听力小提示：本期节目语速较快，建议只用作泛听材料，先熟悉内容再听声音。
　　
　　“How to”是英国大使馆文化教育处制作的一个系列节目，以发生在不同情景下的对话介绍各种地道的英文表达及英国文化常识。寒假期间“应酬”多多，也许你有时并不想参加，这时该如何拒绝邀请呢？听听本期节目吧。
　　
　　
　　A: Oh no!
　　B: What is it?
　　A: “Josh and Henrietta would like to have the pleasure of your company at a drinks party, next Saturday evening.”
　　B: Oh no—Josh and Henrietta...they’re not that couple who...
　　A: Yeah, exactly! And it gets worse...
　　B: How?
　　A: “Formal dress.”
　　B: It means you’ve got to wear a suit.
　　A: At the bottom it says “RSVP注.” What does it mean?
　　B: You’ve got to reply.
　　A: But I don’t want to go, so what can I say?
　　B: Tell them you’ve got a dentist’s appointment.
　　A: Josh is my dentist!
　　B: Tell them it’s your grandmother’s 100th birthday party.
　　A: But they know my granny died ages ago.
　　B: Tell them your dog’s sick and you’ve got to take him to the vet[兽医].
　　A: It’s no use. I’m just gonna have to tell them the truth.
　　B: The truth? “I’m not coming to your birthday party ’cause I think you’re boring and stupid”?
　　A: Maybe not then.
　　B: Tell them this: “I’m unable to attend because I have a prior[先前的] engagement.”
　　A: “Prior engagement”?! They won’t be offended?
　　B: Absolutely not.
　　A: Perfect.
　　
　　注：法语“répondez s’il vous plait”的缩写，请柬用语，意为“敬请赐复”。