Topic some skills in solving language function questions and responses in examinations

The topic was studied in the English programme at high school level The basicEnglish textbooks 10, 11, 12 and in tests, exam preparation tests, entrance exams intouniversity or college d

HOANG HOA 2 HIGH SCHOOL

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experience initiative

topic: “Some Skills in solving language function

questions and responses in examinations”.

Teacher : Lê Văn Quân Specialization: Foreign language

School year : 2016-2017

PART I: INTRODUCTION

I Reason for the study

Language function is an important part of exercise in national examinations,English test and examinations for gifted students (there are normally from 3 to 5questions) At first, many students think that these questions are very easy to do.However, they are the questions making students confused and choose wrong answers

Used language is to function particular communication such as asking for

information, inviting, advising, thanking, and so on For that reason, language function

means spoken style and culture of native people It is these aspects that makeVietnamese students difficult to choose the correct answers

Through my own practical teaching in the recent years, I notice that the

textbooks of English 10, 11, 12 give language function and response part in PART B

(Speaking) but not clear and systematically (except Part B–Unit 3–Basic English 12).

In addition, English textbooks in the upper secondary education have very fewexercises of this type designed in the form of the exam questions, so that there is littlechance for the students to practise and get familiar with these exercise

A number of students at Mai Anh Tuan High School mistake the greeting “How

do you do?” Their answer to this question is “I do very well or I work very hard”.

They don’t know how to reply this greeting The response is “How do you do?”

In practice, there are not a lot of useful references for teachers about this kind of

exercise and so some teachers sometimes wonder the key never mind and you’re

welcome in this sentence: “Thanks for your help.”

From the rationales mentioned above, I have decided to write my own

experience initiative on the topic “Some Skills in solving language function

questions and responses in examinations”.

II Aim of the study

With this experience initiative, I wish to help my students understand moreabout the language function and responses of native people Besides, I would like toprovide the students some knowledge to solve questions of the language function andresponses in a detailed and logical system that is easy for them to learn, to use and toapply in practice rapidly and productively Furthermore, through this experienceinitiative, I hope to contribute some ideas on issues related to the responses oflanguage function to the teaching experience sources for my colleagues to use as areference in their teaching English

III Objective and Scope of the study

In this experience initiative, I give basic word phrases and sentences which thenative people often use to reply in daily communication, giving a variety of exercisesystems to help students understand the culture of native speakers more deeply

The topic was studied in the English programme at high school level (The basicEnglish textbooks 10, 11, 12) and in tests, exam preparation tests, entrance exams intouniversity or college designed by the Ministry of Education and Training, Englishexams for gifted students in Thanh Hoa and other provinces It is applied to grade-12students at Mai Anh Tuan High School in the school-year 2016-2017 to prepare for thenational high – school examination

IV Bases of the study:

The experience inititative has been studied based on my own practical teachingexperiences, referring to documents related to the research topic, observing otherteachers’lessons, and consulting my colleagues

PART II: PROBLEM SOLVING

The important point to solve this kind of exercise is you have to understand thefunction of communication and spoken style Thus, if you know how to reply todifferent language function, you can do this kind of exercise easily.

Below are some English language functions and responses and some exercisesare given to apply

A ASKING FOR INFORMATION

1 Yes/ No questions

a The answer is often (not always) yes, or no, and repeat auxiliary as follows:

Example: A: Do you like classical music?

B: Yes, I do (Yes, I like.) / No, I don’t (No, I don’t like.)

b Sometimes the answer is only “Yes” or “No” and can repeat auxiliary or not

B: Yes, two days ago / No, I didn’t There wasn’t time, I’m afraid Sorry

c Sometimes the answer doesn’t start with “Yes” or “No”

B: Actually, I’m the owner

A: Is your company opening a branch office?

B: We plan to open one next year

d Be careful with negative question

With negative question, if you agree, your answer is “No”, and if you disagree,your answer is “Yes”

B: Yes, I did it yesterday / No, I’m sorry I haven’t had time

e Yes / No question can be used in tag question

B: Yes, he does / No, he doesn’t

f Sometimes Yes/ No question has specially communicative function

B: Yes, I’d love to

A: Can I carry something for you? (Offering)B: No, it’s OK, thanks

Exercises:

1 Harry: “Are you ready, Kate? There’s not much time left.”

Kate: “Yes, just a minute !”

