Workplace conversations

Qs 1-10.Read the sentences below and click on the response you think is most appropriate. Then check the feedback given.

Question 1:
I'm Sandy Shaw, the new P.A. How do you do?

  1. Hi Sandy, I'm David.
  2. How do you do. My name's David Bailey, I'm a marketing executive.
  3. Fine thanks, and you? I'm David Bailey.

Question 2:
Hallo, this is Maverick Wong. Could I speak to Janet Lee please?

  1. Speaking.
  2. How do you do Maverick?
  3. This is Janet Lee. How can I help you?

Question 3:
Why don't we just outsource the catering on this occasion? A finger buffet's all we need.

  1. Good idea. I'll research some catering companies who do finger buffets.
  2. It depends on the catering company.
  3. But we've got our own fingers.

Question 4:
Does anyone mind if I leave the photocopying till tomorrow?

  1. Yes, it's not urgent.
  2. No not at all, it's not urgent.
  3. No not at all, I'm afraid it's urgent.

Question 5:
Right then, I'm off.

  1. Bye, have a good weekend.
  2. Shouldn't that be left?
  3. Where exactly are you off?

Question 6:
Have you any experience of this type of work?

  1. No, not at all.
  2. Not exactly, but I have some office experience and  teamwork and organisational skills from my internship.
  3. Yes, but I'm sure I will pick up experience very quickly.

Question 7:
Have you got the time?

  1. Actually I'm really busy at the moment.
  2. No, but I will have in a day or two.
  3. Yes, it's 12.30.

Question 8:
I'm looking forward to meeting you in person at the conference next month.

  1. Oh, I don't think that will be necessary.
  2. I'm not sure.
  3. Me too, see you there.

Question 9:
Fancy a bite to eat after work?

  1. Sorry, got the runs.
  2. Yes, why not? I'm hungry already.
  3. I often fancy a bite, don't you?

Question 10:
I really appreciate all the help your company has given me during my stay in Hong Kong.

  1. Don't mention it. We're happy to lend a hand.
  2. Well, we haven't really.
  3. We'll send the invoice for our services to your Head office.


Qs 11-15. Read the responses given and match them with the most appropriate original sentence. Then check the feedback given.

Question 11:
That's alright. I'm not in a hurry.

  1. Are you in a hurry sir?
  2. The document you require has been located already.
  3. I do apologise for the delay sir.

Question 12:
I'm afraid not. Could we make it Friday instead?

  1. I have a free afternoon on Wednesday.
  2. Are you free on Wednesday afternoon by any chance?
  3. Are you busy on Wednesday afternoon by any chance?

Question 13:
Yes, just a moment; I'll put you through.

  1. Hallo, this is Andy Lau. Could I speak to Jocelyn please?
  2. Hallo can you show me Jocelyn Lee's office please?
  3. Hallo can you tell Jocelyn Lee that Andy Lau is here please?

Question 14:
That would be lovely but I have to fly back this evening. Next time!

  1. When are you leaving Hong Kong?
  2. A few of us are having a little get- together tonight. Would you like to join us?
  3. Are you working late at the office this evening?

Question 15:
I'm very sorry madam, but it's not our Company's policy to give cash refunds.

  1. This sweater shrank when i washed it and I want to exchange it.
  2. I want my money back now!
  3. This was an unwanted present and I demand you take it back!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feedback for Question 1, Choice 'a': "Hi Sandy, I'm David."

This reply is OK but it's very informal and doesn't tell Sandy David's surname or position in the company.

 

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Feedback for Question 1, Choice 'b': "How do you do. My name's David Bailey, I'm a marketing executive."

Yes, this is most appropriate. David gives his full name and company position, as Sandy has done for him.

 

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Feedback for Question 1, Choice 'c': "No. Fine thanks and you? I'm David Bailey."

'Fine thanks' is the response to 'How are you?', not 'how do you do'.

 

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Feedback for Question 2, Choice 'a': "Speaking."

This is OK but rather abrupt. The other person has to make all the effort.

 

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Feedback for Question 2, Choice 'b': "How do you do Maverick?"

No. 'How do you do' is used face to face when meeting someone for the first time, but not generally on the phone.

 

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Feedback for Question 2, Choice 'c': "This is Janet Lee. How can I help you?"

This is  the most appropriate response; the receiver gives her full name and enquires why the caller is calling.

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Feedback for Question 3, Choice 'a': "I'll research some catering companies who do finger buffets."

Yes, this is most appropriate.

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Feedback for Question 3, Choice 'b': "It depends on the catering company."

Sorry, incorrect. This isn't an answer to the question.

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Feedback for Question 3, Choice 'c': "But we've got our own fingers."

Of course you have fingers, but this is not an appropriate response!

 

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Feedback for Question 4, Choice 'a': "Yes, it's not urgent."

No. The correct response to a 'do you mind if ?' question is 'No I don't..' (unless you do mind!)

 

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Feedback for Question 4, Choice 'b': "No not at all, it's not urgent."

Yes, this is an appropriate reply to a 'do you mind if ?' question..

