Unit 2: Telephoning

Back

Aims and Objectives

In this lesson you should learn how to communicate over telephone and how to ask for service using the verb "can".

The grammar focus of this unit is:

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise not available in this language version.

Comprehension

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Recording:
Transcript:
Phonering, ring
SecretaryHello, Mrs. Newman's office, how can I help you?
Mr KaplanHello, this is Ben Kaplan, can I speak to Mrs. Newman?
SecretaryI'm sorry Mrs. Newman is busy. Can you leave a number?
Mr KaplanI'm sorry, it's urgent, I'm her Uncle.
SecretaryI'm sorry, Mr. Kaplan, Mrs. Newman is at a meeting. She is not here now.
Mr KaplanOh, I see. Can I leave a message?
SecretaryYes, of course.
Mr KaplanCan you tell her I am in London and I'm at the Old Tower Hotel.
SecretaryYes, Mr Kaplan, Old Tower Hotel. And what is your phone number?
Mr KaplanI haven't got a mobile phone. She can call the hotel. It is 918-332-597.
SecretaryOK, 918-332-597, the number to the hotel, good bye, Mr. Kaplan.
Mr KaplanThank you, good bye.
  1. Mrs. Newman is Mr. Kaplan's secretary.


    ?
  2. Mr. Kaplan is at the hotel.


    ?
  3. Mrs. Newman is at her office.


    ?
  4. Mr. Kaplan is at the meeting.


    ?
  5. Mr. Kaplan leaves a message.


    ?
  6. The secretary is at the meeting.


    ?
  7. Mrs. Newman is Mr. Kaplan's Aunt.


    ?
  8. Mr. Kaplan has't got a mobile.


    ?
  9. The number to the hotel is 918-322-597.


    ?

Exercise 2: Cloze

Fill in the gaps in the text below. For each gap there is only one correct answer.

Transcript:
Phonering, ring
SecretaryHello, Mrs. Newman's office, how can I help you?
Mr KaplanHello, this is Ben Kaplan, can I speak to Mr. Newman?
SecretaryI'm sorry Mr. Newman is busy. Can you leave a number?
Mr KaplanI'm sorry, it's urgent, I'm her Uncle.
SecretaryI'm sorry, Mr. Kaplan, Mrs. Newman is at the meeting. She is not here now.
Mr KaplanOh, I see. Can I leave a message?
SecretaryYes, of course.
Mr KaplanCan you tell her I am in London and I'm at the Old Tower Hotel.
SecretaryYes, Mr Kaplan, Old Tower Hotel. And what is your phone number?
Mr KaplanI haven't got a mobile. He can call the hotel. It is 918-332-597.
SecretaryOK, 918-332-597, the number to the hotel, good bye, Mr. Kaplan.
Mr KaplanThank you, good bye.
Phonering, ring
SecretaryHello, Mrs. Newman's office, ? can I help you?
Mr KaplanHello, this is Ben Kaplan, can I ? to Mr. Newman?
SecretaryI'm sorry Mr. Newman is ?. Can you leave a number?
Mr KaplanI'm ?, it's urgent, I'm her Uncle.
SecretaryI'm sorry, Mr. Kaplan, Mrs. Newman is ? the meeting. She is not here now.
Mr KaplanOh, I see. Can I ? a message?
SecretaryYes, of course.
Mr KaplanCan you tell her I am ? London and I'm at the Old Tower Hotel.
SecretaryYes, Mr Kaplan, Old Tower Hotel. And what is your phone ??
Mr KaplanI haven't got a ?. He can call the hotel. It is 918-332-597.
SecretaryOK, 918-332-597, the number to the hotel, ? bye, Mr. Kaplan.
Mr KaplanThank you, good bye.

Exercise 3: Transformation

Spelling. Write the words.

Recording:
Transcript:

hotel
H-O-T-E-L
station
S-T-A-T-I-O-N
Washington
W-A-S-H-I-N-G-T-O-N
Anderson
A-N-D-E-R-S-O-N
mobile
M-O-B-I-L-E
urgent
U-R-G-E-N-T
office
O-F-F-I-C-E
interpreter
I-N-T-E-R-P-R-E-T-E-R
husband
H-U-S-B-A-N-D

Example:

Word 1
H-O-T-E-L

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?
  8. A.
    B. ?
  9. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 4: Gap Filling

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

Example:

I'm __ the Hotel.
I'm at the Hotel.

  1. I'm ____ home.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Can I leave ____ message?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. My phone number ____ 534-973-091.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. How can I ____ you?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. What' ____ phone number?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. I'm at the hotel ____ London.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. I'm sorry, he is ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  8. Can I ____ to Mrs Newman?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  9. Yes, ____ course.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 5: Transformation

Use a personal pronoun.

Example:

I like Michael Jackson.
I like him.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 6: Selections

Choose the correct sentence.

Example:

He in on the hotel. - NO
He is at the hotel. - YES

  1. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  2. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  3. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  4. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  5. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  6. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  7. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  8. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  9. a. 
    b. 
    ?

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Transformation

Using the example as a model, change the structure and make a new sentence.

Example:

Hello, MSI Enterprising, how can I help you? ( Mr. Kaplan)
Can I speak to Mr. Kaplan?

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 2: Transformation

Using the example as a model, change the structure and make a new sentence.

Example:

What's your phone number? (9-9-7-7-5-5)
My phone number is nine-nine-seven-seven-five-five.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?
  8. A.
    B. ?
  9. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 3: Transformation

Make positive answer.

Example:

Can I tell him?
Yes, you can.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 4: Transformation

Make negative answer.

Example:

Can I tell him?
No, you can't.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 5: Transformation

Use verb "can". Make a question.

Example:

help / you / I / can
Can I help you?

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?
  8. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 6: Cloze

Choose "at" "in" or "on".

Transcript:

at home at school in the house in the Czech Republic on the radio at work on the Internet in Africa on TV at the supermarket

Example:

... the bus stop
at the bus stop

? home ? school ? the house ? the Czech Republic ? the radio ? work ? the Internet ? Africa ? TV ? the supermarket

Dictation

Exercise 1: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

Hello, Mrs. Newman's office, how can I help you?

?

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

I'm sorry, Mr. Kaplan, Mrs. Newman is at a meeting. She is not here now.

?

Exercise 3: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

And what is your phone number? I haven't got a cell phone. She can call the hotel. It is 918-332-597.

?

Checklist

Now, after finishing this lesson you should be able: To make a simple telephone call in English. To use English numbers from 0 to 9.

You should also be able to make questions with the verb "can". .

Version 2.0 (2011-12-07 01:25 CET)
Warning: Media Player unavailable. Use a JavaScript enabled browser.