Business English Studies Course - Investment

A formal letter - Reading

Read this letter which Biscuit Investments has sent to Ivan. Tap 'Show Questions' to answer the questions.

Dear Mr English,
Re: Portfolio Manager, Biscuit Investments.

I am delighted to inform you that your application to work at Biscuit Investments has been successful, and we are prepared to offer you a post as a portfolio manager in our Stock Trading department.

This post will be temporary in the first instance, with each party able to terminate with one month's notice. However, your employment contract will stipulate that within nine months, Biscuit Investments will either offer you a permanent place or dispense with your services.

As you are aware, Biscuit are an established trading house with a long history of dealing in the LSE (London Stock Exchange). We are sure that you bring the necessary skills and abilities to complement the strengths of the present team. In the first instance you will be working under the supervision of our Miss Dodd, who will help you learn the ropes. It is expected, though, that you will be able to stand on your own feet within a month, after which you will report only to Mr Barwell, the department head.

Please find enclosed a copy of the employment contract, which we require you to sign and return within a fortnight. If you have any questions, please contact our Ms. Meredith, who will be happy to assist you. May I also take this opportunity of welcoming you on board at Biscuit.

Yours cordially,

Magnus Blake M.D.

Score: 0%

1. 1. The purpose of the letter is to ...

congratulate Ivan.

wish Ivan success.

give Ivan a job.

to prepare Ivan as a manager.

1. c
The letter tells Ivan that he has the job if he wants it. It also congratualtes him on getting the job, but that is not its main purpose. It does not wish him success, and it assumes he is already prepared to be a manager.

2. Ivan will be employed ...

for at least a month.

for at least nine months.

until he is fired.

until he resigns.

2. a
If Ivan resigns or is given notice the day he arrives, he must still work a month, he may work longer, but it is wrong to say he will work until he resigns because he may be fired, and wrong to say he will work until he is fired, because he may resign.

3. At the end of nine months ...

Ivan may be unemployed.

Ivan may have a full-time job.

both a & b.

either a or b.

3. d
At the end of nine months, the company has to decide if they want to offer Ivan a permanent job. we do not know what they will decide, but it will be only one of these options.

4. Who is Miss Dodd likely to be?

Ivan's boss.

A colleague.

A member of the LSE.

Mr Barwell's secretary.

4. b
It is probable that Miss Dodd is a colleague. A secretary has different skills, and would therefore be a poor supervisor. After a month Ivan will be unsupervised, so Miss Dodd is probably not a boss. She will certainly not work for the LSE.

5. When starting at Biscuit Ivan will be ...

independent.

on trial.

an apprentice.

dispensed with.

5. b
The company will try Ivan, so he is on trial. In the UK apprentices are generally only used in manual trades. We know Ivan will not be completely independent, because he will be supervised.

6. Where is the employment contract?

arriving within a fortnight.

with Ms Meredith.

with Miss Dodd.

with the letter.

6. d
The employment contract is with the letter, as shown by the words "please find enclosed", as this is the copy he will sign, it is the actual contract.

7. What does Ms signify?

Master of Business Science.

Manager's secretary.

Miss or Mrs.

Mesdame.

7. c
In English "Ms." signifies only that the person is female, just as "Mr" signifies a male. It is used when it is not important if a person is married or not, or when you do not know if the person is married. (It is pronmounced "Mz".)

8. Does Biscuit Investments have other portfolio managers?

Definitely.

Probably.

Probably not.

Certainly not.

8. b
We know Miss Dodd is probably a portfolio manager, but the key is where the letter says "as a manager in our Stock Trading department. If Ivan was to be the only one, the letter would probably use the definite article, or no article.

Investment company

A formal letter - Reading