uchebnik_dlya_aspirantov

COMMUNICATIVE PRACTICE

TASK: Write a letter to James Smith, MTI postgraduate, USA in which you acknowledge the receipt of his letter, apologize for not sending the reprint he asked about until now. Explain the reason (you were away on business) and enclose the copy of the reprint. Express hope for further cooperation.

Unit 4. Letters of Inquiry

A letter of inquiry asks a person to supply certain information or knowledge.

TASK: Read the samples and highlight the phrases that express inquiry. Letter 1

Dear colleagues,

Our Institute is running a series of experiments on … According to our preliminary data we have come to the conclusion that … .

Professor … , who works in your Institute, was kind enough to inform me of the results obtained in his laboratory. He also mentioned that you were experimenting on … .

I would like very much to compare our data with those obtained by you. Would you be willing to inform me how satisfactory they proved to be.

I am particularly interested in the following issues:

………………………………………………………………………….

I shall appreciate any information you can possibly provide and look forward to the opportunity to return the favour.

Thank you in advance for a favourable reply to my inquiry. Yours sincerely,

Name

Letter 2

Dear Professor …,

Our laboratory intends to start a research centered on X-ray structural analysis of different biological substances. We are planning to investigate the influence of particle additions on the polypeptide crystal structure.

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Meanwhile, we have started collecting publications on this subject. With this purpose in mind we are writing to inquire whether you would be able to provide us with a list of references or with any information available.

I would very much appreciate it if you consider my request. We would like to maintain scientific collaboration with your laboratory and exchange data and information on research results.

We hope you will also be interested in such contacts. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience I have caused you.

I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely yours,

Name

Chief of the Sander’s Laboratories

Letter 3

Dear Dr. …,

In the journal … I’ve read your paper entitled …. The results obtained are interesting, and the investigation methods are excellent. I would like to follow your methods in my work, but there are some steps that are not quite clear to me. I am writing to inquire whether it would be possible to visit your laboratory, so that I could work there, say for a month, and learn about your techniques in more detail. In return, it would be a great pleasure to invite you to work in my laboratory for an equal period of time or longer.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely,

Name

How many phrases have you highlighted? Which of them do you find most helpful in letter writing?

Here are some phrases and sentences to make an inquiry:

–May I inquire why … .

–I wish to inquire about … .

–I would like to ask if … .

–I hope you will give attention to my inquiry on …

TASKS:

1. Write a letter of inquiry in which you:

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a)present the subject and the purpose of your inquiry;

b)make an inquiry;

c)express your appreciation for the information you hope to receive.

4.1. Favourable Replies

TASK: Now read the samples and highlight the phrases that express a favourable reply to an inquiry:

Letter 1

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am very glad to know that you are also doing experiments in … It gives me great pleasure to send you the data I have obtained. We have chosen these stimulants for several reasons:

………………………………………………………………………..

I hope you find this information useful. In return I would much appreciate it if you send me your reprint of … .

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to write to me.

With best wishes, Name

Letter 2

Dear Dr. …,

Returning to your letter of April 7, we have the pleasure to inform you that we have received two copies of the proofs of your paper.

Yours sincerely, Editor-in-chief

How many phrases have you highlighted? Which of them do you find most helpful in letter writing?

Here are some more samples of favourable replies to inquiries:

–In reply to your inquiry of (date) I am glad to inform you that … .

–It gives me great pleasure to send you… . If I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to contact me.

–In accordance with your inquiry of …, I am delighted to send you a

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list of references and data on … .

TASK: Write a letter in which you:

a)acknowledge the receipt of the letter of (date);

b)provide information about the inquiry;

c)express hope that the sender of the inquiry is satisfied with the information provided;

d)express your willingness to be helpful in the future.

