DIFFERENT STYLES

   

   TASK A

   

   How would you describe the style of each of these sentences: FORMAL, COLLOQUIAL, or NEUTRAL?

   a)      I do like baseball – it´s a great game, isn´t it?

   b)      I consider baseball to be the most sophisticated game.

   c)      Baseball is really enjoyable, I think.

   

   

   TASK B

   

   Rewrite the colloquial sentences in a more neutral or formal style.

    1. How´s your dad? Is he OK again?
    2. To grow organic fruit and vegetables they don´t use artificial fertilisers, you know.
    3. There´s no point in testing cosmetics on animals – and it´s cruel too.
    4. For pity´s sake, mind what you´re doing with that knife!
    5. Well, she hit the roof when they broke it to her that she´d got the sack.
    6. Why on earth didn´t you turn the light off when you left the room?

   

   

   TASK C

   

   Rewrite these formal sentences in a more neutral, less formal style.

    1. It is unwise to bathe here due to possible contamination of the water.
    2. It is conceivable that a slight rise in temperature would have a dramatic effect on the
       ice in polar regions.
    3. Discarding cans and bottles leads to excessive consumption of energy and materials. It is
       preferable to recycle them.
    4. Passengers are requested to exercise caution when alighting from the train.
    5. We regret that the playing of musical instruments is not permitted on the premises.
    6. Whilst all vegetarians eschew meat, vegans consume neither fish nor dairy products.

   

   

   (Adapted from Jones, L. New Progress to Proficiency, Cambridge University Press, 2001)