OFFICE SUPPLIES - MODULE 1

Student: Daniel Sebastian Cardenas Diaz- cod:202010313

Reading. Read the supply room checkout sheet. Then, mark the following
statements as true (T) or false (F).

1. F: The sheet shows how many of each item are left.

2. T: The employee took twenty pens and five markers.
3. F: The employee checked put two staplers.

Vocabulary. Match the words with the definitions.

a) A tablet of ruled paper------Legal pad.
b) A writing utensil with a graphite core------Pencil.
c) A tool used for attaching sheets of paper-----Stapler.
d) A fluorescent-coloured marker-------Highlighter.
e) A writing utensil filled with ink----Pen.
f) A paper sleeve in which to place letters----Envelope.

Read the sentences pair. Choose where the words best fit the blanks.
1. Tape / binder
A) Susan put the finance report in a binder.
B) Hugo attached the sign to the door with a piece of tape.
2. Marker / staple
A) She drew a diagram with an orange marker.
B) Julio bound the documents with a staple.

Grammar. Put the verbs into the correct form (simple past or past continuous).
1) When the company broke down, we were working in France.
2) It began to rain when we started to run.
3) While I was listening to the manager somebody knocked at the doctor.
4) When they lived in that house, she was very ill.
5) We just were waiting for the boss when his secretary came.
6) We were having dinner when he arrived.
7) The telephone rang while I was having my bath.
8) At half past nine she still was doing her homework.

Choose the correct options.

1) I was listening to the CEO when I heard this great idea.

2) When the teacher said ‘Stop!’, I was still trying to finish the last question.
3) I feel really silly! While I was dancing, I fell and broke my elbow.
4) Tim was playing a computer game when his mum called him for lunch.
5) I was looking for a file on my memory stick when I noticed there was a virus.
6) Raul found a really interesting website about dance music while he was surfing the
internet.
7) My assistant was having breakfast near the computer when she spilled her cup of
coffee on the keyboard.
8) When you saw me yesterday, I wasn’t going to school, I was going to the doctor’s – I
felt terrible.

Listening. Listen to a conversation between two employees. Choose the correct

answers.
1. What is the main topic of the conversation?
a) Who to ask for new office supplies
b) The supply room contents and policies
c) Where to find new checkout sheets
d) Items missing from the supply room

2. What is the woman looking for?

a) Pens
b) Pencils
c) Legal pads
d) Checkout sheets

Listen the audio again and complete the conversation.

A: Hey, Carl. Do you know where we keep the extra pens?
B: Yeah. They’re black in the supply room. I’ll show you.
A: Great. Thanks.
B: The pens and pencils are up here. Down there are the legal pads and
binders, and on the bottom shelf .is everything else.
A: So, can I just take whatever I need?
B: Yeah. You just have to fill out one of these
checkout sheets.
A: That’s easy enough. Where do the sheets go?
B: Right here in this box.

Writing. Imagine you are a new employee in the company. Write a

paragraph (8 lines) about the office supply, where to find different
supplies, how to buy and how to check them.
Dear manager
Good morning, this is Daniel Cardenas and I am a worker of your company, the reason
why I am writing is because we need to stock up on products for the office, since our
previous inventory is running out. Some of the products that are already out of stock are
sheets of paper, notepads, pens, etc.
Most of these items should be purchased in a bookstore or from a wholesaler as they are
much less expensive. When we buy them, we should preferably check in front of the
wholesaler to make sure that there are no damaged or opened products. For this reason,
we ask you to contact a supplier in order to be able to supply us with products, thank
you.

Speaking. Answer and practice these questions for your oral exam.
1. What are so common writing utensils?
- Markers, pencils and pens are some of the most common writing utensils.
2. What are some other office supplies?
 - Staplers are important to be able to bind or fasten papers together, markers to
highlight important parts of a text and post-it notes to remember and write down
important things.
3. Where do you buy them? Why?
- When I need these materials, I can go to supermarkets like Wong, Plazavea, but
if I am in a hurry I go to a bookstore because they are close by and they have
reasonable prices.
4. What office supply do you use more? Why?
- Mostly I use notepads because they help me organize important information and
help me in my exams.

OFFICE FURNITURE

Readings. Read the page from a furniture catalog. Then, choose the correct answers.
1. What is the purpose of this catalog page?
a) To describe a store sale.
b) To compare office chairs.
c) To advertise office furniture.
d)To announce a new store location.
2. What is NOT true of the desks in the catalog?
a) They are less than $200.
b) They have optional keyboard trays.
c) They do not have to be assembled.
d)They are intended to hold computers.
3. What comes with any $550 purchase?
a) A keyboard trays
b) A leather chairs
c) A bookcase
d) A desk lamps

Vocabulary. Place the words and phrases from the word bank under the correct
heading.
- Furniture to sit on: sectional, office chair.
- Organizational Items: file cabinet, bookcase.
- Furniture Descriptions: adjustable, ergonomic.

Fill in the blanks with the correct words and phrases from the word bank.
1. Store extra pens in the supply room.
2. It’s dark. Turn on that desk lamp.
3. The new office chairs swivel.
4. Kate worked at her desk all morning.

Grammar. Put the verbs in the correct tense (past simple or continuous)
1) I switched off the computer because it was making a strange noise.
2) My dad was listening to music when I arrived home from school.
3) We were playing video games when my mum said ‘Turn the volume down!’
4) My cousin met his wife, Bianca, while he was living in Italy.
5) While they were trying to fix the computer, all the lights went out.
6) When we leaved school yesterday, it was poured with rain.
7) When you saw Paul, he was wearing a black jacket?
8) I was trying to log on when the WIFI stopped working.