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2011)

2 Ann: “Do you need any help?”

Kate: “ .”

A That’s fine by me B That’s all for now

C I haven’t got a clue D No, thanks I can manage

(UE Examination - A1 by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2012)

3 – “Do you like frog’s legs?”

- “………… them, I don’t really know.”

A Never try B Not to have try

C Never having tried D Never had tried

(Examination for gifted students in Thanh Hoa province, 2010 – 2011)

4 Tom: “Wasn't it Mozart who composed Swan Lake?” Jane: “ .”

A Yes, he wasn't B It's out of question

C I haven't a clue D It's not my favourite

(Examination for gifted students in Thanh Hoa province, 2014 – 2015)

5 – “Is it far to the international airport from here?”

- “……….”

A Yeah, it’s pretty far B By taxi C None at all D Sure, no problem

2 Choice questions

a The answer is one of the two options

Example: A: Are they coming tonight or tomorrow?

B: Tonight / They are coming tonight

b Don’t use “Yes” or “No”

B: I’m Chinese Yes, I’m Chinese No, I’m Japanese

c Question with “or” may be an offer

B: Potatoes, please / I’ll have potatoes / I’d like rice / I’d prefer rice / Yes, please /Potatoes are fine / I don’t mind / Whichever./Neither

3 I think so./ I’m afraid not.

a Use “so” after think, be afraid, believe, expect guess, hope, and suppose

B: I think/ believe/ hope/ expect/ guess so / I’m afraid so

b With negative answer, we only use “so”

B: I don’t think/ believe/ expect suppose so.

I’m not afraid so I don’t guess so

c With negative answer, we use “not” only with hope, guess, suppose, believe and beafraid

B: I hope/ guess/ suppose/ believe not./ I’m afraid not

I think not I expect not

Exercises:

1 John: “Will you be able to come to the meeting?”

Jack: “ .”

A I’m afraid not B I’m sorry not

C You must be kidding D Of course you will

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2010)

2 – “Are my photos ready, please?”

- “………… We’re having problems with the machine.”

A I’m afraid not B I’m afraid so C I hope so D I’m sure so

3 – “Do you think it’s going to rain?” - “……… I’m just about to go out.”

A Well, I know not B Well, I’m sure not

C Well, I hope not D Well, I expect not

4 What questions

a What is used as Subject and Object

B: His rudenessA: What would you like to do? We could go and see a film or go swimming.B: Whatever

b What……for: indicating purpose

B: To read about business software

A: What are these bricks for?

B: We’re going to build a wall

c What + be + like:

B: Oh, we had a great time

A: What’s the place like where you live?

B: It’s pretty quiet

d What + look + …… like:

B: She’s very tall and blond / B: He’s short with brown eyes and curly hair

e What is used to ask about job

B: I’m a doctor

f What combines with other nouns to ask time, colour

A: What colour is your house? B: (It’s) Pink./ Blue/ Yellow/ Green…… A: What kind of soup is that? B: (It’s) bean soup

Exercises:

1 Kim: "What this weekend?"

Sally: "Oh, we're going windsurfing It's fantastic!"

A are you doing B do you go C would you do D are you going

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2009)

Key: A

2 Ellen: " ?"

Tom: "He's tall and thin with blue eyes."

A What does John look like B Who does John look like

C How is John doing D What does John like

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2009)

Key: A

3 Phil: “I'd like to become a tour guide What do you think I should do?”

Leonie: “ ”

A I think you should practise spoken English

B Yes, a tour guide is a good job!

C Shall we have a package tour this summer?

D I don't agree with you

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2011)

Key: A

5 Who(m) / Whose questions

a Who is often subject asked about a person, people

B: Jane and Eric

b Negative question

B: I didn’t / John didn’t / It was Mary.

c Who(m) is often object asked about a person, people The answer is often a noun,noun phrase relating person

B: (I saw) George

d Whose + noun

B: Mary’s./ Tom’s./ Jane’s

A: Whose book is this?

