应用文体种类繁多，常用的包括广告、书信、通告、海报、合同、协议和法律文书等。由于篇幅所限，我们只介绍阅读英语资料时最常见的几种文体形式，如广告、百科全书和人名词典的词目、启事、书信等。
有些广告、百科全书和参考书的条目与公告和书信不同，不是用散文体写的。分类广告为了省钱而节省版面空间，有些药品说明书要言简意赅，百科全书和人名词典的条目受版面限制，所有这些文字的共同特点是以尽量少的字数表达尽量多的信息。句子不完整，常常使用缩略形式。有些缩略形式是规范的，有些缩略形式只有依靠上下文猜测。
例1
For SALE：1982 Estrella，auto。，2 dr convert。，A/C，AM/FM，tape deck，built in CB，good mpg，red/black，power steer＆brks。，tilt wheel，2600 negot。 Call 672-6970 after 8.
大意是：For Sale：There is an Estralla model having an automatic transmission，purchased in 1982.It is a two-door convertible，equipped with an air-conditioner，with an AM/FM band radio，a cassette player，and a built-in citizens’band radio。The car is economical and saves gasoline，with good mileage per gallon（mpg）。Its outside appearance is read and black。It has power steering and power brakes。It also has a tilt steering wheel。The price of the car will be2600 but it is negotiable。Anyone who has an interest please call 672-6970 after 8 in the evening。
注：automatic transmission：自动传动装置；power steering：动力转向；power brakes：动力制动；tilt wheel：可以上下活动的方向盘。
例2
BROOME ST bet W。 Bway＆Thompson。3 room apt，top flr。New appliances。230 mo。To inspect call 423 3828.
大意是：On the Broome Street between West Bway＆Thompson，there is a 3-room apartment for rent。It is on the top floor，with new appliances。The rent is230 per month。Anyone who is interested can inspect and call 423 3828.
例3
Russsel Blaine Nye，author；b。 Viola，Wis。，Feb 17，1913；s。Charles Henry and Zelma（Shimmeyer）N：A。B。，Oberlin coll。，1934；A。M。，U。of Wis。，1938，Ph。D。，1939；m。Mary Kathryne Channey。Aug。6，1938.Home：301 Oxford Rd。Lansing，Mich。，USA。
大意是：Russsel Blaine Nye is an author。He was born in Viola，Wisconsin，on February 17，1913.He is the son of Charles Henry and Zelma（Shimmeyer）N。He got his B。A。（Bachelor of Arts）at Oberlin College in 1934，M。A。（Master of Arts）at the University of Wisconsin in 1938，and Ph。D。（Doctor of Philosophy）in 1939.He married Mary Kathryne Channey on August 6，1938.His home is at 301 Oxford Road，Lansing，Michigan，U。S。A。
例4
Adults and children 12 years of age and over：two teaspoons every four hours，not to exceed 12 tsps。 in a 24-hour period；children 6 years to under 12 years：one tsp。every four hours not to exceed six tsps。in a 24-hour period；children 2 to under 6 years：1/2 tsp。every four hours，not to exceed 3 tsps。in a 24-hour period；children under 2 years：use as directed by a physician。
例4这则药品使用说明，虽然没有完整的句法，但要比前几例容易得多。只有一个缩写形式，根据上下文便能看出。
以上这些材料毕竟不是我们阅读的主流，因此只需要认识一下它们的特点以达到基本上正确理解即可。我们见得更多的是招聘广告和启事。以英特网上的一则招聘启事为例：
Korea University
Korea University，Seoul，has two posts open for ESL/EFL teachers，starting March 1999.
