IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1

Reading 5

‘I can read any correspondence with occasional use of a dictionary.’

Mailbox
Aim: Learners demonstrate that they can read and understand a variety of everyday
correspondence and deduce meaning of potentially unknown lexis from context rather than
using a dictionary.

Topic: Various

Time: 45-60 mins

Concept: This is initially a straightforward reading activity which checks students’ ability to read,
understand and recognise different written genres and the purpose of the particular texts –
all examples of everyday correspondence. Thereafter the activity encourages students to
find lesser known lexical items and deduce their meaning from context.

Suggested Procedure:

1 Pin up the 4 different pieces of correspondence around the room. Give each student a copy of
Task Sheet 1 and ask them to walk around, read the items and complete columns 1 and 2 ONLY.

2 Feedback on their answers and discuss reactions to the texts. Ask them now to read again and
answer the questions in column 3. Feedback appropriately.

3 Ask students if there were any items of vocabulary they didn’t know. Point out that this didn’t
prevent them from understanding the texts but to satisfy their curiosity they can now discover what these
words mean!

4 Provide students with a copy of Task Sheet 2. Put students into pairs and if appropriate turn the
activity into race. Tell them that the pair who finishes first with the most correct answers is the winner.
Ensure you have taken a dictionary into class with you. Show it to them and tell them that they can refer
to the dictionary only once.

5 Feedback on the answers and see which pair has got the most correct answers. See Teachers’
Copy for answers.

Extension: For a follow-up writing activity that also includes an exercise which revises the vocabulary
refer to Return to Sender (Writing 1)

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IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1

Reading 5
‘I can read any correspondence with occasional use of a dictionary.’

TEXT 1
In my own words
Hi there!

I am a 28 year old single guy living in south

west London. Most of my friends are either
getting married or doing the 24x7 thing with
their significant others - but then I suppose that
is the correct thing to do as you approach 30
(or is it?).

So... I want to meet some all 'new' single

friends who still have that zest for going out,
socialising (even on a school night) and generally having a good time while still young (and
beautiful).

I've been in London for five years now and love making the most of all this great city has to offer.
Looking for someone who is socially adept, gregarious, savvy and importantly 'humorous' with a
penchant for laughing out loud. I love dining out, going for a few drinks, catching a movie, stand-
up comedy, clubbing, watching a play and generally getting out and doing fun stuff.

In short, I want to meet some like-minded guys and girls. The guys for doing the lad’s stuff (you
know what I mean!) and the girls for dating and romance. And, of course, both sexes for having
fun!

As an ice-breaker (no pun intended here) I love skiing and the alpine lifestyle, although the UK
doesn’t seem to have much to offer in that department. I’ve been told I should take up surfing and
check out the waves in the South West. Anyone out there who could advise me about that? How
about you?

Jake

Reading 5
‘I can read any correspondence with occasional use of a dictionary.’

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IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1
TEXT 2
Dear Shareholder

Looking back over 2008

My first year as Chairman of Futurama plc has been an eventful one. As we settled into being a
plc, volatile markets unsettled our industry. Like most other financial services companies, our
share price performance has been disappointing. However, while global financial markets
struggled for equilibrium, our businesses around the world continued to achieve good results.

There's still more we can do and I have confidence in our strategy for the future. Shareholder
News gives you the latest highlights, explains a bit about what’s been happening in the markets
and covers what we are doing to drive shareholder value up.

Your dividend

To reflect our good financial performance, we are recommending a final dividend of 7.7p per share
for the year to 31 December 2008, making a total of 11.5p per share for 2008. This represents
implied growth of 6.5%, consistent with the Group's progressive dividend policy – and shows our
confidence in Futurama's ability to grow and generate capital and cash going forward. If it is
approved at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), we will pay this dividend on 30 May 2009.

2009 AGM – use your vote

Our 2009 AGM will be held at 11am (UK time) on 19 May 2009 at the Littlehampton International
Conference Centre. As a Futurama shareholder, you can have a say in how the business is run by
voting online – it’s easy, fast and secure. Just visit www.futurama.com/shareholders to cast your
vote. The deadline is 11am (UK time) on 17 May 2009. You will need your Shareholder Reference
Number and Online Voting Number which can be found at the top of this email. If you would like to
come along to the AGM, please see the AGM guide for details.