B: My friend’s./ My cousin’s / (It’s) Mine / His./ Hers./ Theirs./ Ours./ Yours

Exercises:

1 - “Whose briefcase is this? - “………”

A It’s my boss B It’s my boss’s

C They’re probably lost D His luggage is full

2 – “Who left the lights on?” - “………”

A I’m sure it’s dark outside B We always leave them on

C John turned them off D Yes, I know

3 Tome: Whose bicycle is that? Mary: ………

A No, it’s over there B It’s just outside C It’s Jane’s D It’s Jance

Key: 1 B 2 B 3.C

6 Which questions

a Which + noun is used instead of “What + noun”

B: Medium, please

A: Which of these coats (What of these coats) is yours?

B: The brown one

A: You can have a photo Which one would you like? B: This one, please

b When there are a lot of or few answers, we can use What or Which to ask

Exercises:

1 – “Which movie would you like to watch?” - “………”

A It begins at 2 p.m B The new one with Sean connery

C I think it costs about $7.00 D The film is rather long

2 – “ Do you remember which gate weleave from?” - “………”

A He told me about it before he left

B We shouldn’t leave the gate open

C I think it’s gate five

D We’d like gate five

3 – “Which class do you have on Tuesday morning?” - “……… ”

A French B I don’t like to wake up early

C We can go together D It’s made in France

7 How questions

a Aking about process, manner, the answer often contains preposition “by” or anadverb

B: By bike/ car/ bus

A: How does he drive? B: carefully./ Carelessly/ Slowly./ Really fast.A: How did you know about his death? B: Your sister told me

b Asking about situation, quality of something, the response often contain adjectives

such as not too bad, good, fine, excellent, terrible……

A: How’s the soup? B: Great! / Awful!

A: How was the film? B: Very good / Fantastic / Boring

A: How’s Ron? B: He’s fine/ very well

A: How does she look today? B: Tired

c How + adj / adv to ask about level or quantity

A: How many people came? B: Twenty

A: How old are you? B: I’m fifteen years old

A: How far is it from here to the train station? B: About three kilometers.A: How soon can you get there? B: In ten minutes

A: How fast were you driving? B: 50 miles an hour

A: How long have you been here? B: Three years

A: How often do you go to the cinema? B: Once a month./Every Sunday./

Twice a week

Exercises:

1 A: “ do you go to the movies?” B: “Once a month.”

A How far B What time C How often D How much time

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2005)

2 Tom: “How did you get here?”

John: “ ”

A Is it far from here? B I came here by train

C I came here last night D The train is so crowded.

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2008)

3 Kevin: "How far is it from here to the nearest post office?"

Lan: " ."

A Two kilometers at least B Turn left and then turn right

C No, it's rather far D Yes, it's quite near here

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2009)

4 – “How do you like your steak done?”

– “ .”

A Very much B Well done C Very little D I don’t like it much

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2009)

8 Why QUESTIONS

Why usually asks about cause or reason.

a The reply usually contaims because or due to

B: Because he didn’t prepare well enough for it./ It was due to his carelessness

b However, the answer is sometimes reason

A: Why didn’t you come to the conference? B: I was busy

c Question with Why don’t we…… ? / Why don’t you……? is, in fact, a suggesting,

so the answer is the response of the suggesting

A: Why don’t we go to the cinema tonight?

B: That sounds great! / Ok What time? / Sounds good Where shall we meet?

9 Where questions

A: Where’s Tom? B: (He’s) Downstairs

A: Where’s do we go from here? B: Turn left and go straight

Exercises:

1 A: “Where is Loan?” B: “She _.”

A is in her room studying B in her room is studying

C studies in her room D has in herroom studied

(High – Shool graduation Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2007)

2 Helen: "Where do you come from?"

Ann: " ."

A In London B Yes, I have just come here

C I’m living in London D I come from London

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2008)

3 Linda: "Excuse me! Where’s the post office?"

Maria: " ."

