Vocabulary notes

1. Present one’s ideas – передавати, представляти думки (ідеї)

2. Top executive – високопоставлені посадовці

3. Middle-of-the-road - середній

4. Make favourable impression – викликати сприятливе враження

5. At the left margin – на полях зліва

6. Job title – робоче звання

7. Speed up - прискорити

8. Make an effort – зробити зусилля

9. Registered or certified mail – рекомендована пересилка

10. Blank line – чистий, не списаний рядок

Exercises

1. Transcribe and practice correctly the following words from the text.

Concern, salutation, address, sequence, purpose, except, optional, proof, reply, frequently, stationary, data, futuristic, layout, flood, accustomed, common, courtesy, establish, accept, colon, certified, carbon, postscript, enhance, visually, guarantee, marring, envelope.

2. Comprehension check.

1. Is it necessary to know something about language structure, psychological principles, writing techniques writing business letters?

2. Are the styles for business letters identical with the styles of buying a new dress or not?

3. What are the main letter parts?

4. What are the essential heading parts of a business letter?

5. What helps to project the company’s image in the letter?

6. Who is usually hired to design the letterhead?

7. Why is it important to know the date of a business letter?

8. What are the functions of the opening of the letter?

9. The message of the letter is the “body and soul” of the whole letter, isn’t it?

10. What should the writer of the letter remember writing the complimentary closing?

3. Write the salutation and complementary closing for each of the following.

1. A letter to a competitor, Ms. Carla Weinberg, who has just received a promotion in her firm.

2. A letter to a state senator, Paul Sprague, inviting him to speak to a monthly meeting of a trade association.

3. A letter to your state’s department of economic development inquiring about plant sites.

4. A letter to a good customer, Mr. Nickolas Costa that includes an invitation to a formal dinner party.

5. A letter to a sales representative, Ms. Diana George, congratulating her for exceeding her monthly quota by a large margin.

4. Which of the words that follow each of these sentences is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in the sentence?

1. We partitioned the office to give each worker some quiet.

a) restored b) divided c) examined d) scattered

2. We developed a calculating plan for expanding our share of the furniture market.

a) secret b) unusual c) reckless d) deliberate

3. I remained impassive as the customer enumerated how inferior our product was.

a) distressed b) intense c) composed d) defiant

4. If we consolidate our warehouses, our costs will drop.

a) integrate b) separate c) organize d) abolish

5. Complete the text with words from the box.

used pronoun different verb think

development dropped way because modern

Changes in the meanings of words are nothing new in the ________ of language. The English language has always been shifting. Who would ___________ that silly once meant “good” or “happy”? and fond meant “foolish”? that curious meant “careful”? that fascinate once meant “to influence in some wicked and secret manner”?

In addition, the ways in which many words were ___________ in sentences long ago ____________ from the ways in which they are used at present. Once, if the _________ you referred to one person, a singular ________ was used. (Today we always say “you were”, never “you was”). Many words have been ________ from our working vocabularies ________________ they no longer apply to our ________ ______ of life.