Any questions?

For questions on your shareholding, AGM information or voting queries please visit
www.futurama.com/shareholders, contact Futurama on 0835 274 2000 or +44 (0)130 272 9061
or email shareholders@futurama.com.

Yours faithfully, 

David Futurama

Chairman  

Reading 5
‘I can read any correspondence with occasional use of a dictionary.’

TEXT 3

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IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1

3rd November 2008

IMPORTANT: YOU SHOULD READ THIS CAREFULLY

Dear Mr Smith

Arrears Amount: £456.49 Total Balance: £ 5,400.00

This DEFAULT NOTICE is served in accordance with section 87 (1) of the Consumer Credit Act
1974.

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Condition 4.1 of each of your Agreements with
Honours Student Loans, monthly payments to your account(s) stated below have not been
maintained and an arrears amount of £456.49 is now outstanding.

You are required, within 14 days of this notice, to remit direct to Honours Student Loans the full
arrears amount stated.

IF THE ACTION REQUIRED BY THIS NOTICE IS TAKEN BEFORE THE DATE SHOWN NO FURTHER
ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN RESPECT OF THE BREACH. IF YOU DO NOT TAKE
THE ACTION REQUIRED BY THIS NOTICE BEFORE THE DATE SHOWN THEN THE FURTHER
ACTION SET OUT BELOW MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU.

 Your account will be transferred to our Recoveries Department for further action to recover the
outstanding balance, together with interest and charges. This may result in legal action being
taken against you for which costs and legal fees will be payable by you.
 You could lose your entitlement to pay by instalments and to defer repayments.
 Your account could be passed to a Debt Collection Agency who will recover the full balance on
our behalf, together with interest charged.

If you have difficulty in paying any sum owing under the agreement or taking any other action
required by this notice, you can apply to the court which may make an order allowing you or any
surety more time.

If you are not sure what to do, you should get help as soon as possible. For example, you should
contact a solicitor, your local trading standards department or your nearest citizen’s advice bureau.

Yours sincerely,

Collections Manager Your Loan Agreement(s) with us:

Honour Student Loans 95SOMX09876
95SOMX09875

Reading 5
‘I can read any correspondence with occasional use of a dictionary.’

TEXT 4

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IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1
Dear Sally

How the devil are you? Long time no hear! We’re still travelling and I thought I’d drop
you a line to keep you up-to-date with our latest adventures. We left our jobs in South
Korea a month or so ago and we've had a good beach break before hitting the road
again.

First stop Bali, where Clive had found us a fab hotel for a decent price that just
happened to have the best and cheapest Italian restaurant in the area. To try and work
off the pasta and pizza we hit the surf with a limited amount of success hampered by
big waves, sunburn and an embarrassing lack of fitness. We were managing to stand up
pretty well after a couple of weeks but not in the most elegant manner! We had a stop
over in Kuala Lumpur where we indulged in curries galore as a warm up to India and
then hopped to Bangkok to meet Clive's Mum and Dad. The next morning we took a flight
to Kho Samui and the joys of unbridled luxury in a very fancy hotel; sun beds by an
infinity pool, golf carts to whizz us around the grounds and a fab little restaurant with
just 3 tables selling cheap green curry; all at my in-law’s expense!

Unfortunately, before we knew it we were waving them off home and heading back to
the joys of the backpack and the budget hotel. Then, days later we were heading for the
airport ourselves on our way to India, hindered only by some idiot slamming into the
back of the taxi as we slowed down for traffic lights. Luckily we were going pretty
slowly, so no harm done.

We’ve been in Delhi for two days and so far it is amazing – the sights, sounds and
SMELLS! Please drop us a line and tell us how you are and what you’re up to these days.
How is hubby? And the kids? All fine I presume. Maybe we’ll be able to meet up at your
Dad’s this Christmas!

Lots of love,
Jenny & Clive
xxx

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IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1
Reading 5
‘I can read any correspondence with occasional use of a dictionary.’

