a sluggish global chip industry.
    (A) developing unsteadily
    (B) moving slowly
    (C) chaotic
    (D) seriously in trouble

  8. The company plans to introduce about 100 cutting edge computer games later this year in an attempt to solidify its hold in the United States.
    (A) of most advanced technology
    (B) whose prices have been reduced
    (C) of excellent quality
    (D) very competitive

  9. The world's leading online services suspended their contentious electronic debate last month.
    (A) open to the public
    (B) causing a lot of argument and disagreement
    (C) not approved by the authorities
    (D) chaotic and noisy

  10. The article says people who are obsessed with business on the Net will lose touch with reality.
    (A) scared of business on the Net
    (B) ignoring business on the Net
    (C) blind to the potential of business on the Net
    (D) excessively enthusiastic about business on the Net




VI. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
GOODIES & GIFTS （实惠小礼物）

A Ready-Made Letter for You

Decline an Invitation to a Product Presentation

Dear __________:

I appreciate your inviting me to the presentation of your new audio-visual systems on _________[date]. However, our firm is no longer selling audio-visual equipment. We are concentrating on photographic equipment.

Thank you again for thinking of us. We wish you every success with your new products.

Sincerely yours,



__________[name]
__________[title]