Write questions with the past simple.

1. When did you buy that tablet?

2. How much did your new computer cost?
3. What did you do after school yesterday?
4. Why didn't you call me last night?
5. Where did dad save the photos on the computer?
6. Which files did you delete?
7. How many copies did Gary print yesterday?
8. Which company did Steve Jobs help to start?
Listening. Listen to a conversation between an employee and his manager. Mark the
following statements as true (T) or false (F).

1.F: The employee’s desk is not high enough.

2.T: Working at the desk is uncomfortable.
3. F: The manager will buy the employee an adjustable chair.

Listen the audio again and complete the conversation.

A: Hi Brian! Are you enjoying our new office?
B: The office is nice but this desk is pretty uncomfortable.
A: Oh, really? What’s wrong with it?
B: It’s too high to use as a computer desk. It’s hurting my arms.
A: I see What you mean. I’ll find you a different one.
B: I saw some for sale in the furniture catalog.
A: Oh, yeah? How much do they cost?
B: Only a hundred dollars.
A: That’s not bad. I’ll order one.

Speaking. Answer and practice these questions for your oral exam.
1. What items of furniture are necessary in an office?

- Desks are necessary for employees to do their work, office chair and a shelf
where they can store their things and things used in their work.

2. What items make working in an office more comfortable?

Some elements that make working in the office more comfortable can be
cushions and some armchairs.
Writing. Imagine you are a manager. Write an eight-line paragraph about office
furniture you have at work.
The furniture in the office is very important for the best performance of our employees,
we have about 15 office chairs especially for the arduous working hours. We also have
4 printers so that we are not going out to print things as it would be a waste of time. We
also have a lot of office furniture where documents, pens, sheets, etc. are kept. The
computers that we have in the office are our work material since in these we have all
our information of costs, payments and future projects that we have in mind. The desks
are where these computers are and where our employees spend most of the day
working, and finally the air conditioning which is important in the summer time

OFFICE MACHINES

Reading. Read the email from a manager to employee. Then, fill in the blanks with the
correct words and phrases from the word bank.
The manager ordered some new office machines that will arrive today. Everyone will
receive a new computer with accessories. The new printer, copier, and scanner will be
shared. The office will no longer use a fax machine. All documents will be sent via
wireless Internet. Office employees will still use the old shredder.

Vocabulary. Read the sentence and choose the correct word.

1. Sam made duplicates of the memo with the copier.
2. Carolina destroyed the documents using the shredder.
3. The clients sent the letter via fax machine.
4. If the copier isn’t working properly, check the toner.
5. Buy some paper for the monitor.
Match the words with the definitions.
a) A computer accessory that moves the cursor. -- mouse.
b) A device that converts images of paper documents to computer data. scanner.
c) A computer accessory used for typing. -- Keyboard.
d) Connecting computers to the Internet via airborne signals. - wireless.
e) The part of a computer that displays images. - monitor.
Grammar. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past continuous)
1. I was jogging in the park, when two squirrels crossed my way.
2. Robert fell off the ladder when he was picking cherries.
3. Archimedes discovered the theory of buoyancy while he was taking a bath.
4. When we travelled around Ireland, we met some
very nice people.
5. When I left the house this morning, the sun shone.

Choose the correct words.

1) As Mario was coming to the station, a car stopped behind him.

2) Ana never watched TV. But she was reading books.
3) I started work at 6 o'clock.
4) He got up and was switching off the light.
5) When I was finishing my homework, I cooked dinner.
6) While we were listening to the news, the telephone rang.
7) Yesterday, the manager wrote emails from 10 to 11 and from 5 to 7 again.

Listening. Listen to a conversation between a manager and an employee. Put a check

next to the items(s) that might be causing problems.
1. Computer
2. Toner (Check)
3. Keyboard
4. Printer (Check)
5. Shredder
Listen the audio again and complete the conversation.
A: Well, Sam, how is the new equipment working for you?
B: The computer is working great. And I love the ergonomic keyboard.
A: Good. Have you used the printer yet?
B: I have. It’s printing a little light.
A: Is it? Sometimes it takes a couple of tries for the toner to come out right.
B: That’s what I figured.
A: Of course, the printer might be the problem, too. Let me know if it sorts itself out.
B: Okay, I will.

Speaking. Answer and practice these questions for your oral exam:
1. What is some common office equipment?

Offices have a lot of important things to work there, but the most common
things are photocopiers, computers, headphones, etc.

2. What are some important computer accessories?

The most important computer accessories for an office are keyboards, mice,
monitors, headphones, USB.

3. Can you live or work without a computer? Why?

I don't think I could, because nowadays the computer is a very important

element in our daily life, since it helps us in our classes, to do our homework
and in our daily life.

Writing. Imagine you are a manager. Write an eight-line paragraph about new
equipment you would like to have in your office
In our office an equipment that would be very useful in these times would be a
projector, since we can show all our employees in a more complete way our future
projects and expose our plans in the company, besides being able to have an exhibition
hall where our workers can show us their ideas for one way or another to improve the
operation in the company. Another equipment for these winter times would be to
implement heating to the floor where we work so that our workers feel comfortable in
their work area and can develop their functions in a better way, with better mood and
more efficient.