English for the Canadian Workplace Course: Polite requests and asking for clarification

1. Question 1 sur 16

   Which request is the most polite?

   • APass me the tape.
   • BI want the tape.
   • CCould you pass me the tape, please?
   • DHey, give me that tape over there right now.
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. Could you pass me the tape, please?

   "Could you ..., please?" is a soft, polite request. Direct commands can sound rude to coworkers.

2. Question 2 sur 16

   Your coworker asks, "Would you mind helping me with these boxes?" You are happy to help. What do you say?

   • ANot at all. Where do they go?
   • BNo, I can't.
   • CYes, I would mind.
   • DYes, I mind.
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. Not at all. Where do they go?

   "Would you mind ...?" asks if it is a problem for you. "Not at all" means it is no problem and you will help.

3. Question 3 sur 16

   Complete the request: "Would you mind ___ the door?"

   • Ato close
   • Bclose
   • Cclosing
   • Dclosed
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. closing

   After "Would you mind", use the -ing form of the verb: "Would you mind closing the door?"

4. Question 4 sur 16

   You did not hear a number your supervisor said. What is the best thing to say?

   • AWhat?
   • BSorry, could you repeat the number?
   • COkay, got it.
   • DYou speak way too fast for me, so I didn't hear.
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: B. Sorry, could you repeat the number?

   Ask politely for the part you missed. Job Bank advises asking for more explanation when you do not understand.

5. Question 5 sur 16

   Your supervisor writes, "I need the report by EOD." What does EOD mean?

   • AEnd of day
   • BEarly on duty
   • CEvery other day
   • DEnd of December
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. End of day

   EOD means end of day, usually the end of the workday. If you are not sure what time that is, ask.

6. Question 6 sur 16

   Which sentence asks for permission politely?

   • AI take my break now.
   • BWould it be okay if I took my break now?
   • CI am taking my break now, so you can cover for me.
   • DBreak time for me.
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: B. Would it be okay if I took my break now?

   "Would it be okay if I ...?" and "Is it all right if I ...?" are polite ways to ask permission.

7. Question 7 sur 16

   Listen. What does Mateo do to avoid a mistake?

   ÉcouterÉcoutez, puis répondez. La transcription s’affiche après votre réponse.

   Pas de son ? Lisez le texte

   Supervisor: Mateo, can you move the blue bins to bay four before the truck comes at two?
   Mateo: Sure. Just to confirm, the blue bins go to bay four, and the truck comes at two o'clock?
   Supervisor: That's right. Thanks!

   • AHe says he does not understand
   • BHe asks the supervisor to send the task in an email
   • CHe asks a coworker for help
   • DHe repeats the key details to check them
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: D. He repeats the key details to check them

   Mateo says "Just to confirm" and repeats the place and time. Repeating key details back is the best way to avoid mistakes.

   Transcription

   Supervisor: Mateo, can you move the blue bins to bay four before the truck comes at two?
   Mateo: Sure. Just to confirm, the blue bins go to bay four, and the truck comes at two o'clock?
   Supervisor: That's right. Thanks!

8. Question 8 sur 16

   Listen. Where should the blue bins go?

   ÉcouterÉcoutez, puis répondez. La transcription s’affiche après votre réponse.

   Pas de son ? Lisez le texte

   Supervisor: Mateo, can you move the blue bins to bay four before the truck comes at two?
   Mateo: Sure. Just to confirm, the blue bins go to bay four, and the truck comes at two o'clock?
   Supervisor: That's right. Thanks!

   • ABay four
   • BBay two
   • CNext to the truck
   • DBay one
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. Bay four

   The supervisor says bay four. "Two" is the time the truck comes, not the bay.

   Transcription

   Supervisor: Mateo, can you move the blue bins to bay four before the truck comes at two?
   Mateo: Sure. Just to confirm, the blue bins go to bay four, and the truck comes at two o'clock?
   Supervisor: That's right. Thanks!

9. Question 9 sur 16

   Your supervisor explains a task, but you do not understand the word "restock". What should you ask?

   • ASorry, what do you mean by "restock"?
   • BOkay, no problem.
   • CWhy do you use such hard words?
   • DIs restock a good thing?
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. Sorry, what do you mean by "restock"?

