Exercise 1: The 2025 Dialogue
[Two friends meet in the park] Devraj : _ how are you? (Greeting) Shivaji : Fine. Did you participate in the dance competition? Devraj : (giving information) Shivaji : Wow ! congratulations. Devraj : _ (expressing gratitude)
Model answers: Hello Shivaji, · Yes, I did. I won the first prize. · Thank you so much!
Exercise 2: Asking a Teacher for Help
[A student meets his teacher in the staff room] Student : _ (greeting) Teacher : Good morning. Come in. Student : (requesting) Teacher : Certainly. Bring your notebook tomorrow. Student : _ (thanking)
Model answers: Good morning, sir. · Could you please explain the passive voice once more? · Thank you very much, sir.
*(Notice the register: *sir*, *could you please*, *thank you very much. The same three functions in the park would sound quite different.)
Exercise 3: An Invitation
[Two classmates on the way home] Ravi : _ (inviting) Suma : I would love to come. What time does it begin? Ravi : (giving information) Suma : _ (taking leave)
Model answers: Would you like to come to our college day on Friday? · It begins at five in the evening. · See you on Friday, then. Bye!
Exercise 4: Bad News
[Two friends meet after the results] Asha : Hi Meena, how did your brother do in the exam? Meena : _ (giving information) Asha : _ (expressing sympathy) Meena : Thank you. He will try again in the supplementary exam.
Model answers: He could not clear two subjects. · I am really sorry to hear that.
(Here the line after the first blank must be sympathy, so the information has to be bad news. The same dialogue with "Congratulations!" would need the opposite answer.)
Exercise 5: At the Cycle Shop
[A customer at a cycle shop] Customer : _ (seeking information) Dealer : This one costs one thousand four hundred rupees. Customer : (expressing surprise) Dealer : Prices have gone up this year, madam. Customer : _ (taking leave)
Model answers: Could you tell me how much this ladies' cycle costs? · Really? That is much more than I expected! · I will come back next week. Thank you.
Exercise 6: Offering Help
[At the water tap in a village] Girl : These pots are too heavy for me. Neighbour : _ (offering help) Girl : _ (accepting and thanking) Neighbour : Not at all. Come, I will walk with you.
Model answers: Shall I carry one of them for you? · Yes, please. Thank you so much.
Exercise 7: Match the Function with the Expression
| Expression | Function |
|---|---|
| Would you mind lending me your notes? | requesting |
| I am afraid I don't agree with you. | disagreeing politely |
| This is my friend Fatima. | introducing |
| All the best for your exam! | wishing |
| I can't believe it! | expressing surprise |
| Why don't we start early? | suggesting |
| It was my pleasure. | responding to thanks |
| I am sorry for the delay. | apologising |
| Of course you may. | granting permission |
| Well done, Ravi! | congratulating |
Exercise 8: Correct the Answer
| Blank and function | Wrong answer | Better answer |
|---|---|---|
| (giving information) after "Did you win?" | Did you win the prize? | Yes, I won the first prize. |
| (greeting) in [Two friends meet] | Respected friend, I greet you. | Hi Ravi, how are you? |
| (thanking) after "Congratulations" | Sorry. | Thank you so much! |
| (seeking information) | The bus leaves at six. | Could you tell me when the bus leaves? |
| (expressing sympathy) | That is wonderful news. | I am really sorry to hear that. |
| (apologising) | It was not my fault at all. | I am sorry I am late. |
| (inviting) | I came to your house yesterday. | Would you like to join us on Sunday? |
| (taking leave) | Hello, how are you? | I must go now. See you tomorrow. |
Exercise 9: Complete It Yourself
[A student meets the librarian] Student : _ (greeting) Librarian : Good afternoon. How can I help you? Student : (requesting) Librarian : Yes, you may borrow it for a week. Student : _ (thanking)
Model answers: Good afternoon, madam. · May I borrow this book on Achebe, please? · Thank you, madam.
A last check. Read the finished dialogue straight through, printed lines and your answers together. It should sound like two people talking, each one replying to what the other just said. If any line jars, it is the line the examiner will mark down.
[Exam Tip] — In the last minute, check one thing in each blank: does it do the function in the bracket, and does the next printed line make sense after it? Those two checks protect all three marks.