考研英语从2005年开始考查书信作文,迄今为止共考查过几十次。书信作文考查的信件种类繁多,其中建议信是考查最为频繁的信件类型。从考查内容来看,校园学习生活、职业发展、民生热点成为重点考查对象,这一点符合研究生人学考试的要求。因此,考生应熟悉各种主流类型信件的写法,同时要了解有关校园、职场、社会等常见话题的相应表达。
书信是应用文的一种文体,有其独有的格式。考研英语写作评分标准明确指出,考生写的作文必须满足相应格式要求,我们一起来看一下。
首先,英语信件中的称呼应该顶格,称呼中所有单词(连词and/or除外)首字母大写,并以逗号结束(汉语信件以冒号结束)。一般来说,书信作文写作要求中会明确指定收信人;如果没有明确指定,考生应根据实际情况确定收信人。比如,2014年英语(一)书信作文要求中提到“Write a letter of about 100 words to the president of your university”,因此信件中的称呼应为“Dear Mr. President”。
再比如,2011年书信作文要求中提到“Write a letter to a friend of yours to …”,因为没有给出朋友的名字,所以考生可以选取-一个常见的英文名,比如Paul或者Jane,信件中的称呼应为“Dear Paul”或者“Dear Jane” 。
最后来看2007年书信作文,要求部分提到“Write a letter to your university library …"。既然是给图书馆写信,那么收信人应该是馆长或馆长秘书(他/她会转交给馆长)。因为我们无法确定馆长和馆长秘书的性别,也不知道是否还有其他人会先看到这封信,所以保险起见可以将称呼写为“Dear Sir or Madam”或者“To Whom It May Concern”。其中“ToWhom It May Concern”可以理解为“致相关人士”。
通常情况下,正文由三部分组成:写信目的、具体内容和期待回信/祝福语,每部分单独成段。比如,2014年英语(一)书信作文要求如下:
Write a letter of about 100 words to the president of your university,suggesting how toimprove students’ physical condition.You should include the details you think necessary.
You should write neatly on the ANSWER SHEET 2.
Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter.Use“Li Ming”instead.Do not write the address. (10 points)
这道题考查的是建议信,要求以一名普通学生的名义给校长写信,反映学生身体素质差的问题并给出建议。正文首段可以表明写信目的:
I am a student in the university , and 1 want to ask for your attention to the physical conditionof the students here.
正文第二段则应该反映问题并提出建议,比如l:
(反映问题) I have noticed that many of my classmates have become fatter and weaker.(做出评价) These changes are not good for their health.(提出建议) Ⅰ wonder whether theuniversity can do something for them.(具体建议一) I believe it would be useful to make a rule thatany student failing a PE subject cannot graduate.(具体建议二) In addition, it would be much betterif there are more facilities for physical training, such as badminton halls,swimming pools, and so on.
可能不少考生认为给出三条建议才能满足题目要求,其实不一定。首先,书信作文写作要求中并没有明确指出提出几条建议。其次,如果提出三条建议,整封信可能达到120个单词左右,而书信作文答题框无论如何都容纳不下120个单词,所以给出两条建议(及相应细节)也是可行的。正文第三段则应根据写信要求提供相应内容。对于本信件来说,既然是提建议,自然希望建议被采纳,从而实现自己的写信目的,因此可以这样来写:
l believe that with these improvements our students’ physical condition can be largelyimproved.
结束语应另起一段,其一般形式为“Yours sincerely/truly”或“Truly/Sincerely yours”,并以逗号结束。无论采用哪种形式,第一个单词的首字母都需大写。另外,结束语可放在靠近答题框右边的位置(笔者注:结束语放在左边或右边没有硬性规定,本书统一放在右边)。
书信作文写作要求中一般会告知考生用什么名字来署名,所以考生不用去创造一个假名。署名和结束语位于答题框靠右的位置。
l am writing here to …
例:l am writing here to express my concern about the declining physical condition amongour college students.[ 2014年英语(一)】
参考译文:我此次写信的目的是想表达对我们大学生不断下降的身体素质的担忧。
On behalf of …(代表某组织/团体), I am honored that/want to …
例:On behalf of the Students’Union,I am honored that you have chosen to pay a visit toour university. [ 2012年英语(一)】
参考译文:作为学生会代表,我很荣幸你们选择参观我们的大学。
l really appreciate that …(感谢内容)
例:l really appreciate that you have given me a hand during my preparation for IELTSthat my score meets the requirement necessary for the application for Cambridge University.