   Ask about the exact word you did not understand. "What do you mean by ...?" is clear and polite.

10. Question 10 sur 16

    Your manager asks you to stay late tonight, but you must pick up your child. Which answer is polite and clear?

    • AThat's not my problem.
    • BNo.
    • CI'm sorry, I can't tonight, but I could stay tomorrow.
    • DMaybe. I'll see what happens.
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. I'm sorry, I can't tonight, but I could stay tomorrow.

    A polite "no" says sorry, gives a clear answer and, if possible, offers another option.

11. Question 11 sur 16

    Why is it a problem to just nod and say "yes" when you do not understand an instruction?

    • ANodding is rude in Canada
    • BSupervisors cannot repeat instructions
    • CYour supervisor will think you understood
    • DSaying yes means you agree to work overtime later
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. Your supervisor will think you understood

    If you say "yes", your supervisor expects the job done correctly. Ask questions instead, especially about safety.

12. Question 12 sur 16

    Listen. What does Dev offer to do?

    ÉcouterÉcoutez, puis répondez. La transcription s’affiche après votre réponse.

    Pas de son ? Lisez le texte

    Grace: Oh no, the printer jammed again, and the meeting starts in five minutes.
    Dev: Would you like me to print it on the second floor?
    Grace: That would be great. Could you make ten copies?
    Dev: Sure. I'll bring them right to the meeting room.

    • ACall IT support to come and fix the printer
    • BFix the printer
    • CStart the meeting
    • DPrint the document on another floor
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. Print the document on another floor

    Dev asks, "Would you like me to print it on the second floor?" "Would you like me to ...?" is a polite offer.

    Transcription

    Grace: Oh no, the printer jammed again, and the meeting starts in five minutes.
    Dev: Would you like me to print it on the second floor?
    Grace: That would be great. Could you make ten copies?
    Dev: Sure. I'll bring them right to the meeting room.

13. Question 13 sur 16

    Listen. How many copies does Grace ask for?

    ÉcouterÉcoutez, puis répondez. La transcription s’affiche après votre réponse.

    Pas de son ? Lisez le texte

    Grace: Oh no, the printer jammed again, and the meeting starts in five minutes.
    Dev: Would you like me to print it on the second floor?
    Grace: That would be great. Could you make ten copies?
    Dev: Sure. I'll bring them right to the meeting room.

    • ATen
    • BFour
    • CTwo
    • DFive
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. Ten

    Grace asks for ten copies. "Five" is the minutes until the meeting, and "second" is the floor.

    Transcription

    Grace: Oh no, the printer jammed again, and the meeting starts in five minutes.
    Dev: Would you like me to print it on the second floor?
    Grace: That would be great. Could you make ten copies?
    Dev: Sure. I'll bring them right to the meeting room.

14. Question 14 sur 16

    Which sentence checks your understanding without sounding rude?

    • AThat makes no sense to me.
    • BSo, if I understand correctly, I start with yesterday's orders?
    • CYou didn't explain that well.
    • DExplain it again, but slower.
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: B. So, if I understand correctly, I start with yesterday's orders?

    "If I understand correctly ..." lets you repeat the task back and check it politely.

15. Question 15 sur 16

    Read the message. What does Lucy offer Ahmed?

    Hi Ahmed, could you cover my shift on Saturday? I have a family event. I'd be happy to take your Wednesday shift in return. No worries if you can't. Just let me know by Thursday so I can ask someone else. Thanks! Lucy

    • ATo pay him for Saturday
    • BTo ask the manager for him
    • CTo invite him to her family event on Saturday
    • DTo work his Wednesday shift
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. To work his Wednesday shift

    Lucy writes that she would be happy to take Ahmed's Wednesday shift in return. Offering something back makes a request easier to accept.

16. Question 16 sur 16

    Read the message. By when does Lucy need an answer?

    Hi Ahmed, could you cover my shift on Saturday? I have a family event. I'd be happy to take your Wednesday shift in return. No worries if you can't. Just let me know by Thursday so I can ask someone else. Thanks! Lucy

    • AWednesday
    • BThursday
    • CSaturday
    • DFriday
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: B. Thursday

    Lucy asks Ahmed to let her know by Thursday so she has time to ask someone else.

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