1.2. English for Professional Purposes Flashcards
What would not be a conciliatory sentence in a reply letter to a client’s complaint?
a. I hope this solution compensates your mood and understandable bad manners.
b. Please let me know if this solution meets with your approval.
c. We think that you’ll find these measurements to be reasonable and satisfying.
a. I hope this solution compensates your mood and understandable bad manners.
What would you say if you wanted to take a seat to the person next to it?
a. I want to sit here, please.
b. Is this sit sat upon, please?
c. Is this seat taken, please?
c. Is this seat taken, please?
How do you express that the flights are running behind schedule?
a. The flights have been delayed.
b. The flights are on strike.
c. The flights are late.
a. The flights have been delayed.
At what time is your flight?
a. It takes off in half an hour.
b. It leaves in half an hour.
c. It flies in half an hour.
a. It takes off in half an hour.
How do you ask about the duration of a journey?
a. How much time does it need to get to Barcelona?
b. How long does it take to get to Barcelona?
c. For how long does it travel to Barcelona?
b. How long does it take to get to Barcelona?
How is the following symbol “@” read in English as part of an email address?
a. monkey’s tale
b. a
c. at
c. at
Which of the following sentences is correct?
a. High-speeded trains can get there in 6 hours.
b. High speed trains take 6 hours to get there.
c. Trains of high speed travel there in a period of 6 hours.
b. High speed trains take 6 hours to get there.
What is your job about?
a. I have 300 people under my command.
b. I charge 300 people.
c. I’m responsible for 300 people.
c. I’m responsible for 300 people.
You get up to go to the bar because you are thirsty. What would you say?
a. I’m going to drink.
b. I want to have something down my throat.
c. I’m going to get something to drink.
c. I’m going to get something to drink.
Which of the following structures is right?
a. She stopped being a cleaner because of him.
b. She stopped being a cleaner seeing that him.
c. She stopped being a cleaner since him.
a. She stopped being a cleaner because of him.
How would you call a woman who is an astronaut?
a. she-astronaut
b. astronautess
c. female astronaut
c. female astronaut
_____ so many delayed flights, I suspect ours will be late too.
a. Since
b. With
c. Seeing that
b. With
What do you typically say in a warm spring morning?
a. It’s nice and sunny.
b. It’s dry and hot.
c. It’s fine and fair.
a. It’s nice and sunny.
How would you describe an oppressively humid day?
a. damp
b. muggy
c. flurry
b. muggy
Damp
1. slightly wet, especially in a way that is not pleasant or comfortable: The grass is still damp.
This shirt still feels a bit damp.
It was a damp, misty morning.
Muggy
When the weather is muggy, it is unpleasantly warm and the air contains a lot of water. Synonyms. sticky. sultry
Flurry
a. : a brief period of commotion or excitement. b. : a sudden occurrence of many things at once : barrage sense 2. a flurry of insults.
What cannot be done in a VIP lounge in an airport?
a. Work in a meeting room.
b. Have a swim in the pool.
c. Travel.
c. Travel.
What is incentive tourism about?
a. Visiting historical landmarks.
b. Taking part in a training course.
c. Being awarded a trip for duties well performed at work.
c. Being awarded a trip for duties well performed at work.
Which of the following structures is correct?
a. If there were a heat wave, the population would have to evacuate.
b. If there would be a heat wave, the population’d have to evacuate.
c. If there had been a heat wave, the population would have to evacuate.
a. If there were a heat wave, the population would have to evacuate.
William Shakespeare died _____ April 23rd 1616.
a. at
b. on
c. in
b. on
What sentence would not be appropriate in a complaint letter?
a. If I don’t get a reply, I’ll pass this matter to my lawyer.
b. I think I have the right to a compensation.
c. I want to refund you generously at once.
c. I want to refund you generously at once.
In which of the following countries is English not the official language?
a. Lesotho.
b. Guyana.
c. Chad.
c. Chad.
What do you ask somebody after having done some common activity together (watching a film, listening to a conference, etc.)?
a. Did you enjoy it?
b. Did you like the experience?
c. What would you think about it?
a. Did you enjoy it?
b) sounds too transcendental
c) is something you would say if you are making a proposal to someone, not if you’re asking them for their opinion.
