以说明为主要表达方式，多用于解说词、使用说明、简介、广告、内容提要等。对象可以是人或事、概念等。总之，凡对事物的类别、性质、特征、状态、功能以及发展过程进行解说等文章，都属于说明文。特点是：知识性，应用性，科学性、准确性以及简明扼要。高考内容通常包括：介绍路线、学校、工厂和家乡等。例如（福建卷‘04）：
Dear Peter,
I would like to tell you that our school has worked out a new program. ….
_____________________________________________________________________________
Welcome to our school if you have any chance.
Yours,
Wang Xiaoming
One possible version
Dear Peter,
……The purposes of the program are to make our school more beautiful, to make the air cleaner and fresher, and to turn our school into a better place for us to study and live in.
According to the program, we will plant different kinds of trees, flowers and grass in and around our school. A botanical garden will be built for us to visit and practice in. Besides, we are to build a small garden in which we can do some reading and take a rest. What’s more, some statues of famous people will be set up to encourage us to work harder. Don’t you think it a wonderful program?
…………
（二）应用文
应用文是日常生活中的一种常用书面文体。它具有通俗性、广泛性和常用性等特点，还具有固定的、独特的格式。应用文包括书信、通知、请柬、电报、合同、欢迎和欢送词等等。根据高考英语的命题情况，这里简要介绍书信和日记的写作。
1、书信（Letter）。英文书信一般分为私人书信 (Personal letters) 和业务信函 (Business letters)两类。还有一些用于特别目的专用书信，如介绍信、邀请信、推荐信、感谢信等。高考英语书面表达多为私人书信。书信通常由以下部分组成：收信人的姓名和地址（地址有时可略去）、寄信人的姓名和地址、时间、内容等。其中内容是书信的主体，而其余部分如地址、时间等一般都不是考查的内容，故从略。常见的结束语有：
(With) Best wishes/ regards!
Give my best wishes/regards to …!
Please remember me to your family.
All my best wishes for the future.
Thank you for an early answer.
常用的谦称有：
Sincerely yours, / Yours sincerely（用于熟人之间）
Truly yours, / Yours respectfully（用于不太熟悉而应该客气的人）
Respectfully yours, / Yours respectfully（用于对上级或长辈）
书信的题材是多样化的，所以表述方式也不同，包括叙述、说明，议论等。因此，书信主要内容的写作要求与其他文体基本相同。例如（湖北卷‘05）：
你堂兄建华在国外学习，你们经常用英文通信。他即将完成学业，不久前来信就是否回国工作征求你的意见。请根据下列提示回信。
1、 建议他回国；
2、 你的理由是：1）学有所用，就业容易；2）照顾父母。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 行文应连贯，内容应完整；
3. 开头语与落款已为你写好。
June 8th
One possible version
June 8th
Dear Jianhua,
……. I’ve been thinking about the question you asked me. In my opining, you should come back after you finish your studies abroad. For one reason, what you are studying is badly needed nowadays in China. It will be quite easy for you to find a good job. In fact, I know a few big companies in our city are hoping to hire people like you. For another reason, I think it will be much more convenient for you to look after your parents as they are getting old. Therefore, I think it’s a good idea for you to return. So what are you waiting for?
…… ……
2、日记（Diary）
日记采用第一人称的形式，叙述一天发生的，尤其是具有教育意义和值得回忆的事情，通常以记叙文或简单的议论文为表述形式，也可以抒情表意，最忌讳流水账式的记录。高考中的日记多为记事性的，记述已经发生了的事，所以多用一般过去时态。例如（NMET‘98）：
5月3日，你参观了一个农场。请根据下列图画用英语写一篇日记。
注意：1、日记须包括所有图画的内容，可以适当增减细节，使日记连贯；
2、词数100左右。
内容要点：1、集合/出发 2、到达 3、参观 4、野餐 5、娱乐 6、告别
One possible version
Saturday, May 3 Fine
Today we visited the Hongxing Farm. Early in the morning, I, together with some of the students of No.1 Middle School, gathered at the school gate and started out to the farm. It was fine, and when we arrived there, some workers of the farm had already been waiting there for us. They gave us a warm welcome and showed us around the farm. After the visit, we had an entertainment with the workers and had a picnic together. We enjoyed ourselves until late in the afternoon. After saying “Goodbye”, we left the farm with excitement. I spent an instructive and unforgettable day!
高考模拟试题
1.请以“My favorite magazine”为题，写一篇100个单词左右的英语短文。短文内容应包括下面表格中所提供的要点。可以适当增加细节，使语句连贯、自然。
|
杂志名称 |
In and Out of Class课堂内外 |
|
发行地及时间 |
重庆市；每月一期 |
|
特色 |
面向学生，尤其是中学生；图文并茂 |
|
目的 |
帮助中学生获取各种信息，提高学习水平，丰富课外生活 |
|
效果 |
深受学生欢迎 |
2.假设你是求实中学的学生乐乐。请根据提示，写信给英语周报社，谈谈你校“读书活动月”活动的事。“看法”可适当发挥。开头以给出。词数：100左右。
|
学校的倡议 |
你对读书月的看法 |
|
１、宣布５月４日至６月４日为全校“读书活动月”；
２、号召全校同学多读书，读好书 |
１、获取知识，充实自我；
２、远离网吧，健康成长；
３、读书是一种乐趣 |
Dear editor,
I’m a student of Qiushi Middle School. Recently…
[参考答案]
1.One Possible Version
My favorite magazine is In and Out of Class. It is a magazine published in Chongqing every month and issued all over the country. In and Out of Class is good for school students of all grades. There are all kinds of articles on how to study lessons well and the latest news at home and abroad. It also provides students with quantities of materials to broaden their knowledge and improve themselves in all aspects.
In and Out of Class is so familiar with us that all the students like it and often read it, because it can not only help improve our studies but also bring great joy and happiness to us.
2.One possible version
Dear editor,
……. Recently our school has announced that it is the “Reading Month” from May 4 to June 4, and called all the students to read more good books. I think it a good thing. On one hand, through reading we can obtain all kinds of knowledge and improve ourselves. On the other hand, reading can make us far from net-bars and help us grow healthily. Above all, reading itself is great fun—from books we can enjoy talking with lots of masters of science, art and literature, through which we’ll know the world and our society better. So I suggest all the schools of the country carry out the “Reading Month” activity.
Le-le