4.2. Unfavourable Replies

TASK: Read the samples and highlight the phrases that express an unfavourable reply to an inquiry:

Letter 1

Dear colleagues,

Your letter of November 12 has reached me only today. I very much regret to inform you that I am unable to provide the information you requested. Our laboratory stopped experimenting in … three years ago. If you are interested in the results of our work, please consult the Physiological Review, v. 36, No. 3, July 2013.

Furthermore, I received a reprint from Dr. M. who deals with … and if you wish you may use my name when writing to him.

If I can be of any help to you in the future, do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely. Name

Letter 2

Dear Professor …,

It was a pleasure to receive your letter of August 3 in which you asked me to send you a list of references and the data available on … .

As far as the reference list is concerned, I will be delighted to send it to you. Regarding the experimental data, however, I’m afraid I will be unable to provide this information to you since our data are only preliminary and require verification. We are looking forward to the publication of our paper in the Biophysics Journal. I can send you a reprint and its English translation as soon as it is published.

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In your letter you suggest establishing scientific contacts through the exchange of data and information. We entirely support this idea and are willing to share materials available in our laboratory. Under a separate cover I am sending you two reprints that, in my opinion, would be of interest to you. Moreover, an exchange of visits to both countries and a further exchange of publications would be greatly appreciated.

I hope the reference list is just what you need and it will be of help to you. If I can be of further assistance, please contact me.

Sincerely yours, Name

Enclosure: reference list

How many phrases have you highlighted? Which of them do you find most helpful in letter writing?

Here are some more phrases used to make an unfavourable reply to an inquiry:

–I am very sorry to inform you that I am unable to … .

–I am awfully sorry that I cannot comply with your inquiry ….

–I regret not being in a position to comply with your inquiry on ... .

TASKS:

1.Write a letter in which you:

a)express appreciation for the inquiry;

b)give the reason why you are not able to be of any help;

c)suggest an alternative.

2.Write a letter in which you:

a)acknowledge the receipt of the letter (date) …;

b)express regret that you are not able to be of any help;

c)express willingness to offer assistance in the future.

COMMUNICATIVE PRACTICE

TASK: When looking through the “Physical Review” journal you came across a paper that was of great interest to you. You need additional information on the problem discussed. Write to the author and ask for more details.

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Unit 5. Letters of Thanks

On receiving invitations, papers, reprints, books or valuable information you should send a letter of thanks, gratitude or appreciation to confirm their receipt.

TASK: Read the samples and highlight the phrases and sentences expressing thanks, gratitude and appreciation:

Letter 1

Dear Dr. …,

I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 6 and express my gratitude for sending me your book. It is of great help to me.

Yours sincerely, Name

Letter 2

Dear Dr. …,

We acknowledge the receipt of your letter of June 6, 2014 and thank you very much for the paper under the title … .

Yours sincerely, Name

Letter 3

Dear Mr. …,

I am very happy to know that my paper …, was published in November’s issue of your journal. Thank you very much for sending me the reprint of my paper.

Sincerely yours, Name

Letter 4

Dear Dr. …,

I wish to thank you for your kind letter of April 23.I am happy to inform you that we have used your method of cultivating unicellular algae and the results are remarkable. As soon as I complete the graphs and tables, I will send them to you for comparison.

You can hardly realize how much I appreciate the data you sent me

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via Prof. …. She has given me a short outline of the work you are carrying out in your laboratory at the moment. She is a very charming person and I enjoyed the talks and discussions that we had.

I look forward to seeing you at the Colloquium in August. Yours sincerely,

Name

Letter 5

Dear Dr. …,

I am very grateful to you for your letter of May 5 in which you invite me to attend the XI International Congress on Nanostructures.

I have recently completed a series of experiments on … . The results obtained are beyond all our expectations. The subject of my presentation could be … . I believe it is within the scope of this Congress.

Looking forward to seeing you soon. Sincerely,

Name

How many phrases have you highlighted? Which of them do you find most helpful in letter writing?

Here are some of the phrases to acknowledge the receipt of letters and expressing gratitude for valuable information:

–We are glad/pleased to receive your letter of February 4 ….

