下面是一篇“请求信”。考生不但要体会陈述理由的技巧，还要学会如何表达感谢和希望。推荐这道题目给读者，是希望读者体会在朋友之间写信时，客气和信任是一种主基调。其中的if条件句可经常使用，不但可以缓和语气，而且让句式更富于变化。

2009年1月15日原题重现：

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 （这比使用thank you.更为地道和真诚；比使用I would like to express my gratitude.更为简洁，更适合笔者的身份。）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（条件状语从句是书信中最受推崇的句型。使用它可以向收信人委婉的提出建议。）. 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（另一种表达请求的方式。礼貌而且自然）. 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.

参考译文：

真得很感谢你答应帮我照顾我的小甜心，Betty。此外，为了方便你的安排，我想告诉你关于Betty的饮食习惯以及她会在我出差这段时间将参加一些活动。

像大多数女孩子一样，Betty也喜欢吃甜食，但是请一定不要给她太多的糖果和冰淇淋。此外，她对葱和辣椒过敏，因此如果你们烹饪这类食物请不要让她吃。因为现在是暑假，所以Betty不用去上学。但是，周一、周三的下午5点至7点我安排她和一个钢琴老师学琴。届时，麻烦你接送她去钢琴老师的家。老师的家就在你的小区5楼4门。如果你们给Betty买了什么，等我回来后请一定要让我来支付。

我后天就要去中国了。如果一切按计划进行，这次旅行预计7天，我将会在4月10日返回。要是你方便，我将会在那天晚上8点钟左右去接Betty。再一次感谢您的慷慨，希望你们过得愉快。

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