Korea University，founded in 1905，is one of the top three universities in Korea。 Its location in the northeast of Seoul provides easy access to the many highlights of Korea's capital city。
The Institute of Foreign Language Studies（IFLS），offers a variety of English classes to students of the university。 All students are required to take the Freshman Practical English course and we have a wide variety of electives at Intermediate and Advanced Level，the four basic strands of these being General English，English for Academic Purposes，Business English and Other ESP。There are also opportunities to teach in a newly formed program open to the general public。
DUTIES
There are 16 contact hours per week，Monday to Friday，with 9 office hours in addition。 Up to four overtime hours may be allocated at the discretion of the director of the institute。These will be compensated at standard overtime rate and be in lieu of the appropriate number of office hours。Additional teaching may be assigned for one month in each of the winter and summer breaks。These are paid at standard rate and are supplemental to salary。Attendance at meetings and commitment to curriculum development are expected。Time spent on these activities is in lieu of office hours。
SALARY AND BENEFITS
W1，800，000～W2，000，000 per month，dependent upon qualifications and experience。In the first contract year，return air fare and three bonuses，each equivalent to one month’s salary，will be paid。In the second year，four bonuses will be paid。Benefits include subsidized Korean Health Insurance，office with internet access，guaranteed 8 weeks’paid vacation and on-campus housing with cable television。Teachers receive one month’s severance pay for each year of service。
In spite of Korea's current economic problems，the university salary is sufficient to sustain a comfortable lifestyle while being able to travel in Asia and save。
Please fax or mail a covering letter，resume，university transcripts，three letters of recommendation and contact numbers to：Dr。 Lee Yong Jae，Director，IFLS，Korea University，1，5-ga，Anam-dong，Sungbuk-gu，Seoul 136-701，South Korea。
提示：这是坐落在韩国首都汉城的Korea University发布的招聘英语教师的启事。启事首先说明什么职位，从什么时候开始，然后简单介绍学校的历史、地理位置，再介绍该校外语学院的英语课程设置情况，总共占全篇的三分之一。启事的主要内容还是该岗位应该承担的责任和职责，以及相应的待遇和收入。大家都知道，韩国近年来经济形势不是很好，通货膨胀率高。启事在倒数第二段明确做了交待，颇具说服力，与普通启事相比会得到更好的效果。
招聘启事和公告的特点是时效性强，语言精炼、条理清楚。要求阅读的效率和速度并重，主要信息和细节并重。大量阅读则会发现有一定规律可循。
例1
The Klingon Language Institute
Founded in January 1992 with only a few dozen members，the Klingon Language Institute has enjoyed rapid growth in its short history。 Within a single year membership had grown to over 100，only to double and double and double yet again by the end of that second year。In December of 1993 the KLI applied for and was granted incorporation as a domestic nonprofit corporation within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania（for more information，see our bylaws）。Not long after that the KLI was federally recognized as a nonprofit organization under section 501（c）3 of the IRS code。As of January 1996 over 1000 individuals have joined the KLI，coming to us from more than 30 nations around the globe，and from every continent。
The KLI has two main goals，missions which have driven us from our inception and which have expanded as our resources and membership have grown。 The first of these missions is to promote，foster，and develop the Klingon language，and the second is to bring together Klingon language enthusiasts from around the world and provide them with a common forum for the discussion and the exchange of ideas。
Our primary means of pursuing our goals is our quarterly journal，HolQeD。 Not simply a newsletter，HolQeD is a refereed journal utilizing peer review。Each issue includes columns，articles，interviews，and letters exploring the Klingon language。HolQeD is indexed by the Modern Language Association and is registered with the Library of Congress（ISSN：1061-2327）。
注：ISR：information storage and retrieval（信息情报储存与检索）；ISSN：International Standard Serial Number（国际标准期刊编号）。另一个常见的缩写形式ISBN是国际标准图书编号（International Standard Book Number）。
例2
A Notice to the Community
An elementary school teacher at Duniway School in East-Moreland was attacked yesterday morning。 The attack appears to have been planned in detail。The teacher always arrives early and alone at Duniway，going to her room in the corner of the school building。The attacker was waiting by her door，brutally attacked her and ran away from the building，running north on 35th street。This occurred at 7：45 a。m。，December 3.
Duniway School is directly south of Reed about 12 blocks，on Rex Street，between Reed College and 25th Street。
The attacker is described only as a young man of medium height，wearing dark clothing——possibly a ski or jogging suit——with a lighter colored ski-mask which he pulled over his face。 He wore gloves。
The police have been keeping the area under surveillance but have warned that women walking alone or jogging are particularly vulnerable。
Anyone with any relevant information should call the school system police at 229-2000.