TASK SHEET 1

TEX TYPE? PURPOSE? QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

T

Do you think Jake would really like to be married or living full-time with
1 someone, or does he actually prefer the single lifestyle?

…………………………………………………………………………………..

What are the benefits of being a Futurama shareholder?

2

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the last possible date that Mr. Smith can pay this debt?
3

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The accident was caused by Jenny and Clive’s taxi driver driving too slowly?
4 True or False

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1
Reading 5
‘I can read any correspondence with occasional use of a dictionary.’

TASK SHEET 2
TEX WRITE A SYNONYM OR DEFINITION FOR THE FIND THESE WORDS/PHRASES IN THE TEXTS
T WORDS IN BOLD IN THE TEXTS
a. zest d. A phrase that refers to husband/wife/partner etc

1 b. a penchant e. An adjective that means very skilled or good at sth

c. a pun f. A noun that means the ability to understand and judge

people and situations well

a. plc c. An expression that tells us that the Chairman’s first year

has not been easy or simple.
2 b. volatile

a. arrears amount d. A formal verb that means to send money that you owe
to someone
3 b. the breach
e. A noun that refers to one of several payments that an amount is
c. a surety divided into, so that you do not have to pay the whole amount at
one time

a. hampered d. A phrase that has a similar meaning to ‘hamper’

4 b. indulged e. An informal word for ‘husband’

c. unbridled

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IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1
TEACHER’S COPY
TEXT TYPE? PURPOSE? STYLE?
1 Personal Ad. To find/meet new friends of both
sexes
Informal
To provide (share) information
2 Formal letter
Formal/neutral
To make a demand for payment
3 Default Notice
Formal/legal
4 Personal Email To tell friends some news
Informal/chatty
© International House World Organisation
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
Do you think Jake would really like to be married or living full-time with
someone, or does he actually prefer the single lifestyle?
Subjective answer but the fact he is actively looking for a girlfriend and the line
‘I suppose that is the correct thing to do as you approach 30’, makes is sound
as if he would.
What are the benefits of being a Futurama shareholder?
You will receive a total payment of 11.5p for every share you own in the
company (Paragraph 3) and you can have a direct influence on how the
company is managed; ‘you can have a say in how the business is
run’(Paragraph 4).
What is the last possible date that Mr. Smith can pay this debt?
3rd November + 14 days (Paragraph 3) = 17th November
The accident was caused by Jenny and Clive’s taxi driver driving too slowly?
True or False
False. The taxi driver had slowed down for a red traffic light and another drive
crashed into the back of them; ‘some idiot slamming into the back of the taxi’
(Paragraph3).
C1 Activity Pack
IHWO Activity Pack - Level C1
TEACHER’S COPY
TEXT WRITE A SYNONYM OR DEFINITION FOR THE WORDS IN
BOLD
a. zest – to have great enthusiasm or interest in sth
1 b. a penchant for – a liking for something/ having a tendency to
do something a lot
c. a pun – a humorous use of a word that has two meanings
a. plc – public limited company
2 b. volatile (markets) – adj. suddenly changing/becoming more
dangerous
a. arrears amount – money that you owe because you have failed
to make payments at the correct time
3
b. the breach – a failure to follow the law/rules of an agreement
c. a surety – somebody who agrees to pay money that you
owe(like a guarantor)
a. hampered – to prevent something from happening or
progressing normally
4
b. indulged - to allow yourself to have or to do sth that you
enjoy
c. unbridled – without restrictions
© International House World Organisation
FIND THESE WORDS/PHRASES
d. A phrase that refers to husband/wife/partner etc
significant other
e. An adjective that means very skilled or good at sth
(socially) adept
f. A noun that means the ability to understand and judge
people and situations well - savvy
c. An expression that tells us that the Chairman’s first year
has not been easy or simple. – has been an eventful one
d. A formal verb that means to send money that you owe to
someone - to remit
f. A noun that refers to one of several payments that an amount is
divided into, so that you do not have to pay the whole amount at
one time - instalments
d. A phrase that has a similar meaning to ‘hamper’
hinder
e. An informal word for ‘husband’ – hubby
C1 Activity Pack