ELSA Everyday Communication 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of 'neither...nor'?
- Neither the manager nor the employees were informed. (Correct answer)
- Neither the manager or the employees was informed.
- Neither the manager and nor the employees were informed.
- Neither were the manager nor employees informed.
Correct answer: Neither the manager nor the employees were informed.
'Neither...nor' is a correlative conjunction pair; the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ('employees').
Question 2: A neighbor says, 'Feel free to drop by anytime.' This phrase most likely means:
- You are welcome to visit without a formal invitation. (Correct answer)
- You must schedule an appointment first.
- You should only come during an emergency.
- You are not actually welcome.
Correct answer: You are welcome to visit without a formal invitation.
'Feel free to drop by' is a casual, hospitable invitation indicating the person is welcome to visit informally.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of active listening?
- Nodding and paraphrasing what the speaker said (Correct answer)
- Checking your phone while someone talks
- Interrupting to share your own story
- Waiting silently without any acknowledgment
Correct answer: Nodding and paraphrasing what the speaker said
Active listening involves giving full attention, nodding, and paraphrasing to show you understood the speaker.
Question 4: In the sentence 'She was running late, so she called ahead,' what does 'called ahead' mean?
- Phoned the destination in advance to warn them (Correct answer)
- Ran faster than before
- Called out loudly while running
- Scheduled a future call
Correct answer: Phoned the destination in advance to warn them
'Called ahead' means contacting someone at the destination beforehand to give notice, often about being late.
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory clause?
- After the meeting ended, we went to lunch. (Correct answer)
- After the meeting ended we went to lunch.
- After the meeting, ended we went to lunch.
- We went, after the meeting ended to lunch.
Correct answer: After the meeting ended, we went to lunch.
A comma is required after an introductory dependent clause before the main clause begins.
Question 6: Your boss says, 'Let's table this discussion for now.' In American English, this means:
- Postpone the discussion until later (Correct answer)
- Begin the discussion immediately
- End the discussion permanently
- Write the discussion down on paper
Correct answer: Postpone the discussion until later
In American English, 'table' a discussion means to postpone it, unlike British English where it means to bring it forward.
Question 7: What is the most appropriate way to end a professional phone call?
- Thank you for your time — I'll follow up by email. Goodbye. (Correct answer)
- Okay, bye.
- Later!
- I gotta go, talk soon.
Correct answer: Thank you for your time — I'll follow up by email. Goodbye.
Professional phone calls should end with a courteous closing that summarizes next steps and uses a formal farewell.
ELSA Everyday Communication 3
Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of 'neither...nor'?