CELPIP Writing Practice Course: Tone, register and word choice

1. Question 1 of 15

   What tone does a Task 1 email usually need?

   • AProfessional and respectful, even in a complaint
   • BVery casual, with plenty of slang and jokes
   • CExtremely formal, like a legal court document
   • DAngry and direct, if you are making a complaint
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Professional and respectful, even in a complaint

   Task 1 emails often go to a manager, landlord, customer service representative or community group, so a professional and respectful tone fits.

2. Question 2 of 15

   What does official CELPIP advice say you should avoid in your emails?

   • AClear paragraphs with one main idea each
   • BA greeting and a sign-off that fit the reader
   • CRudeness, sarcasm and casual slang
   • DPolite requests that begin with "Could you"
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Rudeness, sarcasm and casual slang

   The Target 9 study pack says to avoid rudeness, sarcasm and casual slang.

3. Question 3 of 15

   Which request is most appropriate in an email to your building manager?

   • AFix the heater now.
   • BHey, the heater's busted, so deal with it!
   • CI demand that you stop ignoring my broken heater immediately.
   • DCould you please send someone to fix the heater this week?
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Could you please send someone to fix the heater this week?

   A polite question such as "Could you please…?" makes a clear request while keeping a respectful tone.

4. Question 4 of 15

   Which sentence is too informal for an email to a customer service team?

   • AThank you for your help with this matter.
   • BI'm gonna need my money back asap.
   • CCould you tell me how to return the item?
   • DI would like a refund, please.
   Show answer

   Answer: B. I'm gonna need my money back asap.

   "Gonna" and "asap" are casual spoken or texting forms. Write "going to" and "as soon as possible", or make a polite request.

5. Question 5 of 15

   Which sentence sounds too formal for a short email to a friendly neighbour?

   • AWould you be able to feed my cat on Saturday while I'm away?
   • BCould you help me with my cat next weekend, if you have time?
   • CI hereby formally request your assistance with my cat.
   • DI was wondering if you could check on my cat while I'm at work.
   Show answer

   Answer: C. I hereby formally request your assistance with my cat.

   The goal is to sound right for the situation, not overly formal. "I hereby formally request" is far too stiff for a neighbour.

6. Question 6 of 15

   What does official CELPIP advice say about using complex vocabulary?

   • ALong sentences always earn higher scores than short ones
   • BClear words usually work better than complex ones
   • CLegal phrases sound best in every kind of email
   • DUse as many rare and unusual words as you can find
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Clear words usually work better than complex ones

   The CELPIP blog says clear communication is usually more effective than trying to impress the reader with complex vocabulary.

7. Question 7 of 15

   Your draft says: "Pls let me know if u can come." What is the best revision?

   • APlease let me know if u can come.
   • BPls let me know if you can come!!!
   • CPlease let me know if you can come.
   • DLet me know if u can come, pls.
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Please let me know if you can come.

   Do not use short forms from texting, such as "pls" and "u". Write full words in normal sentence case.

8. Question 8 of 15

   Which sentence expresses disappointment politely?

   • AWow, great job sending my order two weeks late.
   • BTwo weeks late?? Seriously?? Unbelievable!!
   • CI was disappointed that my order arrived two weeks late.
   • DYour company is the worst one I have ever dealt with, by far.
   Show answer

   Answer: C. I was disappointed that my order arrived two weeks late.

   You can show that you are unhappy without being rude or sarcastic. A calm statement of the problem is more effective.

9. Question 9 of 15

   You are writing to a coworker you know well to ask them to cover your shift. Which opening fits best?

   • ADear Madam or Sir, I hereby write to you.
   • BHi Priya, I hope your week is going well.
   • Cyo priya whats up
   • DTo whom it may concern:
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Hi Priya, I hope your week is going well.

   For a coworker you know, a friendly but polite greeting fits. "To whom it may concern" and "I hereby write to you" are too formal, and "yo priya whats up" is slang with no capitals.

10. Question 10 of 15

    The internet keeps disconnecting several times a day. Which word most precisely replaces "bad" in "The service has been bad"?

    • Apolite
    • Bcrowded
    • Cunreliable
    • Daffordable
    Show answer

    Answer: C. unreliable

    Precise word choice is part of the Vocabulary dimension. "Unreliable" describes service that keeps stopping.

11. Question 11 of 15

    Choose the correct word: "I would like to ___ a complaint about the noise."

    • Ado
    • Bgive
    • Cmake
    • Dtake
    Show answer

    Answer: C. make

    In English we "make a complaint". Natural word combinations like this show good control of vocabulary.

12. Question 12 of 15

    Choose the correct word: "Please ___ attention to the new parking rules."

    • Amake
    • Bpay
    • Cspend
    • Ddo
    Show answer

    Answer: B. pay

    The natural combination is "pay attention". Using the right word partners makes writing sound natural.

13. Question 13 of 15

    A writer used the word "good" five times. Which revision shows the best range of vocabulary?

    • AThe location is handy, the prices are fair and the staff are helpful.
    • BThe location is very, very good and the prices are really good too.
    • CThe location is good, the prices are good and the staff are good too.
    • DEverything about the place is good, really good and so very good.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The location is handy, the prices are fair and the staff are helpful.

    Range of words is part of the Vocabulary dimension. Using different, precise words instead of repeating "good" shows a wider range.

14. Question 14 of 15

    Read the sample response. Which numbered part has an inappropriate tone?

    Prompt: Your internet provider charged you twice for the same month. Write an email to the company's billing department.

    Sample response (beginning):

    (1) Dear Billing Team,

    (2) I am writing about my account, number 40-2271. My bank statement shows that I was charged $65 twice for September.

    (3) Wow, what a great way to treat a loyal customer.

    (4) Could you please refund the extra payment to my credit card?

    • APart 1
    • BPart 4
    • CPart 2
    • DPart 3
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Part 3

    Part 3 is sarcastic. Official advice says to avoid sarcasm; the other parts are polite and clear.

15. Question 15 of 15

    Which sentence would be the best replacement for part 3?

    Prompt: Your internet provider charged you twice for the same month. Write an email to the company's billing department.

    Sample response (beginning):

    (1) Dear Billing Team,

    (2) I am writing about my account, number 40-2271. My bank statement shows that I was charged $65 twice for September.

    (3) Wow, what a great way to treat a loyal customer.

    (4) Could you please refund the extra payment to my credit card?

    • AYour billing department obviously cannot count very well.
    • BI was surprised by this error, as I always pay on time.
    • CI can't believe how useless your billing team is!!!
    • DThanks a lot for nothing, as usual, from your company.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. I was surprised by this error, as I always pay on time.

    This sentence shows the writer is unhappy but stays calm and respectful, which suits an email to a company.

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