ACTIVITY SHEET

EPISODE 26: GENERAL TASK WRITING

Practise and consolidate your learning about the requirements for the IELTS General Training Writing Test by completing these activities. Remember you can refer to the study notes for this episode if you need help. ACTIVITY 1 Match the purpose on the left with the correct statement on the right. Purpose
1

Statement
a

Giving information

I am writing to report an accident. Please excuse the behaviour of the group at the restaurant last night. I apologise for any inconvenience I regret to inform you that The house you are looking for is rather old

Requesting information

Giving instructions

Relating an event

Giving good news

Giving bad news

I am writing in response to your call for ideas for the new recreation park. I would like to suggest There will be a Project Management f Training Program beginning It gives me great pleasure to

Complaining

Describing

Please follow these directions when I am interested in your Computing Course and would like further information The service in your hotel is not up to standard and I am writing to

Advising or suggesting

10

Apologising

Page 1 of 8

ACTIVITY 2 Choose the best word to complete the sentence.

Question 1:

I am writing to your office __________ rectify several mistakes in your recent newspaper article about our language courses.
a. for b. so as c. to

Answers:

to

Question 2: Answers:

My payment was delayed __________ a fault with my on-line account.

a. for b. because c. by

of

Question 3:

You suggest I arrive on 1 January. __________ this is a public holiday, I think transport might be a problem.
a. since b. owing to c. unfortunately

Answers:

Question 4:

I enclose a photocopy of the main page in my passport __________ requested.

a. since b. as c. because

Answers:

Question 5:

The noise in the restaurant that night was __________ a large group celebrating a birthday.
a. due to b. because c. since

Answers:

Question 6: Answers:

I __________ this does not happen again.

a. hope b. want c. wish

Question 7:

__________ something is done about the noise, I will be forced to take further action.
a. when b. unless c. if

Answers:

Page 2 of 8

ACTIVITY 2 continued
Question 8:

__________ something is not done about the garbage in the street, I will be forced to take the matter further.
a. when b. unless c. if

Answers:

Question 9:

I __________ receipt of your letter and I gratefully accept your kind offer.
a. appreciate b. acknowledge c. take

Answers:

Question 10:

Unfortunately your application arrived after the due date. __________ we cannot allow you to enrol in this semester.
a. as a result b. that is because c. for this

Answers:

ACTIVITY 3 Choose the best word to complete the sentence.

Question 1:

__________ you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
a. should b. unless c. when

Answers:

Question 2:

Would you __________ forward information on all language courses you offer.
a. to b. please c. like

Answers:

Question 3:

Please arrange __________ have the air conditioning fixed before we return from holidays.
a. to b. for c. someone

Answers:

Page 3 of 8

ACTIVITY 3 continued
Question 4:

__________ you dont mind, could we please meet earlier at 9.00 am rather than 10.00?
a. would b. could c. if

Answers:

Question 5: Answers:

It would be __________ if you could arrive on time in future.

a. appreciative b. appreciated c. appreciate

Question 6: Answers:

__________ I have a copy of the latest student handbook please.

a. should b. may c. shall

Question 7:

I would be __________ if you could forward a copy of the latest handbook.

a. gratefully b. greatfully c. grateful

Answers:

Question 8: Answers:

I __________ to advise you that tonights concert has been cancelled.

a. sorry b. regretfully c. regret

Question 9:

Would you be so kind __________ to advise all passengers of the cancellation.

a. as b. if c. for

Answers:

Question 10:

I __________ like to remind you that smoking is not permitted in any part of the college.
a. will b. would c. do

Answers:

Page 4 of 8

ACTIVITY 4 Complete the letter giving directions to a friends house by choosing the correct word from the box.

cross follow

divides at

when south

take opposite

immediately further

To get to my house, Id suggest you (1) __________ a train. Get off the train at Central Station and exit from the (2) __________ end of the platform. When you come out of the tunnel, the path (3) __________ into two. Take the right path and (4) __________ it through the park.
(5)

__________ you come to the road, turn left and walk three blocks.

At the traffic lights, (6) __________ the road to the other side.
(7)

__________ the Post Office on the corner, turn right.

About a hundred metres (8) __________ on you will see the local public school.
(9)

__________ after that, take the turn on the right.

My house is (10) __________ the pharmacy.