What would you say spontaneously to someone to prompt them to provide further explanations about something they have just said (esp. if it was something unexpected or something surprising)?
a. Really? How is that?
b. I’d like you to give me further explanations on that issue, please.
c. I don’t understand what your implications are.
a. Really? How is that?
b) lacks spontaneity and sounds rather pompous.
As for c), it is things or actions that have implications, not people.
How would you NOT refer to your flight delay?
a. My flight is two hours late.
b. My flight was scheduled to take off two hours ago.
c. My flight has postponed two hours.
c. My flight has postponed two hours.
c) would need to be in the passive voice and it is a transitive verb so the sentence is meaningless and grammatically incorrect too.
How do you ask someone their profession?
a. In what do you work?
b. What do you do when you work?
c. What do you do for a living?
c. What do you do for a living?
a) sounds rather awkward (In which field do you work? would be a lot more natural).
b) is not asking for someone’s job but for some sort of description abut their working activities.
How do you ask somebody to supervise your belongings in a public place?
a. Can you keep watch of my stuff, please?
b. Can you observe my stuff, please?
c. Can you keep an eye on my stuff, please?
c. Can you keep an eye on my stuff, please?
a) “keep watch” takes the preposition on and is not used for momentary activities like this one.
“Observe” in b) is related to visual perception but its meaning is slightly different.
Don’t look for it here; it is…
a. there beyond.
b. over there.
c. far away there.
b. over there.
b) is the only logical prepositional phrase with a preposition (over) followed by the adverb there. It is so common that it is a rather fixed expression.
“There, far away” in c) would have been plausible as well.
“Beyond” in a) is a preposition which is lacking a following complement.
How do you ask for things politely?
a. I would appreciate it if you kept the secret for me.
b. I’d be grateful for you keeping my secret.
c. I’d thank you to keep my secret, please.
a. I would appreciate it if you kept the secret for me.
The three initial clauses are conditional so an if- clause in the past is the most adequate option
In hop on-hop off buses, you get _____ and _____ the bus as you like.
a.On/off
b.on/out
c. inside / outside
a.On/off
Movements in and out of land vehicles like buses and trains are expressed with those prepositions (although not cars!).
What do you say when you want to finish off a story without too much detail?:
a. To cut / make a long story short…
b. Let me be brief and concise with this story…
c. What is brief, it’s good twice…
a. To cut / make a long story short…
b) is not a natural saying
c) is completely meaningless in English.
a), on the contrary, is a highly common expression in these cases.
Who does a floor housekeeper in a hotel report to directly?
a. A deputy housekeeper.
b. A recruiting member of staff.
c. An assistant manager.
a. A deputy housekeeper.
A floor housekeeper supervises work activities of the cleaning personnel for a particular floor within a building.
What is a prep cook?
a. The prefect of a restaurant kitchen, similar to a maître.
b. A cook who helps the major chiefs in doing the initial preparation of the dishes.
c. An entry level kitchen position ideally suited for an aspiring chief.
c. An entry level kitchen position ideally suited for an aspiring chief.
How do you specify that a lawyer is female?
a. A she lawyer.
b. A lady lawyer.
c. A lawyeress.
b. A lady lawyer.
a) is typical of female animals (a she dog, a she goat)
c) does not exist.
Women lawyers are not referred to as “Lady lawyer, would you be so kind as to….?”, but a speaker may choose to specify that his/her lawyer is a woman, and not a man, by using an expression like: “lady lawyer / woman lawyer / female lawyer”. This obviously applies to other professions like “lady doctor”, etc.
Which type of weather does NOT affect visibility?
a. Foggy.
b. Misty.
c. Chilly.
c. Chilly
Chilly is strictly related to cold weather.
Fog and mist reduce visibility and their difference is related to the density of humidity.
What type of weather is likely to coincide with electric storms?
a. Thundery
b. Muggy
c. Damp
a. Thundery
b) Muggy is related to the presence of moisture in the air
damp in c) means humid, wet.
Which of the following expressions is preferred to refer to a specific set of people?
a. Card holders enjoy the following privileges:
b. People holding cards enjoy the following privileges:
c. Customers who have cards enjoy the following privileges:
a. Card holders enjoy the following privileges:
The morpheme –er turns the subject into a regular group, a category of people
b) and c) refer to temporary circumstances.
