Write a letter complaining to the Transport Authority about the inefficient bus service which you use every day to get to work. Explain the inconveniences that you and others have to put up with and suggest ways to improve the services.

You are the Managing Partner of Fab Foods Pvt. Ltd., manufacturing processed foods. Write to your bankers requesting for an overdraft on your current account for a given amount and time.

Write a 300 word essay on things you would like to achieve in your professional life. Why? How would you achieve them?

Read the passage and answer in your own words the questions that follow:

An important aspect of socializing is 'Small Talk’; an informal conversation about things that are not important but establish your goodwill towards the other person and allows you to get to know him/her better. Light casual conversation or small talk happens all the time between casual acquaintances, people travelling together on the same bus or train, people you meet in the course of your work, etc. The difference between socialising and chatting with your friends is that you have known your friends for a long time and can be open with them while small talk is made with people you may not know at all or know slightly. Therefore, while socializing you have to be careful about the topics you choose to talk about. Avoid subjects that can lead to offence and do not ask probing personal questions (about age, salary or marital status, for instance).

Normally the conversation arises from the immediate surroundings: the weather, buildings and places, hotels, arrivals and departures, meals, entertainment, the news of the day, etc. Very often the topics flow from the conversational context. The answers to questions and the comments that follow can provide a lead to the next topic. When someone makes small talk with you, do not give only monosyllabic 'Yes' or No' answers. Add an opinion but be sensitive to the views of the other person too.

Another important aspect of small talk is ‘the timing’ i.e. how long should you carry on with it. The simple answer is not too long, particularly in a formal or business situation. One should not wait for the guest to signal that it is time for work or start giving cues such as looking at some papers or their watch or flipping open the file or a briefcase.

1a State whether the following statements are True or False:

i Small talk does not help in socializing.

ii It is not proper to ask probing question when you met new people.

iii Small talk does not require you to express your opinion.

iv In formal situations, small talk takes a lot of time.

v People indicate that it is time to stop talking by looking at their watches.

1b Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

i What is the aim of small talk ?

ii Why do you think subjects that give offence should be avoided during socializing?

iii Mention one difference between chatting and small talk.

iv Why are simple 'Yes' or No' answers not suitable during small talk?

v List at least five topics that are safe for small talk.

1c Make sentences of the following words / phrases from the passage:

i establish your goodwill

ii informal conversation

iii casual acquaintance

iv probing personal question

v marital status

Rewrite the following sentences after correcting the error of agreement, if any:

i Neither of the proposals were accepted.

ii He was one of the advisers who negotiated the treaty.

iii The toll of the traffic accidents are rising.

iv Only one of his criticisms were sensible.

v Where’s the letters we received from our customers?

vi Have either of the orders been sent?

vii The acoustic in this auditorium have always been bad.

viii Student life and professional life is entirely different.

ix The Collected Works of T.S. Eliot are worth reading.

x I don’t like these furnitures

Rewrite the following sentences by using a phrasal verb in place of the words in italics in each sentence. You may choose one of the phrasal verbs given below and use the tense form suitable in the given context. There are some extra phrasal verbs.

turn down, put up with, put on, pay heed, mount up, mixed up, look forward to, go over, go out, take off, put out, run into

i I was very nervous when the plane became airborne.

ii The fire brigade arrived soon to extinguish the fire.

iii Have you ever refused an offer or invitation that you later regretted.

iv I eagerly await New Year’s Day.

v He has confused the two stories.

vi The price of imported books has increased.

vii Let’s review the plans again before submitting them.

viii She cannot tolerate nonsense.

ix I met unexpectedly an old friend of mine who had left our school.

x We must pay attention to the job at hand.

Effectively facing a job interview