–It was a great pleasure to receive your letter of April 10, … .

–It is so kind of you to send me … .

–I am delighted that you sent … .

–I am much obliged to you for sending me … .

–I wish to thank you very much for your kind letter of … .

–We thank you very much for … .

–Many thanks for your letter of June 7.

–I am most grateful to you for sending me … .

–Thank you so much for … .

TASKS:

1.Write a letter in which you:

a)acknowledge the receipt of the letter of (date);

b)express your gratitude to Dr. … for an invitation to the conference

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to be held in July in New York;

c)express hope to meet him at the conference.

2.Write a letter in which you:

a)acknowledge the receipt of the letter of (date);

b)express thanks for sending the reprint of the paper.

3.Write a letter in which you:

a)acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the journal …;

b)write that on completing your experimental investigation you will contribute another paper to this journal for publication.

COMMUNICATIVE PRACTICE

TASK: In response to your inquiry you have received a letter from the Editorial Board informing about the deadline to submit your paper. Acknowledge the receipt of the information and assure that the paper will be sent on time.

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MODULE 5. GRAMMAR SECTION

Unit 1. The Passive Voice

1. Identify the passive structures and translate the sentences into Russian as shown in the following examples

1.1. Example: The problem was discussed last week.

a) Эта проблема была обсуждена на прошлой неделе. b) Эта проблема обсуждалась на прошлой неделе.

c) Эту проблему обсудили на прошлой неделе.

1.The statistical theory has been developed quite recently.

2.The entire industrial and agricultural structure of our life is determined by our scientific knowledge.

3.Much time and effort have been devoted to the development of electric driven equipment of light weight, small size and moderate cost.

4.In ordinary air the initial electrons and ions are continuously supplied by ionization due to cosmic rays and radioactive radiation.

5.Mathematics is loved by many, disliked by a few, admired and respected by all.

1.2.Example: Some words may be added about the course of the reaction.

Можно добавить несколько слов о ходе этой реакции.

1.In connection with these facts many pressing problems must be solved.

2.This less-well-known fact needs to be told and the average citizen should be informed about it.

3.Atomic energy finds such a wide application that our age can be called the age of atom.

4.The special case derivations should be provided.

5.This problem cannot be dealt with unless more precise experimental data are received.

1.3. Example: It was found that the substance was radioactive.

Было установлено, что это вещество радиоактивно.

1.It is assumed that the derivative has a constant value.

2.It was thought that the cells passed two main phases during their growth.

3.It is believed that in many instances the explanations have been

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clarified.

4.It has been discovered that some elements have isotopes – the forms in which the nucleus can have more than one mass.

5.It must be admitted that the problem of classification can be approached from different viewpoints.

1.4. Example: To support this idea reliable evidence was obtained.

Были получены надежные доказательства в поддержку этой идеи.

1.The largest disagreement between the various data is discussed.

2.The new technique has been developed.

3.The new data base has been created.

4.A new hypothesis concerning the mechanism of this reaction has been suggested.

5.Numerous classifications have been used.

2. Identify the passive structures followed by a preposition and translate the sentences into Russian as shown in the following examples

2.1. Example: Old traditions cannot be easily done away with.

От старых традиций нельзя легко отказаться.

1.This theory has been referred to.

2.The quality of the instruments used can be safely relied upon.

3.Many materials now in common use were not even thought of 30 years ago.

4.Some of the data obtained cannot be relied upon, others have not been published yet.

5.The two basic principles of selecting samples for the experiment were insisted on.

6.The molecules of even a good insulator are acted upon by an electric field.

7.With some phenomena of nature any precise quantitative data are impossible and the judgment of the observer must be relied on.

8.The astonishing observational results obtained by the international group of astronomers were spoken about at the conference.

9.For more detailed report the reader is referred to the preliminary notes on subject.

10.The starting date of the experiment should be agreed upon.

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