Writing a formal letter about GM food

UNIT3

What is GM Food?

GM food stands for genetically modified food (or GE food). It can be defined as altering ( 改变 )the genetic make-up （天性 ） of a living organism（生物体 ） by using a particular method to transfer （转移 ） one or more genes from one organism to another.  Through this process ,the quality, the nutrient （营养的 ） value, the apparance ,and the resistance against pest of the plant will increase.

GM technologyGenetically modified food

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More information about

GM food

The tast of things of come

The age of GM food has arrived. Now you can take your medicine in an apple, eat only fish to get all the nutrition （营养 ） that you need and eat as much chocolate as you like without getting fat. This new generation of food has a longer shelf life （保质期 ） , and is cheaper and not as easily affected by disease.

GM farmers are producing so much extra food that they can donate a lot to hungry people around the world. This is one revolution （革命 ） that is sure to ‘taste’ food.

GM food takes first victim

Concerns over the safety of GM food are increasing after the pet mouse of a teenager in Manchester died after eating biscuits . The biscuits were made with GM products.

Scientists admit that few tests have been performed on GM food. The very genes that make crops resistant to （对 .. 有抵抗） pests and disease could be harmful to animals. So far ,research has been limited to increasing production profits, rather than ensuring safty. GM food could therefore be dangerous to animals or even people.

The lesson from this story is clear: until GM food can be proved safe ,eat natural products

Passage 1 Pro-GM food passage 2 Anti-GM food

Find out the reasons why people are pro -GM food or anti-GM food.

1. It is nutritious.

2. It has a longer shelf life.

3. It’s cheaper.

4. it’s not as easily affected by disease.

5. GM farmers are producing so much extra food

1. A mouse died after eating GM biscuits.

2. Scientists admit that few tests have been performed on GM food, it’s unsafe.

Until GM food can be proved safe ,eat natural products

conclusion

write a formal letter

While-writing

You are wang Jun and live at 301 Zhong Shan Road Nan Jing. please write a letter to the head office Manager of a supermarket , Mr. Smith ,to tell him something about the discussion between you and your classmates,and then to state your opinion on GM food. Today is October 28th, 2010. The supermarket is located in 504Queen Street ,London

You should mention :1.The pros and cons of GM food 2.Your opinions about GM food3.What do you think the supermarket should do

point 1 A formal letter usually includes:

your address

the date

receiver’s name, job title and address

formal greeting

formal ending

your name and signature签名

101 High Street

Mr Frank Brown

London

1 May , 2005

Public Relations ManagerSafeway Laboratories305 Queens DriveLiverpool

Dear Mr Brown

I’m writing to complain about your plans……

…….. So we can end this immoral practice immediately.

Yours sincerely

Jim DavidsonJim Davidson

your address

the datereceiver’s name

job title

receiver’s address

formal greeting

formal ending

signature

your name

Point 2 How to express one’s opinions

The beginning of the letter1.Recently we have had a heated discussion on whether we should do sth. or not. Opinions are divided on the question.2.I’m writing to tell you about the discussion (we’ve had recently )on whether we should do sth or not. Our opinions mainly fall into two groups..3.The students of our class have had a discussion about whether… Our attitudes towards …are different

The end of the letter:

1.In my opinion/view/my eyes/As far as I’ am concerned /on a personal note, I agree to the idea that…

2.In a word/In short/In brief/Generally speaking/Personally /Personally speaking/On the whole, it is up to sb. to decide what they should do .

3.To conclude, I’m in favor of ( 赞同，支持 )

4. I think we should do sth

5. I suggest/advise doing sth.

6. suggest/advise that we (should)do sth.

7.As for me, I side with/against the supporters of…

8.But in my opinion, you must consider it on all sides and then make a right choice.

Be for sth.

1. 50%of the students are for the idea of…/ the idea that …./They state the following arguments.

2. 35 percent of the students are in favor of the idea of…/ the idea that…

3. 40 percent of us support /approve of the idea of …./the idea that …

4. They support doing sth, arguing that…5. Some people have argued that…6. They think that it is right to do sth.7. They agree to the idea /view/opinion of doing sth./the

idea/view/opinion that…8. Some of the students ,including myself, hold the

idea/view/opinion that…9. They argue for sth./doing sth.

Be against sth.

1. 5% of the students are strongly( 强烈 ) against the idea of …/the idea that …

2. 65 percent of the students hold the opposite idea/view/opinion that …

3. Some people hold the opposite view, arguing that…4. Some students disagree to the idea/view /opinion of

doing sth./the idea/view/opinion that …5. They object to the idea of doing sth./the view /the

opinion that …6. Some people oppose sth./doing sth.7. They argue against sth./doing sth.8. They think it is wrong to do sth.9. They disapprove of the idea of …/the view that …10. I’m afraid that I can’t agree with them

1.Conjunctions ,transitional words, phrases and sentences 连

接（过渡）词、短语和句子1. what’s more/besides/moreover/furthermore/in addition2. what’s worse/worse still/To make matters worse/To

make things worse3. for one thing… for another…4. On the one hand, on the other (hand)5. On the contrary( 相反 )6. Every coin has two sides.7. First…Second…Third…Finally…8. Firstly….Secondly…Thirdly…lastly/Finally9. First…then …next…10. however/but/yet/still/therefore/so/and/and

then/too/also/before /after/after that/otherwise

301 Zhong Shan Road Nan JingOctober 26th, 2010

Mr. Smith

Head office Manager

504Queen Street ,London

Dear Mr. Smith,

Recently we have had a heated discussion on whether we should sell Gm food or not. Opinions are divided on the question.Some students are in favor of the idea of selling GM food. For one thing ,They think that GM food is nutritious. For another, It has a longer shelf life, and is cheaper and not as easily affected by disease. What’more, GM farmers are producing so much extra food that they are donate a lot to hungry people around the world.

Some students are strongly( 强烈 ) against the idea of selling GM food. On one hand, they understand that GM food has many advantages . On the other hand, they believe it’s unsafe. Scientists admit that few tests have been performed on GM food. It reported that a mouse had died after eating GM biscuits.

As far as I’m concerned, until GM food can be proved safe , it can not be sold. So I am writing to complain about your plans to sell GM food in the supermarket . I believe this plan may endanger the public and must be stopped immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Wang Jun

Wang Jun

Homework 今年南京市做出决定 , 允许居民

在春节期间定点燃放烟花爆竹 .这一决定受到了大多数人的欢迎 , 也遭到了部分人的反对 . 最近 , 你班就春节期间该不该燃放烟花爆竹进行了一场讨论 .请根据以下信息 , 给政府某领导写一封信 , 客观介绍你们的讨论情况 , 并就如何安全燃放烟花爆竹提出你的看法。

The government of Nanjing lifted the ban on fire works during the Spring Festival. Recently,……

60% 赞成 40% 反对

1. 增加节日气氛

1. 造成人身伤害

2. 传统的中国文化习俗

2. 污染环境