参考译文:我非常感谢您在我备考雅思期间给予我的帮助,我的雅思成绩达到了申请剑桥大学最低分数要求。
l want to express my/our thanks to you for …(感谢内容)
例:l want to express my thanks to you for helping with my business these days.
参考译文:这些天你帮助我打理生意,我想表达对你的谢意。
l must tell you that …(陈逑事实)
例:l must tell you that your colleagues and you were so hospitalized that I almost felt athome during my stay in your honored school. [ 2010年英语(二)】
参考译文:我要说,您和您的同事对我非常热情,我在贵学院逗留期间感觉像在家里一样。
l must apologize to you for …(道歉缘由)
例:I must apologize to you for losing the books you lent me the last week.
参考译文:我必须向你道歉,因为我把你上周借给我的书弄丢了。
l feel so sorry that …(道歉缘由)
例:I feel so sorry that I can’t come to your birthday party this Saturday.
参考译文:我感到非常抱歉,本周末不能参加你的生日派对。
Everything will be okay./Things will be better.
参考译文:一切都会好/顺利起来的。
l am really concerned/worried about …
例I am really concerned about your parents’health condition.
参考译文:我非常关心您父母的健康。
I’d like to know if/when/where/how …
例1:I’d like to know if you got better over the past few days.
参考译文:我想知道你这几天身体有没有好一些。
例2:I’d like to know how’s your progress in the final-test preparation.
参考译文:我想知道你期末考试准备得如何。
How could …? (……怎么能做出这种事/说出这种话?)
例:How could you deliver me a bottle of expired milk that might do harm to my body?
参考译文:你们怎么可以给我寄一瓶可能对身体有害的过期牛奶?
I’ve never met …(我从来没有碰到过这样的事/人。)
例:I’ve never met such a mean person who enjoy finding faults with others.
参考译文:我从来没遇见过如此喜欢挑别人毛病的刻薄之人。
To be frank/honest,… (坦白说,暗示表达不同意见)
To be frank, I don’t like the arrangement our school has come to.
参考译文:坦白说,我不喜欢我们学校这次做出的安排。
To tell you the truth,…
例:To tell you the truth , quite a few books kept in our school library have become old andoutdated in content.
参考译文:说实话,我校图书馆收藏的不少书籍都很老旧,内容也已经过时。
There must be something wrong.
参考译文:一定有什么不对的地方。
lt is really disappointing to find that …
例:It is really disappointing to find that the button START of the e-dictionary becomestight after a few days’ use.
参考译文:这款电子词典的“开始”按钮在使用几日后变得很紧,这令人非常失望。
l am much disappointed that …
例:l am much disappointed that our school team failed to reach the final.
参考译文:我对校队未能进入决赛感到很失望。
It makes me angry that …
例:It made me angry that there was a dead fly stuck to the rice sold by our school canteenyesterday.
参考译文:我们学校食堂昨天卖的米饭上粘着一只死苍蝇,这一点让我非常生气。
I feel very happy that you have just been admitted to one of the best Americanuniversities.
参考译文:你刚刚被美国最好的大学之一录取,我为此感到由衷的喜悦。
lt is exciting to know/realize that …
例lt is exciting to know that Shenzhou Spacecraft No.8 has been successfully launched.
参考译文:得知神舟八号航天飞船顺利发射,我很兴奋。
l hope/wish you could …
例:l hope you could review my resumé at your earliest convenience.
参考译文:我希望如果方便的话,您能尽早看看我的简历。
l am looking forward to your …
例:I am looking forward to your reply.
参考译文:我期待您的回信。
l shall be glad to hear from you soon.
参考译文:我希望能很快收到您的信。