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

1. Pergunta 1 de 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.
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   Resposta: C. Could you pass me the tape, please?

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

2. Pergunta 2 de 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.
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   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 3 de 16

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

   • Ato close
   • Bclose
   • Cclosing
   • Dclosed
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   Resposta: C. closing

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

4. Pergunta 4 de 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.
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   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 5 de 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
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   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 6 de 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.
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   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 7 de 16

   Listen. What does Mateo do to avoid a mistake?

   Ouvir áudioOuça e depois responda. A transcrição aparece depois de responder.

   Sem som? Leia o texto

   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
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   Resposta: 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.

   Transcrição

   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. Pergunta 8 de 16

   Listen. Where should the blue bins go?

   Ouvir áudioOuça e depois responda. A transcrição aparece depois de responder.

   Sem som? Leia o texto

   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
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   Resposta: A. Bay four

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

   Transcrição

   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. Pergunta 9 de 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?
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   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 10 de 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.
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    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 11 de 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
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    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 12 de 16

    Listen. What does Dev offer to do?

    Ouvir áudioOuça e depois responda. A transcrição aparece depois de responder.

    Sem som? Leia o texto

    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
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    Resposta: 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.

    Transcrição

    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. Pergunta 13 de 16

    Listen. How many copies does Grace ask for?

    Ouvir áudioOuça e depois responda. A transcrição aparece depois de responder.

    Sem som? Leia o texto

    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
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    Resposta: A. Ten

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

    Transcrição

    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. Pergunta 14 de 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.
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    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 15 de 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
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    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 16 de 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
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    Resposta: B. Thursday

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

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