What is the tendency in English these days regarding gender distinctions?
a. Emphasize them when possible.
b. Neutralize them when possible.
c. Ignore them.
b. Neutralize them when possible.
There is a strong tendency to be and sound politically correct and neutralizing gender differences is the least controversial option nowadays.
Which is the most numerous group of English speakers in the world?
a. Natives, i.e., those who speak it as their mother tongue.
b. Non-natives, i.e., those who speak it as a second language.
c. Americans, particularly North Americans.
b. Non-natives, i.e., those who speak it as a second language.
by many millions
Which is the general criterion for belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations?
a. Being an English speaking state.
b. Being an Anglophile country.
c. Being an ex British colony or having a strong constitutional link to the United Kingdom or one of its ex colonies.
c. Being an ex British colony or having a strong constitutional link to the United Kingdom or one of its ex colonies.
Although a couple of countries that have been admitted into the Commonwealth do not fulfil any of these requirements, namely Rwanda and Mozambique.
How would you ask somebody if they are pleased about an exam, a job interview or some other important event?
a. How did you enjoy it?
b. What do you think of the event?
c. How did it go?
c. How did it go?
All three answers are grammatically correct. However, when you walk out of an exam or an interview, the logical thing would be to ask you if it went well or badly. Whether you had a good time or any other consideration is secondary.
How do you offer to pass a message to someone (esp. on the phone if the person is not there)?
a. What do you want me to tell X?
b. Can I take a message for X?
c. Do you have anything to say to X?
b. Can I take a message for X?
All three answers are grammatically correct, but a) and c) are rather clumsy ways of saying the same thing, while b) is highly idiomatic, and hence preferable. The equivalent of b) in Spanish would be: “¿Quiere que le dé algún recado?”
How do you typically identify yourself on the phone to someone you know?
a. This is Mary Smith.
b. I’m Mary Smith, and you?
c. My name is Mary Smith, and yours?
a. This is Mary Smith.
All three answers are grammatically correct. On the phone, however, one typically identifies oneself with the expression: “This is…” rather than the other two, which you tend to use in face-to-face situations.
How do you express a strong opinion?
a. I’m tentatively convinced that
b. I firmly believe that
c. I declare allegedly that
b. I firmly believe that
a) and c) are not possible ways of expressing strong statements because of the presence of the respective adverbs “tentatively” (experimentalmente, como prueba) and “allegedly” (supuestamente).
What would you say to someone you want to pick up after work?
a. What time do you finish work?
b. At what time do you free work?
c. At which time does your day finish?
a. What time do you finish work?
All three are grammatically correct but b) and c) are meaningless. b) means “liberar” so “to free work” does not mean anything. For c) to be acceptable, it should have said something like “At what time does your working day finish?”.
The project was cancelled _____ lack of interest.
a. because
b. since
c. due to
c. due to
a) and b) are not grammatically possible because they require a clause afterwards (that is, a structure with a verb) and the sentence contains a noun phrase (that is, a noun/pronoun with determiners, modifiers and complements). It would have been possible, for example, to say: “The project was cancelled because there was a lack of interest” and “The project was cancelled since there was a lack of interest”.
What would you say to criticize something?
a. The weak point of your argument is that it is attractive to the general public.
b. I find too many weaknesses in its being attractive to the general public.
c. I dare say it cannot possible be attractive to the general public.
a. The weak point of your argument is that it is attractive to the general public.
b) is not grammatically possible. Subordinate clauses with a possessive subject (like “its being attractive to the general public”) are very infrequent and only possible with verbs like “appreciate” and “mind”: “I appreciate your being here”; “I hope you don’t mind my saying that it is a little stuffy in here”. The modal “dare” in c) is not a standard way to express a criticism but a highly cautious one (either because you want to convey humility or warn that what you are about to say is likely to be controversial or shocking).
