Unit 2
Giving Thanks and Expressing Regret

Talking Face to Face
Speak More by Yourself
Sample 1

 

Dear Mr.Smith:
We’d like to give you our heart-felt thanks for all the time you spent during the summer in coaching our school basketball team. Your enthusiasm, model sportsman-like behavior and team spirit have a deep impression on us. The progress our basketball team has made and our recent victory at the Inter-college Tournament owe much to your kind help.
Sincerely yours,
Chang Jun

 

Sample 2

 

Dear Larry:
Christmas time is here once more, and soon it will be time again to bring in the new year. We wish the merriest of Christmas to you and all your loved ones. We’d also like to take the opportunity to give our sincere thanks to you for all the help you’ve given us in our English study. In the year ahead, we wish you happiness and success. We’ll toast to you on this special white Christmas in China
Yours sinerely,
Fang

 

Read aloud the following dialogues based on the posters provided above. Choose the best answer to fill in the blanks. You can practice role-play with your partner, changing the information accordingly.

Dialogue 1

(Mr.Smith is an Englishman. He volunteered to be a basketball coach for ChangJun and his teammates last summer.)
Chang:  Good morning, Mr.Smith. How nice to see you again!
Smith:   Hi, Chang. How are you and your basketball team?
Chang:  Both are fine. And I have    A     news for you about our basketball team.
Smith:  Really? What is it?
Chang:  We have won     B     in the Provincial Tournament.
Smith:   Oh, great! Congratulations!
Chang:  Thank you, Mr.Smith. This is all because of your kind help.
Smith:   Actually    C     an excellent one.
Chang:  Yeah. But your help is crucial to our progress and the final victory!
Smith:  Thank you for your kind words. To be honest, I very much    D    
Chang: We did ,too. And we benefit a lot from your model Sportsman-like behavior and team spirit. Could you    E      this coming winter vacation?
Smith:  Sure, my pleasure.

A. enjoyed being with all of you
B. coach us again
C.. the final match
D. a piece of good
E. your team has been

 

Key:  1. D     2. C     3. E     4. A    5. B

Dialogue 2

(Larry is an Australian. He is teaching English in China this year. Now his student, Fang, is giving him seasonal greetings and best wishes for a merry Chinese Christmas.)
Fang:   Hello, Larry! Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Larry:  Thank you, Fang. This Christmas is special to me.
Fang:   Special?       A    in China?
Larry:  Yes. And also the first time for me to see snow during the Christmas season. You know it’s summer now in Australia.
Fang:   Oh,       B     I have a small present for you!
Larry:  That’s very kind of you, Fang. And I have a card for you.
Fang:  Thanks. Larry, I’d also     C    you for all the help you’ve given us in our English study.
Larry:  It’s been my greatest pleasure to be with all of you    D     of the classroom.
Fang:  Yeah, we really have had a good time together.  By the way, there will be 
   E  this evening. Please do come. We’ll drink a toast to you.
Larry:  Oh, thank you for your hospitality. I’ll be very happy to come.

 

A.best wishes for a real white Christmas.;

B. like to say thanks to
C. Do you mean this is your first Christmas;
D. a party at our department; both inside and outside
E. Both inside and outside

Key:
1. C   2. A   3. B   4.E   5.D