Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1In my update to the project manager, I said I was ............... about the delay but had a plan to reduce the impact.
Wrong!
"worried" is neutral; the other choices are either informal or more formal than the context requires.
2Before I send the report, could you ............... the figures on page three?
Wrong!
"check" is the neutral verb for a routine request; the other options are too casual or too formal.
3The notice at the entrance asks ............... to keep their receipts until they leave the store.
Wrong!
"customers" is neutral and clear for a shop notice; the other choices sound too informal or too ceremonial.
4At the staff meeting, the HR adviser ............... the changes to the leave policy.
Wrong!
"explained" is the neutral reporting verb; the alternatives are too conversational or too formal.
5In the complaint form, Marta wrote that the service was ............... and that her meal arrived cold.
Wrong!
"poor" is a neutral way to describe a problem in a complaint; the other choices are too informal or too formal.
6The job advertisement says applicants should ............... me by Friday if they need further information.
Wrong!
"contact" is neutral and concise; the other options are more casual or more formal in this sentence.
7During the budget discussion, we agreed that the first software package was too ............... for our team.
Wrong!
"expensive" is neutral; the other options sound informal or strongly formal and emphatic.
8The coordinator ............... us about the changes to tomorrow's schedule.
Wrong!
"told" is neutral in this everyday workplace sentence; the alternatives are too informal or too formal.
9The receptionist said there was a ............... with the booking system and asked us to wait.
Wrong!
"problem" is the neutral noun here; the other choices are either informal or more formal and specific.
10The trainer asked whether the safety instructions were ............... before the practice exercise began.
Wrong!
"clear" is neutral; the other options are too conversationally emphatic or too formal for this feedback.
11The agenda says the committee will make ............... about the training budget after lunch.
Wrong!
"a decision" is the neutral collocation after "make"; the other choices are informal or too formal.
12Because the speaker is ill, the training department has ............... Friday's workshop.
Wrong!
"cancelled" is the neutral verb for a scheduled event; the alternatives are more informal or too formal and severe.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- In my update to the project manager, I said I was worried about the delay but had a plan to reduce the impact.
- Before I send the report, could you check the figures on page three?
- The notice at the entrance asks customers to keep their receipts until they leave the store.
- At the staff meeting, the HR adviser explained the changes to the leave policy.
- In the complaint form, Marta wrote that the service was poor and that her meal arrived cold.
- The job advertisement says applicants should contact me by Friday if they need further information.
- During the budget discussion, we agreed that the first software package was too expensive for our team.
- The coordinator told us about the changes to tomorrow’s schedule.
- The receptionist said there was a problem with the booking system and asked us to wait.
- The trainer asked whether the safety instructions were clear before the practice exercise began.
- The agenda says the committee will make a decision about the training budget after lunch.
- Because the speaker is ill, the training department has cancelled Friday’s workshop.