 

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Feedback for Question 4, Choice 'c': "No not at all, I'm afraid it's urgent." No. In this case you DO mind, you want the work done now and so your answer to a 'do you mind if ?' question should be 'yes I do actually, sorry' or similar.

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Feedback for Question 5, Choice 'a': " Bye, have a good weekend."

Yes, this is an appropriate reply . 'I'm off' means 'I'm leaving'.

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Feedback for Question 5, Choice 'b': "Shouldn't that be left?"

No. 'I'm off' means 'I'm leaving', so this statement does not make sense.

 

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Feedback for Question 5, Choice 'c': "Where exactly are you off?."

No. 'I'm off' means 'I'm leaving', so this question doesn't make sense.

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Feedback for Question 6, Choice 'a': "No, not at all."

No. Even if you don't have any direct experience, talk about something related, such as inter-personal skills or computer skills.

 

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Feedback for Question 6, Choice 'b': "Not exactly, but I have some office experience and  teamwork and organisational skills from my internship."

Yes, this is most appropriate. This is a good answer if you don't have any directly-related experience.

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Feedback for Question 6, Choice 'c': "Yes, but I'm sure I will pick up experience very quickly."

No. Your answer should be 'No', and you pick up experience at a standard rate, as time passes.

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Feedback for Question 7, Choice 'a': "Actually I'm really busy at the moment."

This is only appropriate in context, if someone is asking if you have time to help them.

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Feedback for Question 7, Choice 'b': "No, but I will have in a day or two."

This is only appropriate in context, if someone is asking if you have time to help them and you can in a day or two.

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Feedback for Question 7, Choice 'c': "Yes, it's 12.30."

Yes, this is most appropriate. "Have you got the time?' is asking what time it is.

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Feedback for Question 8, Choice 'a': "Oh, I don't think that will be necessary."

No. This is not an appropriate response.

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Feedback for Question 8, Choice 'b': "I'm not sure."

No. This is not an appropriate response.

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Feedback for Question 8, Choice 'c': "Me too, see you there."

Yes, this is most appropriate and a friendly response.

 

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Feedback for Question 9, Choice 'a': "Sorry, got the runs."

No. This means you have diarrhoea!

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Feedback for Question 9, Choice 'b':"Yes, why not? I'm hungry already."

Yes, this is most appropriate.

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Feedback for Question 9, Choice 'c': "I often fancy a bite, don't you?"

No This sounds friendly but doesn't really make sense.

 

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Feedback for Question 10, Choice 'a': "Don't mention it. We're happy to lend a hand."

Yes, this is most appropriate and is polite and friendly.

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Feedback for Question 10, Choice 'b': "Well, we haven't really."

This is OK if you want to downplay your company's help but it's not the best answer.

 

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Feedback for Question 10, Choice 'c': "We'll send the invoice for our services to your Head office."

No: help is given free of charge; you shouldn't invoice someone for it!

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Feedback for Question 11, Choice 'a': "Are you in a hurry sir?"

No. This is not the most appropriate original and requires a 'yes/no' answer.

 

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Feedback for Question 11, Choice 'b': "The document you require has been located already."

No. This doesn't relate to the response given.

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Feedback for Question 11, Choice 'c': "I do apologise for the delay sir."

Yes, this is the most appropriate original question for the response given.

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Feedback for Question 12, Choice 'a': "I have a free afternoon on Wednesday."

No. The original answers a question, so this sentence is not appropriate.

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Feedback for Question 12, Choice 'b': "Are you free on Wednesday afternoon by any chance?"

Yes, this is most appropriate.

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Feedback for Question 12, Choice 'c':" Are you busy on Wednesday afternoon by any chance?"

No. If you are not busy,  then you can meet the speaker on Wednesday!

 

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Feedback for Question 13, Choice 'a': "Hallo, this is Andy Lau. Could I speak to Jocelyn please?"

Yes, this is most appropriate and a clear telephone request..

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Feedback for Question 13, Choice 'b': "Hallo can you show me Jocelyn Lee's office please?"

No. This is a face to face request, not a telephone one.

 

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Feedback for Question 13, Choice 'c': "Hallo can you  tell Jocelyn Lee that Andy Lau is here please?"

No. This is a face to face request, not a telephone one.

 

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Feedback for Question 14, Choice 'a': "When are you leaving Hong Kong?"

No. The original sentence is a response to an invitation.

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Feedback for Question 14, Choice 'b': "A few of us are having a little get- together tonight. Would you like to join us?"

Yes. This is an invitation and the original is a good response to this.

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Feedback for Question 14, Choice 'c': "Are you working late at the office this evening?"

No.  The original sentence is a response to an invitation.

 

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Feedback for Question 15, Choice 'a': "This sweater shrank when I washed it and I want to exchange it."

No. The original refuses a cash refund, so your choice should be a request for it.

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Feedback for Question 15, Choice 'b': "I want my money back now!"

Yes, this is most appropriate, if rather rude. The original refuses a cash refund, so your choice should be a request for it.

Well done!! You have finished this exercise.

Feedback for Question 15, Choice 'c': "This was an unwanted present and I demand you take it back!"

No. The original refuses a cash refund, so your choice should be a request for it.

 

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