Part 1: Reading Correspondence
Read an email or letter and complete a related reply. The reference structure is 11 questions in about 11 minutes: six questions about the main message and five blanks in the reply.
Work through each lesson and mark the module complete when you finish practising.
2.1 Identify who is writing and why
Before working through the details, look for:
- Sender and recipient: Who is writing, and to whom?
- Relationship: What information in the message connects these people?
- Purpose: Is the writer informing, asking for help, proposing a change, or presenting a problem?
- Expected action: What should the other person do?
The greeting and closing provide clues about tone, but do not establish a relationship on their own. Regards can appear in different contexts. Look for references to work, family, or shared activities.
2.2 Find evidence for each question
Read the question and identify what you need to find: a date, reason, request, or conclusion.
Names and numbers help you locate information. Other ideas may use different words: send the revised slides and provide an updated presentation may refer to the same action.
When you find a match, read the complete sentence. A shared word does not guarantee that the option means the same thing as the message.
Mini-test
Identify the relationship
Read this short practice message:
Hi Linda,
Our manager has approved the budget for next month's conference. Since we are both presenting our team's project, could you send me your revised slides by Thursday? I will combine them with mine before Friday's rehearsal at the office.
Regards,
John
Which relationship is supported by the message?
2.3 Complete the reply without losing context
The reply must fit the original message, the meaning of the new sentence, and its grammar.
- Read the whole reply to identify who is answering and why.
- Review the sentences before and after the blank.
- Compare the options with the main message.
- Reread the complete sentence after choosing.
Return to the relevant part of the first email if you need to confirm something. Avoid relying only on memory.
As a practice time allocation, you could spend 6 minutes on the first block, 4.5 on the second, and 30 seconds reviewing. Adjust the split to your pace and the timer shown in the exercise.
Mini-test
Complete the reply
Use John's email from the previous mini-test:
Hi John,
Thanks for the update. I'll ______ so that you can put the presentation together before the rehearsal.
Find the answer in the message
Practise identifying purpose, locating details, and completing a reply in a free exercise.