在雅思寫作的“請求信”中，考生不但要體會陳述理由的技巧，還要學會如何表達感謝和希望。在這裏推薦給讀者一道原題，希望讀者可以體會朋友之間寫信時的一種主基調，那就是客氣和信任。這其中的if條件句可經常使用，不但可以緩和語氣，而且讓句式更富於變化。
2009年1月15日原題重現：
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You are going to have a business trip and arrange you friend to look after your children
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter, you have to mention:
Which kind of food your children like and dislike
Which kind of activities your children can attend
Arrange the time you will pick up your children
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear
Sample Answer:
Dear Will,
I really appreciate （這比使用thank you.更為地道和真誠；比使用I would like to express my gratitude.更為簡潔，更適合筆者的身份。）your promise to look after my sweetheart, Betty. For your convenience of arrangement, I would like to let you know the eating habits of Betty and the activities she is going to attend during my upcoming trip.
Like most of the girls at her age, Betty is fond of sweets, but please do not give her too many candies or ice cream. Besides, she is allergic to Chinese leak and chili, so just keep her away if you cook the food alike（條件狀語從句是書信中最受推崇的句型。使用它可以向收信人委婉的提出建議。）. It is summer holidays, when Betty does not go to school. However, I have arranged her to play the piano with a pianist who is living in No.3, Building 5 of your community at 5pm: 7pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. I will be grateful if you pick her up（另一種表達請求的方式。禮貌而且自然）. By the way, if you buy something to her, please let me pay the bill after I am back.
I am going to China the day after tomorrow. If everything goes smoothly, I will stay there for 7 days, and return on 10th April. If you don’t mind, I will pick Betty up at around 8 o’clock then. Thanks for your kindness, and hope you will get along very well.
參考譯文：
真得很感謝你答應幫我照顧我的'小甜心，Betty。此外，為了方便你的安排，我想告訴你關於Betty的飲食習慣以及她會在我出差這段時間將參加一些活動。
像大多數女孩子一樣，Betty也喜歡吃甜食，但是請一定不要給她太多的糖果和冰淇淋。此外，她對葱和辣椒過敏，因此如果你們烹飪這類食物請不要讓她吃。因為現在是暑假，所以Betty不用去上學。但是，週一、週三的下午5點至7點我安排她和一個鋼琴老師學琴。屆時，麻煩你接送她去鋼琴老師的家。老師的家就在你的小區5樓4門。如果你們給Betty買了什麼，等我回來後請一定要讓我來支付。
我後天就要去中國了。如果一切按計劃進行，這次旅行預計7天，我將會在4月10日返回。要是你方便，我將會在那天晚上8點鐘左右去接Betty。再一次感謝您的慷慨，希望你們過得愉快。
五星級推薦
1) I am writing to formally request to…
2) I am writing to seek for your assistance in…
3) Would you be kind enough to…?
4) I do appreciate the favorable consideration you have known to me.
5) I would like to thank you for your generous help in the matter.
6) I shall remain grateful to you for the great help…
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