ACTIVITY 5 Match the informal choice on the left with the formal choice on the right. Informal
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Formal
a b c d e f g h i j

Here is you asked for Id like you to If you need Because of If you dont do anything Why dont you Im sorry that I Give me Send me

It would be appreciated if you Should you require Due to I suggest that you Please provide Attached please find I apologise that I Please forward you requested Unless something is done about

Page 5 of 8

ANSWERS ACTIVITY 1 Match the purpose on the left with the correct statement on the right. Purpose
1

Statement
f

Giving information

There will be a Project Management Training Program beginning I am interested in your Computing Course and would like further information Please follow these directions when I am writing to report an accident.

Requesting information

Giving instructions

Relating an event

Giving good news

It gives me great pleasure to

Giving bad news

I regret to inform you that The service in your hotel is not up to standard and I am writing to The house you are looking for is rather old

Complaining

Describing

Advising or suggesting

10

Apologising

I am writing in response to your call for ideas for the new recreation park. I would like to suggest Please excuse the behaviour of the b group at the restaurant last night. I apologise for any inconvenience .
e

ANSWERS ACTIVITY 2 Choose the best word to complete the sentence.

Question 1:

I am writing to your office to rectify several mistakes in your recent newspaper article about our language courses. My payment was delayed because of a fault with my on-line account. You suggest I arrive on 1 January. Since this is a public holiday, I think transport might be a problem.

Question 2: Question 3:

Page 6 of 8

ANSWERS ACTIVITY 2 continued

Question 4: Question 5:

I enclose a photocopy of the main page in my passport as requested. The noise in the restaurant that night was due to a large group celebrating a birthday. I hope this does not happen again. Unless something is done about the noise, I will be forced to take further action. If something is not done about the garbage in the street, I will be forced to take the matter further. I acknowledge receipt of your letter and I gratefully accept your kind q offer. Unfortunately your application arrived after the due date. As a result we cannot allow you to enrol in this semester.

Question 6: Question 7:

Question 8:

Question 9:

Question 10:

ANSWERS ACTIVITY 3 Choose the best word to complete the sentence.

Question 1:

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Would you please forward information on all language courses you offer. Please arrange to have the air conditioning fixed before we return from holidays. If you dont mind, could we please meet earlier at 9.00 am rather than 10.00? It would be appreciated if you could arrive on time in future. May I have a copy of the latest student handbook please. I would be grateful if you could forward a copy of the latest handbook. I regret to advise you that tonights concert has been cancelled. Would you be so kind as to advise all passengers of the cancellation. I would like to remind you that smoking is not permitted in any part of the college.

Question 2:

Question 3:

Question 4:

Question 5: Question 6: Question 7: Question 8: Question 9: Question 10:

Page 7 of 8

ANSWERS ACTIVITY 4 Complete the letter giving directions to a friends house by choosing the correct word from the box.

cross follow

divides at

when south

take opposite

immediately further

To get to my house, Id suggest you take a train. Get off the train at Central Station and exit from the south end of the platform. When you come out of the tunnel, the path divides into two. Take the right path and follow it through the park. When you come to the road, turn left and walk three blocks. At the traffic lights, cross the road to the other side. At the Post Office on the corner, turn right. About a hundred metres further on you will see the local public school. Immediately after that, take the turn on the right. My house is opposite the pharmacy.

ANSWERS ACTIVITY 5 Match the informal choice on the left with the formal choice on the right. Informal
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Formal
f i a b c j d g e h

Here is you asked for Id like you to If you need Because of If you dont do anything Why dont you Im sorry that I Give me Send me

Attached please find You requested It would be appreciated if you Should you require Due to Unless something is done about I suggest that you I apologise that I Please provide Please forward

Page 8 of 8