passage

The government claimed to commit itself to improving health care卫生保健 The president said that once he had committed to this course of action（做法） there was no going back.
Text-related information
The customs of inviting friends vary from country to country. Generally speaking, on formal occasions, the invitation is usually made well in advance. But as for some informal cases, the invitation is usually made orally. To either of these two invitations, the person being invited should give a clear reply whether the invitation is accepted or not.
4. instance
n. certain situation, circumstance or occasion, case or example 情况，情形，事例
FOR EXAMPLE • • There have been several recent instances of planes taking off without adequate safety checks. I don’t usually side with（支持） the management, but in this instance I agree with what they’re saying.
a relative clause used to modify something
2. For example, if you say that you’re free and the invitation turns out to be something you’d hate to do, then you’ll be in a position to take back your acceptance or invent an excuse later.
Practical English for Communication
If this happens, tell the person who invites you that you have to check and
that you’ll tell him or her later. If an
the invitation turns out to be something you’d hate to do (a trip to a local sight you’ve seen ten times), then
you will be in a position to take back your acceptance
Example:
Once he starts a job he won’t stop until it’s finished.
Don’t move until I tell you.
在你尚未弄清楚邀请的具体内容之前，你没有必要 答应一定参加。
Practical English for Communication
Difficult Sentences
1. (Para. 1) ..., you are not required to commit yourself until you know what the invitation is for.
the sentence pattern not... until... means not before a particular time or event.
Be in a position can take either an infinitive clause or an of-Ving phrase, thus be in a position of having to take back... can be also rewritten as be in a position to take back ...
•
•
Her remarks were considerate and very appropriate to the situation.
This isn’t an appropriate occasion to discuss finance.
Practical English for Communication
Practical English for Communication
Intensive Study
Text
Difficult Sentences Important Words
Practical English for Communication
Intensive Study
Are You Really Being Invited? Para. 1 If someone asks if you are free at a certain
•
In the local industry, for instance, 5 000 jobs are being
lost.
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(Para. 3) In many instances it is the inviter who pays.
Unit Two
Passage I
Are You Really Being Invited
Practical English for Communication
Passage I
Related Information
Intensive Study Practice
Practical English for Communication
or invent an excuse later.
Practical English for Communication
Important Words
mit v. entrust, hand over, make oneself responsible 使承担（保证），使作出保证；把…交托给
dinner, coffee, a drink, etc., sometimes
present problems, and the customs vary
in different parts of the United States.
Practical English for Communication
Practical English for Communication
3. appropriate a. proper, suitable 合适的，恰当的 FOR EXAMPLE • • • I didn’t think his comments were very appropriate at the time. I’ve been invited to her wedding but I haven’t got anything appropriate to wear. Her thin shoes weren't appropriate for such muddy paths.
This emphatic sentence takes structure of “it is...who/that…” the
Practical English for Communiceone asks you to his or her home, it is very clear who is the guest and who is the host, but
invitations to restaurants for lunch,
FOR EXAMPLE • I think I can come tonight but I won’t commit myself till I know for sure.
•
• •
If you want to be an actor you have to really commit yourself to it.
Para. 3 In many instances it is the inviter who
pays,
as one would expect, but in some
instances each one pays his or her own check: You “go Dutch.” This is often the case with friends in informal situations, such as “Let’s go and get a beer” or “Want a cup of
time and invites you to an event, you are not required to commit yourself until you know what the invitation
is for.
For example, if you say that you’re free and
invitation sequence must would be refused, be most
people expect a reason. The following
appropriate:
apology, reason for refusal, thanks for
the invitation.
Practical English for Communication
2. invent v. discover and create something new
发明，设计 ，编造
FOR EXAMPLE
• • • • The first safety razor（安全剃刀） was invented by the company founder King C. Gillette （吉列）in 1903. The fax is arguably（可论证地） the most useful machine to have been invented since the telephone. Over the past quarter century （四分之一）our advertising company has invented thousands of catchphrases. I didn't invent the story . Everything I told you is true.
coffee?”
In some parts of the country,
however, some people like to entertain friends by taking them to a restaurant for dinner instead of having dinner at home. Practical English for Communication
Example: If you list a few priorities, then you will be in a position to do things in the right order of priority.
比如说，如果你说有空，而邀请参加的却是你不愿意 做的事 ( 到你已经去过 10 次的当地景点旅游 ), 那么 你就可以回绝邀请，或者以后再编一个借口。