TCS VERBAL ABILITY PREP 2 [Answer Key]

Exercise 1

Read the email and decide which parts are

the intro
the details
the action
the close

Dear Simon, SALUTATION

Thank you very much for showing me round your production facilities. I INTRO
was most impressed.

I'm pleased to tell you that your company is one of two short-listed for
the production of our new website video. This is an important part of DETAILS
our marketing strategy and we are sure you will treat this with the
importance it deserves.

I need to have a draft outline of your thoughts for this video by the end ACTION
of the month. Please send this to me by email as an attachment.

If you need any further help, feel free to contact me. CLOSE

Best wishes.

Sandy Benny SIGN-OFF

Marketing Manager

Exercise 2

Who is the e-mail to? Frank Sony

Who is it from? Unclear, somebody called Pete
Is there a signature? No, no mention of the company name
Who has received a copy? Nobody (but that may not be necessary)
Is there a clear subject heading? No
Why was it sent? To inform arrival of computers (how many?)
What action is required of the readers? To say when the computers can be delivered
Is the tone appropriate? No, too informal and unprofessional

Here is a good example of the same e-mail.

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 TCS VERBAL ABILITY PREP 2 [Answer Key]

Exercise 3

Look at the following suggestions about using e-mails for business writing. Which ones are good
advice, and which ones are bad advice?
1. GOOD ADVICE
2. GOOD ADVICE
3. BAD ADVICE e-mails should be concise
4. GOOD ADVICE
5. GOOD ADVICE
6. BAD ADVICE - typing in CAPITALS amounts to shouting at the reader!

Exercise 4

Four key words are given ATTACH, ENCLOSE, REPLY and FORWARD. Fill in the blanks in the
sentences given using the most appropriate key word in the most appropriate form.

E.g.: I am sending you all the information about the conference. Please forward it to your

colleagues.
1. I wrote to him three weeks ago but he hasnt replied yet.
2. In the file attached to the email you can see the statistics for the last six months.
3. The discount that our suppliers are offering is for this week only, so please reply to them as
soon as possible.
4. Please see the enclosed files for further information.
5. Have you received a reply to his letter yet?
6. Our price list is enclosed.

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 TCS VERBAL ABILITY PREP 2 [Answer Key]

Exercise 5

Each sentence below has a blank and is followed by three answer options. Fill in the blank with
the most appropriate option.

1. Polls show that Tony Blair is the most popular Prime Minister this century. However, there are
even members of his own party who are uneasy with his approach.
However indicates that what follows is something of a contradiction or an exception.

2. There are some slight variations in temperature, but as a rule 26 to 27C should be expected.
As a rule shows you are about to make a generalisation.

3. The two main Channel Islands, namely Jersey and Guernsey, are much closer to France than to
England.
You are actually naming the two islands mentioned, so namely is used.

4. It was announced that nurses' working hours would be increased by 25%. As a result , even
fewer trainee nurses are expected to join the profession.
The second sentence is a result or consequence of the first. So that must be followed by a verb.

5. Sales of CDs have experienced a small but steady fall over the past 12 months. In contrast ,
vinyl records have seen an increase in their share of the market, up to 1.7%.
The second sentence contrasts vinyl with CDs.

6. The Vice Chancellor explained that in light of the current financial climate and because of
unexpected bad debts, it would be necessary to peg salary levels at their current level for all
grades of staff. In other words, no-one was getting a pay rise.
The second sentence says the same as the first, but in a much simpler way (reformulation).

7. It is clear, therefore, that the situation in Brazil will improve only slowly. With reference to the
economic problems being experienced in Japan, the outlook is slightly more optimistic.
The second sentence deals with a new aspect/point.

8. In order to try to reduce car use in the inner cities, the government has announced new
restrictions on company parking spaces and in addition, a new tax on individual car use.
Reinforcement of the idea; an extra point. As well as must be immediately followed by a noun or
verb.

9. Essays must be handed in by the deadline; otherwise they will not be marked.
The second part is a consequence of the first.

10. Even though it has been shown that fractures can occur at even relatively low pressures, the
use of the material should not be completely discounted.
The idea of concession again; the second part is somewhat unexpected.

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 TCS VERBAL ABILITY PREP 2 [Answer Key]

Exercise 6

Fill in the gaps with appropriate words (from the choice below) to link the paragraphs.
Remember that the topic of one paragraph should follow logically from the topic of the last
paragraph and should lead on to the topic of the next paragraph.

How Pottery is Made

Start by preparing the clay to make sure its texture is even and that its free from air bubbles.
Air trapped in clay expands when heated in the kiln, causing it to explode.

Next make the thing you want. There are four basic methods to use. Firstly, pinch pots, made
by squeezing clay with your fingers. Secondly, slab pots, made by joining flat sheets of clay.
Thirdly, coil pots made with sausages of clay, and finally, pots made on the wheel (thrown pots).

Leave the clay to dry for about a day until it becomes leather hard, like firm cheese. At this
stage, you can finish fine details or decorate the clay.

After a week or so, when the clay is completely dry, you bake, or fire the pot at about 980C to
make it hard. This is called biscuit firing. It also makes the clay porous for the next stage.

The next stage is to cover the pot with a special kind of powdered glass called glaze. You mix the
powder with water and apply it to the pot by dipping, pouring, brushing or spraying.

Finally you fire the pot again - to a higher temperature this time (between 1,000C and 1,400C
depending on the clay).This is called glaze or ghost firing. It makes the glaze melt and gives the
pot an even, glass-like coating.

The whole process, from start to finish, takes about two weeks.

Exercise 7

Look at the text from three emails that contain words which can often be confused. Underline
the correct or most appropriate word.

Email 1

I am writing with (1) connection/reference/regarding to our telephone conversation this morning

about your order 7895LG. I must (2) regret/apologise/sorry for the delay in processing this
order. I can now confirm that the goods have been shipped and should (3) arrive/reach/deliver
you within 10 working days. We have taken special (4) care/attention/caution to make sure that
the items are exactly as you requested.

Once again, please (5) take/have/accept our apologies. If you have any further questions, do not
(6) stop/fail/hesitate to contact me again.

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Email 2

I was (1) sorry/unhappy/afraid to hear about the damage to the products that you received this
morning. However, I am (2) afraid/apologise/regret that we cannot (3) accept/except/have
responsibility in this (4) topic/material/matter. All our products are (5)
controlled/checked/looked very carefully before leaving the factory, and the damage in this case
must have been caused in transit. I (6) propose/suggest/tell that you contact the shipping
company directly about possible compensation.

In the meantime, we can ship the same order to you again, if it would help. If you give us a firm
instruction to do so (7) until/by/within the next few days, it should reach you (8) until/by/within
the end of the month.

Email 3

I am writing to you (1) affecting/connecting/concerning the meeting that we (2)

combined/appointed/arranged for this Friday. I am afraid something urgent has come up and I
will not be able to attend. Can we (3) cancel/postpone/schedule the meeting until next week? I
can make any time Wednesday or Thursday.

I apologise for any (4) disadvantage/inconvenience/unfortunate this may cause, and I (5) look
forward/wait/anticipate to (6) hear/hearing/know from you.