_____ humans’ eagerness to be powerful, very few actually achieve significant power in life.
a. Despite
b. Whereas
c. Yet
a. Despite
“Whereas” is used to introduce a clause, not a phrase (see question 6 above). “Yet” in c) is meaningless because it cannot appear in that context (cf. She is smart, yet a little too casual [meaning “aunque”]; I haven’t considered any other options [meaning “aún”]; Have you established a limit? [meaning “ya”]).
Which of the following fragments is in the right order?
a. an American new computer model
b. a new American computer model
c. a computer American new model
b. a new American computer model
The correct order is that of answer b): general objective feature + precedence + nominal modifier.
I used _____ my clients on the phone but I’m used _____ them by email these days.
a. contacting / to contact
b. to contact / to contacting
c. to contacting / contact
b. to contact / to contacting
The verb “used” (a defective verb since it only has past tense; to be translated “solía”; not to be confused with the verb “to use-usar”) is complemented by infinitive clauses with “to” (e.g., When I was a child I used to play hide-and-seek). The verbal periphrasis “be used” (to be translated “estar acostumbrado”) is completely different and requires the complementing clause to be in the –ing form with the particle to (I am used to getting up at 7.00 everyday).
What do ladies wear to a formal ball?
a. A nightdress.
b. A full-length gown.
c. A fancy dress.
b. A full-length gown.
A nightdress is a female garment to wear in bed and a fancy dress is what people wear in carnivals. A full-length gown goes all the way down to your feet.
What is the term for an association of workers?
a. WA.
b. Working league.
c. Union.
c. Union
The correct term is union, which can be defined as a number of persons joined or associated together for some common purpose, like their working rights.
Which of the following objects do you use to underline a sentence in a text on a page?
a. A stapler.
b. A highlighter.
c. A filing gadget.
b. A highlighter.
A stapler is a little stationary gadget used to staple sheets together. A filing gadget is not an established name for anything (there is “filing cabinets”, “filing folders” etc.). A highlighter is a rather thick felt pen of a bright colour.
Which of the following words is of American origin?
a. Cab
b. Underground.
c. Motorway.
a. Cab
“Cab” is the American English word for “taxi”; “underground” and “motorway” are the British counterparts of “subway” and “highway”.
How would you expect to find a shy person?
a. Amusing
b. Embarrassed
c. Terrifying
b. Embarrassed
“Embarrassed” is a common state or frame of mind in shy and introverted people. Terrifying and amusing imply that they cause or produce terror or amusement in others, which is not necessarily associated with shy people.
Which text types are typically NOT expressed in telegraphic language?
a. PowerPoint presentations.
b. Notes.
c. Reports.
c. Reports.
It should be obvious that reports do not seek economy of expression in such an evident way as notes and PowerPoint presentations. The former are basically reminders and the latter are forms of support for oral communication.
Which of the following words is pronounced exactly the same regardless of the part of speech (i.e., whether it is a noun or a verb)?
a. Object
b. Contract
c. Control
c. Control
“Control” is the only word whose tonic syllable is the first one from the right, regardless of whether it is a verb or a noun. The other two words vary accordingly.
How was the English language introduced in the United States?
a. Because this country was founded by a number of British colonies.
b. Because this country was once a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
c. Because this language was forced on formal education (primary, secondary and tertiary).
a. Because this country was founded by a number of British colonies.
The USA has never belonged to the Commonwealth of Nations and English was not introduced through formal education. The reason why English is spoken in the States is because it was founded by thirteen British colonies located along the Atlantic seaboard.
The American Declaration of Independence was issued on July 4th ____.
a. 1676 (17th century).
b. 1776 (18th century).
c. 1876 (19th century).
b. 1776 (18th century).
It is important to know that as early as the 18th century, the Americans elaborated a document whose opening sentence is the following: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This is one of the most famous sentences in the English language and it is interesting that Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and three other men wrote these beautiful words almost two hundred years before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
One of the North American celebrations that is least followed in Europe is _____.
a. Halloween.
b. Easter Carnival.
c. Thanksgiving.
c. Thanksgiving.
Carnival takes place before Easter; there is not such a thing as Easter Carnival in North American tradition. Of the other two celebrations, Halloween and Thanksgiving, the former is increasingly more followed in Europe.