Jack Dudman Dean of Students
也许最常见的应用文是书信。英文书信一般由信头、信内地址、称呼、正文、结束语、签名等组成，有时候还有附件等等。大多数情况下，信件由称呼、正文、结束语、签名组成。不同的信件，格式也有所不同，但是最重要的是正文。在此我们选择几封名人书信以飨读者。
例1是居里先生给著名物理学家玛丽亚（后来的居里夫人）的情书：
August 10，1894
Nothing could have given me greater pleasure than to get news of you。 The prospect of remaining two months without hearing about you had been extremely disagreeable to me：that is to say，your little note was more than welcome。
I hope you are laying up a stock of good air and that you will come back to us in October。 As for you，I think I shall not go anywhere；I shall stay in the country，where I spend the whole day in front of my open window or in the garden。
We have promised each other——haven't we？——to be at least great friends。 If you will only not change your mind！For there are no promises that are binding；such things can not be ordered by will。It would be a fine thing，just the same，in which I hardly dare believe，to pass our lives near each other，hypnotized by our dreams：your patriotic dream，our humanitarian dream，and our scientific dream。
Of all those dreams，the last，I believe，the only legitimate one，I mean by that we are powerless tochange the social order and，even if we were not，we should not know what to do；in taking action，no matter in what direction，we should never be sure of not doing more than good，be retarding some inevitable evolution。 From the scientific point of view，on the contrary，we may hope to do something；the ground is solider here，and any discovery that we may make，however small，will remain acquired knowledge。
See how it works out：it is agreed that we shall be great friends，but if you leave France in a year it would be an altogether too Platonic friendship，that of two creatures who would never see each other again。 Wouldn't it be better for you to stay with me？I know that this question angers you，and that you don't want to speak of it again——and then，too，I feel so thoroughly unworthy of you from every point of view。
I thought of asking your permission to meet you by chance in Freiburg。 But you are staying there，unless I am mistaken，only one day，and on that day you will of course belong to our friends the Kovalskis。
Believe me your very devoted
Pierre Curie
例2是十八世纪英国文坛泰斗、第一部英语词典的编撰者塞缪尔·约翰逊给切斯特菲尔德伯爵的著名书信：
To the Right Honorable the Earl of Chesterfield
February 7，1755
My Lord，
I have been lately informed by the proprietor of the World，that two papers in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public，were written by your Lordship。 To be so distinguished，is an honor，which being very little accustomed to favors from the great，I know not well how to receive，or in what terms to acknowledge。
When，upon some slight encouragement，I first visited your Lordship，I was overpowered，like the rest of mankind，by the enchantment of your address；and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre；——that I might obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending；but I found my attendance so little encouraged，that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it。 When I had once addressed your Lordship in public，I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess。I had done all that I could；and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected，be it ever so little。
Seven years，my Lord，have passed，since I waited in your outward rooms or was repulsed from your door；during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties，of which it was useless to complain，and have brought it，at last，to the verge of publication，without one act of assistance，one word of encouragement，or one smile of favor。 Such treatment I did not expect，for I never had a Patron before。
The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love，and found him a native of the rocks。
Is not a Patron，my Lord，one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water，and，when he has reached ground，encumbers him with help？The notice which have been pleased to take of my labors，had it been early，had been kind，but it has been delayed till I am indifferent，and cannot enjoy it；till I am solitary and cannot impart it；till I am known，and do not want it。 I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received，or to be unwilling that the Public should consider me as owing that to a Patron，which Providence has enabled me to do for myself。
Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favorer of learning，I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it，if less be possible，with less；for I have been long wakened from that dream of hope，in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation，
My Lord
Your Lordship's most humble，
Most obedient servant，
Sam Johnson
提示：早在1747年，约翰逊就计划编撰一部英语词典。在当时的英国，文人若要出人头地必须有达官贵人提携。切斯特菲尔德是个赫赫有名的贵族、政客、作家，约翰逊希望得到切斯特菲尔德的赞助和支持，不料登门拜访时吃了闭门羹。失望之余，约翰逊只有单枪匹马苦苦奋战长达7年最终完成这个宏大的计划。在词典即将出版之际，切斯特菲尔德忽然在当地一家很有影响的报纸上撰文大加赞赏，扮演起约翰逊的恩主来。约翰逊是在这样的情况下写的回信，貌似谦卑实则无情地揭露了伯爵的虚伪。这封书信已经成为现代英语散文名篇之一。
Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre是法语，意思是the conqueror of the conquerors of the world（能征服那些征服了世界的人）。Virgil（维吉尔）是古罗马诗人，著有《牧歌集》。
例3是意大利文艺复兴时期的天才达·芬奇给米兰大公的自荐信：
Leonardo Da Vinci's Letter to the Regent of Milan
Most Illustrious Lord，
Having seen and considered the experiments of all those who pose as masters in the art of inventing instruments of war，and finding that their inventions differ in no way from those in common practice，I am emboldened，without prejudice to anyone，to solicit an appointment of acquainting your Excellency with certain of my secrets。
1.I can construct bridges which are very light and strong and very portable，with which to pursue and defeat the enemy；and others more solid，which resist fire or assault，yet are easily removed and placed in position；and I can burn and destroy those of the enemy。
2.In case of a siege I can cut off water from the trenches and make pontoons and scaling ladders and other similar contrivances。
3.If anybody of the elevation of the strength of its position a place can not be bombarded，I can demolish every fortress if its foundations have not been set on stone。
4.I can also make a kind of cannon which is light and easy of transport，with which to hurl smallstones like hail，and of which the smoke causes great terror to the enemy，so that they suffer heavy loss and confusion。
5.I can noiselessly construct to any prescribed point subterranean passages either straight or winding，passing if necessary underneath trenches or a river。
6.I can make armored wagons carrying artillery，which shall break through the most serried ranks of the enemy，and so open a safe passage for his infantry。
7.If occasion should arise，I can construct cannon and mortars and light ordnance in shape both ornamental and useful and different from those in common use。
8.When it is impossible to use cannon I can supply in their stead catapults，mangonels，and other instruments of a admirably efficiency not in general use。In short，as the occasion requires I can supply infinite means of attack and defense。
9.And if the fight should take place upon the sea I can construct many engines most suitable either for attack or defense and ships which can resist the fire of the heaviest cannon，and powders or weapons。
10.In time of peace，I believe that I can give you as complete satisfaction as anyone else in the construction of buildings both public and private，and in conducting water from one place to another。
I can further execute sculpture in marble，bronze or clay，also in painting I can do as much as anyone else，whoever he may be。
Moreover，I would undertake the commission of the bronze horse，which shall endue with immortal glory and eternal honor the auspicious memory of your father and of the illustrious house of Sforza。
And if any of the aforesaid things should seem to anyone impossible or impracticable，I offer myself as ready to make trial of them in your park or in whatever place shall please your Excellency，to whom I commend myself with all possible humility。
提示：达芬奇以十分谦逊的口气向米兰大公历数了自己的才能。首先指出，以大师自居的人之杰作只不过是十分平庸的东西，他自己的构想并不是对任何人有偏见，只是向大公汇报一下自己的能力和创造力，从军用到民用、从工程到艺术、由公到私、由国到家，面面俱到。读者也许很佩服这位天才，也许对他恭维、巴结当权者为施展才华最终为自己谋名利的做法不以为然。无论怎样，我们在欣赏达芬奇的文采的同时，似乎看到了一个有血有肉的、真正的达芬奇。
英语文体的种类很多，我们在这里只列举了最常见的几类文体的阅读方法和技巧。要说明的是：没有专门对付特定文体的特定方法和技巧，但也没有能够应付所有文体的万能方法和技巧；没有适用于特定读者群的特定方法和技巧，更没有适用于所有人的一整套方法和技巧。只不过有些方法和技巧在阅读某些种类的文章时更为有用，有些方法和技巧对有些人来说参考价值较大而已。
别人总结的经验和方法毕竟是别人的。只有你自己根据自己的具体情况，在参考别人的经验和方法的基础上，通过大量实践摸索出来的经验和方法才是你自己的。实践出真知。
§§第四章 阅读技巧与阅读实践
