English for Everyday Activities 55-57

55. Using an Answering Machine

• Tom recorded an outgoing message on his mechine. 汤姆在他的机器上记录了一条外发消息。
• When Jenny called , she heard the message…
• …and left her own message for him.
• When Tom got home,he saw a light showing that he had a message.
• He pressed the button to play the message.
• As he listened to it…
• …he took some notes.
• Then he erased the message.

56. Writing a Personal Letter

I took out some paper to write to my friend.

• I wrote the date and a greeting at the top.
• I apologized for not writing sooner…
• …and I wrote about what I’d been doing.
• As I wrote,I re-read her last letter to me.
• I answered questions she had asked…
• …and I asked her about herself.
• Then I wrote a closing…
• …and signed the letter

57. Mailing a Letter

• I enclose 附上 围 圈 封入 附寄 some pictures.
• I fold up my letter…
• …and put it in the envelop/ɪnˈvɛɫəp/ with the pictures.
• I write my friend’s address in the middle of the envelop and my return address at the upper left.
• I seal密封 封 封闭 封口 查封 打印 the envelope.
• I don’t know how much postage邮资 邮费 I need.So I take the letter to the post office.
• I stand in line.
• When it’s my turn…
• …I go to the window.
• I ask the clerk书记 营业员 how much postage I need.
• He asks me how I want the letter to go…
• …and weighs称重 the letter.
• I buy enough stamps for the postage.
• I lick舔 舐 the stamps…
• …and stick them on the envelope.
• I put the letter in the mailbox.