What is a “lingua franca”?
a. A variety of English spoken overseas.
b. A language artificially created by contact between two communities.
c. A synonym for “French language”.
d. A language used to communicate between speakers of any mother tongue.
d. A language used to communicate between speakers of any mother tongue.
When did English start spreading over the world?
a. At the time of the British Empire.
b. After World War II.
c. With the hegemony of the United States.
d. When it started being used in texts.
a. At the time of the British Empire.
In which of these words is the letter “g” pronounced differently?
a. gel
b. giraffe
c. gentle
d. give
d. give
Which of these words has a foreign origin?
a. eye
b. tattoo
c. way
d. place
b. tattoo
Which of these words is unlikely to appear in a brochure advertising holiday resorts?
a. sightseeing tour
b. package deal
c. hiking trail
d. escape route
d. escape route
Which of these words belongs to the British English variant?
a. taxi
b. elevator
c. garbage
d. truck
a. taxi
One of the typical work activities in an office is __________ office expenditure and managing the budget.
a. using
b. deleting
c. recording
d. ignoring
c. recording
Which of these sentences refers to an academic background particularly relevant for working in a hotel?
a. I have experience in managing a restaurant
b. I earned a degree in Restoration
c. I have done Tourism
d. My background is in Hospitality Management
d. My background is in Hospitality Management
Which of these expressions shows a positive reaction?
a. Leave me alone!
b. I don’t fancy doing anything.
c. I’m going for it!
d. I don’t give a damn.
c. I’m going for it!
Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:
- When she heard the terrible news, she____________.
a. passed by
b. passed up
c. passed out
d. passed off
c. passed out
se desmayó
Please, complete the following idiomatic comparison: - As white as a _________.
a. sheet
b. nail
c. pin
d. wall
a. sheet
Which was the most terrible century in the history of Ireland?
a. 15th.
b. 17th.
c. 19th.
d. 21st
c. 19th.
How would you paraphrase the following sentence?
- The manager said: “The bank has sent me a letter claiming unpaid bills.”
a. The manager said that he has sent a letter claiming unpaid bills.
b. The manager said that he had been sent a letter claiming unpaid bills.
c. The manager said that he had sent a letter claiming unpaid bills.
d. The manager said that he has been sent a letter claiming unpaid bills.
b. The manager said that he had been sent a letter claiming unpaid bills.
Choose the best option in the passive voice for the following sentence: - The secretary has not sent me the e-mail.
a. I have not been sent by the secretary the e-mail.
b. The e-mail has not been sent to me by the secretary.
c. I have not been sent the secretary the email.
d. The e-mail has not been sent me by the secretary.
b. The e-mail has not been sent to me by the secretary.
Complete the sentence with the appropriate verbs:
- If I _________ you, I ________ for another job.
a. were/applied
b. had been/applied
c. were/would apply
d. was/apply
c. were/would apply
Choose the correct sequence (no emphasis added):
a. A Spanish young man.
b. A special silver bracelet.
c. An old kind man.
d. A blue wonderful car.
b. A special silver bracelet.
Choose the correct option:
- Repeat the story to me _____________ we’re waiting for them to come.
a. until
b. while
c. after
d. before
b. while
After heavy rain, the atmosphere is _____.
a) damp
b) rainy
c) freezing
a) damp
After a period of rain, the weather does not have to be cold, but the humidity in the atmosphere makes it damp or wet.
We didn’t waste our time, we _____.
a) did our best time.
b) made the most of our time.
c) profited our time greatly.
b) made the most of our time.
The expression is “to make the most of a situation/an opportunity/time/etc.” and it means the opposite of “to waste”.
“To profit” means “to take advantage of”.
You do your best time when you break your own speed record running.
With _____, it is understandable that she was the candidate selected.
a) the fact that he has a very strong CV
b) such a strong CV
c) his CV being so strong
b) such a strong CV
“With” in this sense of cause or reason requires a phrase (not a clause with a verb).
They are very competent, _____ they are still a little inexperienced.
a) although
b) whilst
c) while
a) although
Concessive clauses (this is a type of clause which introduces a contrasting element with respect to the previous one) may be introduced by “although”, “however” or “but”, but not by “whilst” or “while”.
