中科院英语听说教程《轻松听轻松说》(上册)听力原文及答案-Unit 9.docVIP

UNIT 9 Please Do Me a Favor Making Requests and Attracting Attention Introduction Getting people to do things involves a number of different tasks. People may first try to attract your attention when they want to ask you to do something. You may want to agree to do it or to refuse. Be careful to be polite when you refuse a request. North Americans often give an excuse in order not to hurt the listener’s feelings. When you want someone to do something for you, there are many English expressions you can use. Some of these expressions are too polite for some situations. Other expressions sound rude in particular situations. The right expression to use depends on: A How difficult, unpleasant or urgent the task is, and B Who you are and who you’re talking to—the roles you’re playing. Imagine what would happen in an urgent situation if you spOKe with too much politeness to a dog’s owner when his dog was biting your arm: “Sorry to bother you, but I wonder if you could possibly...” What would it be like to ask a favor from an important man whom you didn’t know well by saying: “Got a smOKe?” The latter would probably feel much slighted and unhappy while the man’s best friend could probably say this with no problem. Answers to the Questions: 1. Excuses are given when a request is refused in order not to hurt the listener’s feelings. 2. The right expression depends on two things: One, the nature of the task, and two, the role you’re playing. 3. “Help!” or “Watch your dog.” Background Information: It should be noted that many different functions may be used at the same time. In some functional boOKs, requesting others to do something and asking for permission are not distinguished In this boOK, they are distinguished. See the introduction of the next chapter, “Is it OK if I...?” for the distinction . They are broadly put under the category of “asking for help”, to which the function of “offering to help” is closely related. Before asking for help, people may try to “attract