IGNOU BEGE-104 - English for Business Communication

1.The student council in your college is organising a blood donation camp in the campus. As the president of the council, write a notice for the college notice board giving the necessary information in about 100 words. 2. Complete the sentences with the correct participle forms of the verbs. Choose from the list given below. cook, write, prefer, move, travel, buy, rise, make, sing, spend a. The delicious smell coming from the kitchen is making me very hungry. What is being _______ ? b. He ______ a novel. It will be published next year. c. In this locality, people _______ to walk in the evening. d. They were trying to board a ______ train. e. Shikha has spent many years _______ around the world. f. When he was a toddler, his mother______a house. g. The water level ______ and it will soon reach the island. h. Mariam_____ many plans but I think only one will work. i. Leena ___________ since 2004. j. We _______ 5000 rupees on books this month already. 3. Your mobile phone is broken. Write a dialogue between you and a mobile phone technician for the purpose of repairing your phone. 4. Make a telephone conversation for any one of the situations given below: a. Your uncle is visiting you. Your father has asked you to call your uncle and ask whether he has arrived or not. b. You are working at a restaurant. Receive a call from a customer for home delivery of food. 5. Rewrite the following sentences using the passive form. First one is done for you as an example. They wrote the report in a terrible hurry. The report was written in a terrible hurry. a. We will prepare the report in the meeting. b. Someone sold the car to me. c. The committee called on Suresh to explain the modified presentation. d. All his friends supported his plans. e. You should note down all the points discussed in the meeting. 6. Complete these words or expressions using the words below. Across, out, over, up, above. a. The mountains stand _____ the clouds.. b. He looked _____ from his book when I entered the room. c. I ran ____ of milk, so I needed to go to the store. d. The bridge goes ______ the river. e. The cat jumped_______ the table. 7. Write short notes on any two of the following: i. Email etiquette ii. Essentials of a business letter iii. Body language iv. Features of a Memo 8. In the following memo the linking words and phrases are missed out. Choose the most appropriate word or phrase from the ones given. While, Also, Therefore, In addition to, Otherwise, Furthermore, At first, In conclusion, Namely Memo from: Marketing Manager To: Sales Team Date: 15th February 2024 Ref No.: MM/24/02 This month we're launching a new product line aimed at a younger demographic (i).________ the target audience is familiar with our brand, they may not be aware of these specific products. Their purchasing habits also differ, relying heavily on online reviews and social media recommendations. (ii) __________, it's crucial to develop a targeted marketing campaign to generate excitement and brand awareness. (iii) ______________a limited television advertising budget, we should focus on creating engaging social media content that resonates with this younger audience. (iv)_____________, influencer partnerships can be particularly effective in reaching this demographic. They trust the recommendations of individuals they follow online, and these partnerships can create a sense of authenticity and excitement. We can also leverage user-generated content challenges and interactive polls to build anticipation for the launch. This allows potential customers to engage with the product and brand in a fun and interactive way (v) _______________, this targeted marketing campaign will leverage social media and influencer partnerships to create excitement and brand awareness for the new product line amongst our younger demographic. 9. Write a note on language and style of minutes of formal meetings. 10. Change the words in bold into direct speech. During our interview with Sarita Jain, a candidate for the Software Engineer position, we discussed her technical skills and experience. (a) She mentioned that she had a strong background in programming languages like Java and Python, (b) and she highlighted her experience working on various web application development projects.(c) When asked about her problem-solving approach, she said that(d) she preferred a collaborative approach, working with teammates to brainstorm solutions, (e) and she emphasized her ability to think critically and break down complex problems. 11. Complete the sentences with suitable phrasal verbs: put off, ran into, catch up, set off, sign up for, turn up, hand in, run out of, look after, turn down. a) I need to _________ on some work I missed while I was on vacation. b) We _________ an old friend at the coffee shop yesterday. c) We may have to __________his request. d) The train _________ on time at 8:00 am. e) Due to bad weather, we had to _________ our trip for a few days. f) We _________ the online course last week and it starts tomorrow. g) Please _________ your assignment before the deadline. h) Who is going to ________ your mother? i) We might _________ milk before the grocery delivery arrives. j) Did everyone _________ for the meeting this morning?