The last two words are synonymous and they have two uses:
introducing a simultaneous time reference (He told me the story of his life while he was sewing a sock) and a contrast in the initial position (While I think it’s too late, I’ll give you one last chance - but not: I’ll give you one last chance, while I think it’s too late).
I burst out laughing during the conference because _____.
a) I couldn’t resist.
b) I couldn’t avoid so.
c) I couldn’t help it.
c) I couldn’t help it.
The main aspect in this question is not so much the verb but the presence of the proform “it” in substitution of “laughing during the conference”.
a) is not possible because a transitive verb (eat, write, tell, etc.) must be followed by an object.
What do you say to the doctor?
a) I have a sideache when I run.
b) My side hurts when I run.
c) My side is in pain when I run.
b) My side hurts when I run.
People are said to be in pain, not parts of your body.
Your body parts hurt or they are painful but they are not in pain.
As for a), the suffix “-ache” go with a closed set of body parts (toothache, stomachache, earache, headache) but it can’t be used freely.
What do you typically address the assistant in a computer shop?
a) I want a portable computer.
b) Can I have a portable computer, please?
c) I was looking for a portable computer, please.
c) I was looking for a portable computer, please.
You shouldn’t use “want” to ask for things in a polite way.
b) is an appropriate way to ask for permission to borrow something.
c) is polite and adequate for the situation described.
How would you call someone with walking difficulties?
a) A slow walking person.
b) A slow pacer.
c) A non-fast walker.
b) A slow pacer.
b) is the politically correct term that is most widely used for such people.
How do you feel when you are confused?
a) Mischievous.
b) Puzzled.
c) Listless.
b) Puzzled.
a) means “naughty”
c) means “apathetic, without energy”.
And how do you definitely NOT feel when you are proud of something?
a) Ashamed.
b) Overwhelmed.
c) Wary.
a) Ashamed.
b) means “overcome”
c) means “cautious”.
What must you do when you shake hands in a job interview?
a) Pump the other hand.
b) Shake it firmly.
c) Provide a limp and damp handshake.
b) Shake it firmly.
a) and c) are rather unpleasant!
How would you finish a covering letter when you apply for a job?
a) As you can see I’m a most suitable candidate so please give me the job.
b) I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
c) I really need the job so I remain at your disposal.
b) I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
a) is pompous and arrogant
c) would make you sound desperate, which would also cause a negative impression.
What is NOT typical contained in the language of marketing?
a) Passives.
b) Compounds.
c) Positive adjectives.
a) Passives.
The language of marketing (brochures, commercials, adverts, etc.) is very direct and imaginative, so passive structures are not common.
Which European war was crucial in the history of Canada?
a) The Anglo-Irish War.
b) The Second World War.
c) The Seven Years’ War.
c) The Seven Years’ War.
The Seven Years’ War is the name given to the final phase in the century-long struggle between France and Great Britain for dominance in North America and supremacy in the world.
It is so named as war officially started in 1756, and the peace treaty that resolved it was signed in 1763.
In reality, a state of war had existed in North America since 1754.
The war was of significance as the two great powers fought on land and sea in nearly all parts of the world, invested huge amounts of money, material and men in this conflict, to the point that they both emerged exhausted from it.
The balance of power was tipped irretrievably in Britain’s favour and the course of Canadian history was profoundly altered as the Canadians were conquered and annexed to the British Empire.
As such, this war is the central event in Quebec history.
In recognition of this fact, in Canada it is simply called the War of the Conquest.
How do you typically ask for advice at the Tourist Information Office?
a) Can you tell me what I have to do?
b) Can you please advice me to make the most?
c) Can you suggest the best options I have?
c) Can you suggest the best options I have?
Option a) is too direct and inappropriate for an advising bureau like the tourist information office.
What they do there rather is advise tourists about different options for hotels, excursions, etc.
Option b) is grammatically incorrect since “to make the most of” cannot be left incomplete (e.g., “…my two-day stay in this town?”).
How do you express partial agreement?
a) You have half a point.
b) I agree up to a point.
c) OK, I make your point.
b) I agree up to a point.
Option a) is grammatically correct but meaningless in this context (you may hear it, for example, while calculating the score during a game).
c) is rather meaningless.
Option b) is another way of saying: “I agree with you up to a certain point”.
