Aigerim is a university student who has applied for a summer internship at a travel agency in Almaty. During one week she has to do three things: write an email to the manager, Mr Carter, whom she has never met; phone the office to change the time of her interview; and tell her friend Dana about the new time. Her first draft of the email began with "Hi Mr Carter, Wanna know if I can come on Monday?" Her teacher, Ms Brown, said that the draft was too informal for a first business message to a stranger. She advised Aigerim to begin with "Dear Mr Carter," and to finish with "Yours sincerely," because the manager's name was known. She added that if a writer does not know the name, the letter should begin with "Dear Sir or Madam," and finish with "Yours faithfully." Ms Brown also told Aigerim to avoid slang and short forms such as "wanna" in formal writing and to make requests polite, for example with "I would be grateful if you could..." On the phone, Aigerim should introduce herself first and then give the reason for the call: "Good morning, this is Aigerim Sadykova speaking." With Dana, however, she can use relaxed language: "Guess what! They've moved my interview to Tuesday." After the interview, Ms Brown said, she should send a short, polite thank-you message.
Aigerim also sends a message to the general office address of the agency, without knowing any name. Which greeting and closing should she use?
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Верный ответ
- BDear Sir or Madam, ... Yours faithfully
Разбор
The text says that when the name is not known, the letter begins with "Dear Sir or Madam," and finishes with "Yours faithfully." "Yours sincerely" is used only when the name is known, and "Hi there" is too informal. "Dear Mr Carter" is wrong because no name is known.