1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. At the Harvard Negotiation Project we have been developing a new method of negotiation explicitly designed to produce good results efficiently and amicably. This method, called principled negotiations or negotiations on the merits, can be boiled down to four basic points. The first point recognizes that human beings are not computers. People have strong emotions, often see things very differently, and do not always communicate clearly. In negotiation it often happens that emotions get mixed up with the objective rights and wrongs of the situation. Taking up a fixed position makes this worse because people’s personalities become identified with their positions. So before the actual negotiation begins we need to distinguish between personal differences and differences over solutions to the problem. The second point distinguish between what people say they want, their stated positions, and what they really want, their underlying interests. Negotiating positions often hide what you really want. A compromise between two positions is not likely to produce an agreement which satisfies the need underlying each position. The third point acknowledges the problem of having to find a perfect solution while you‟re under pressure. Making up your mind in the presence of your opponent restricts your ideas. Deciding on something very important or trying to find the perfect answer limits creative thought. You can get around these limitations by arranging a set amount of time to think up a wide range of possible solutions which help both sides and creatively bring them together When both sides find that their interests are directly opposed, one negotiator may try to win simply by being stubborn. However, you can respond to such tactics by insisting that his/her opinion alone is not enough and that some fair independent standard is needed. This does not mean that you yourself select the independent standard, rather that both of you decide on one, such as market value expert opinion, or law. By discussing such criteria neither side need give in to the other. Briefly answer the following questions: a. What situation is created when emotions intrude into the negotiation process? b. People do not always state what they desire. What do they do instead? Discuss. c. Negotiators need to have a fixed „time-alone‟ period. Why? d. Why does it often become necessary to consult a specialist in the process of negotiation? Who should these people be? e. Suggest an appropriate title to the passage. f. State whether the following statements are true or false with reference to the passage. i People's emotions often complicate matters in life. ii The writer believes that negotiation is creativity under pressure. iii An example of the use of objective reference points is to consult a specialist. iv People often win by not budging from their position. v A negotiating position often makes it hard to identify real needs. g Make sentences of your own with the following phrases: i get mixed up ii fixed position iii to think up iv give in to v bring them together 2a. In the following memo the linking words and phrases are missed out. Choose the most appropriate word or phrase from the ones given. i. a) in spite of b) while c) because ii. a) firstly b) at first c) namely iii. a) so that b) consequently c) because iv. a) also b) on the other hand c) therefore v. a) also b) in contrast c) otherwise 2b. The following letter sounds rather direct and demanding, as if written from a superior to an inferior. Improve the tone of the letter by transforming the verbs in capitals into polite forms: Dear Mr. Sareen We SHALL be grateful if you CAN explain the delay in the shipment expected on May 1st. You MAY call us on the above number to save time. Otherwise, it WILL be appreciated if you CAN reply asap. Yours sincerely, Ashish Khetan 3. The “Adventure Club” in your college is planning to go on a trekking expedition to Manali. As secretary of the club, prepare a notice for the college notice board giving the necessary information in about 100 words. 4. Write short notes on any two of the following: i. Features of a business proposal iii. Guidelines for writing e-mails ii. An effective group discussion iv. Body language v. Importance of small talk in business 5a. Fill the gaps using each of the following items once only: also as well as further additional besides Please send the shipment as arranged. We would (a) ………….. be grateful for your help in extending our product range. Kindly send a/an (b)………… set of brochures on your latest series. If possible (c) ……………. the brochures, we shall require an (d) ……………… copy of the current price list, (e) …………….. details of the updated specification. 5b. Write the opening lines of five letters complying with the following requests. One is done for you as an example. Example: Please send us information about your cleaning services. Thank you for your mail enquiring abut our cleaning services. i. I should be grateful to receive your current catalogue. ii. Could you please send me your price list and prospectus? iii.If you could send the parcel soon, I would be most grateful. iv. It would be most helpful if you could send the brochure. v. We would be interested in receiving the details of your courses. 6a. Rewrite the sentences with the form of adjectives given in brackets without changing their meaning. One is done for you: i. No residential building is as tall as the new Global tower in Mumbai. (change to superlative.) ii. Rekha is not as tall as Deepika. (change to comparative) iii. He is the most handsome man in the room. (change to positive) iv. This stream is not as clear as the one we left behind. (change to comparative) v. No college president has been as charismatic as Nandita Som. (change to superlative) vi. Of all the men he is the strongest. (change to positive) 6b. Say the following sentences politely. You may use appropriate modals: i. I need to use your cellphone. ii. Lend me your pen. iii. I want to leave early today. iv. I want some more coffee. v. I am going to turn off the TV. 7. Write a dialogue on any one of the following. i. You‟re waiting on a platform at the station for your train. An old lady who is also waiting says, „It‟s a nice day, isn‟t it? How would you continue the conversation? ii. Your company has some money to spend on improving its employees‟ English. What are the best ways of spending the money? Discuss with your boss. 8a. Complete these words or expressions, using the words below. 5 Down, in, out, over, up, up Example: Buyout purchase of a company by the management i. ………………. Put contribution ii. ………………. Load to transfer files from one computer to another iii. ………………. Dated modernized, brought up to date iv. ……………… heads day to day costs of running a business v. Wind ………………. To liquidate or close a company, or division 8b. complete the following sentences. i. If you do not sleep early, ……………. ii. If you meet the principal, ……………. iii. If it rains, ……………… iv. If you leave now, ………………. v. If you do not exercise, ………….