A It’s over there B I'm afraid not C Don’t worry D Yes, I think so

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2008)

Key: 1 C 2 D 3 A

10 When questions

A: When will the war be over? B: Very soon

* Note: With asking for information, the reply can be:

a Repeat the question before answering

A: Where are you going? B: Where am I going? Home

A: What does he want? B: What does he want? Money, as usual

A: Are you tired? B: Am I tired? Of course, not

A: Do squirrels eat insects? B: Do squirrels eat insects? I’m not sure

b Use How should I know?

A: What time does the film start? B: How should I know? (Làm sao tôi biếtđược)

Exercises:

1 Tom : “ When are we leaving for the concert?”

Kyle : “ .”

A Straight away B That’s right C Certainly D No problem

(UE Examination -D1- by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2012)

Key: A (straight away = at once: immediately; without delay)

2 – “When is the next train?” - “……….”

A 5 o’clock B Over there

C It’s going to Chicago D It takes about five hours

3 – “When will they finish the project?” - “……… ”

A Next week if they stay on schedule B We need a new project

C It was an expensive project D I guess not

B REQUESTING

A: Will/ Would you wait here, please?

A: Don you think you could call me tonight?

A: Could you possibly meet me after school?

A: Would it be possible for you to help me move this weekend?

1 Agreement

B: Sure / Of course / I’d be glad/ happy to / No problem (used to show

that you are happy to help sb or that sth will be easy to do.) /

Note: The response with agreement starting Would you mind/ Do you mind + V-ing is

always negative as follows:

A: Would you mind opening the window?

B: Not at all / No, of course not

2 Disagreement

A: Could you type this letter for me?

B: I’m afraid I can’t / I’m sorry, but I’m really busy / I wish I could, but… / Actually, it’s a bit inconvenient

Excercises:

1 Susan: “Can you do the cooking today?”

Bill: “ .”

A I know that B No, thank you C Oh, all right D Yes, please

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2011)

2 Margaret: "Could you open the window, please?"

Henry: " ."

A I feel sorry B Yes, I can C I am , of course D Yes, with pleasure

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2010)

3 Sue: “Can you help me with my essay?”

Robert: “ ”

A Not completely B Yes, I’m afraid not C Why not? D I think that, too

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2011)

4 Joan: “Our friends are coming , Mike? ”

Mike : “I’m sorry, but I can’t do it now.”

A Shall you make some coffee, please B Would you mind making some coffee

C Why don’t we cook some coffee D Shall I make you like some coffee

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2011)

5 Lora: “Do you mind if I turn on the fan? ”

Maria: “ .”

A Never mind B Not at all C Not enough D Not for me

(UE Examination -A1- by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2012)

6 Phuong Thao is a student in Ms Lan’s writing class She is asking for Ms Lan’s comments on her last essay Select the most suitable response to fill in the blank Phuong Thao: “You must have found reading my essay very tiring.”

Ms Lan: “ I enjoyed it.”

A Not in the least B Just in case C At all costs D You are welcome

(UE Examination -D1- by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2014)

C ASKING FOR PERMISSION

1 Agreement/ Permission

Asking Agreeing/ Permitting

Okay if I leave now?

Is it OK if I leave now?

Can/ Could I leave now?

Is it alright if I leave now?

Could I possibly leave now, please?

A: Can I/ Could I have a quick look at your paper?

B: Yes, you can Yes, you could / Yes, of course, you can

A: May I use your phone?

B: Yes, of course, you may

A: Have you got a pen that I could use?

B: Yes, here you are

Note: the response of the following structure to agree is not or no as follows:

A: Mind if I leave a bit early? / Do you mind if I leave a bit early?

With this structure, the reply telling agreement is always to have not, or no as follows:

B: Not at all / No, of course not / No, go ahead / No, please do

2 Disagreement/ without permission

B: No, you can’t No, you couldn’t (We don’t use could in the answer.)

(B: Well, I’d rather you didn’t / Sorry, I’m afraid that I have to use it / I’m sorry, but

it doesn’t work.)

Exercises:

1 – “Could I borrow your pen?” - “……… ”

A No, please do You can use it all day if you like

B Of course You can use it all day if you like

C Not at all You can use it all day if you like

D Yes, you would You can use it all day if you like

2 – “………” - “Not at all.”

A Is it Ok if I sit here? B Would it be possible for me to sit here?

C Mind if I sit here D Can I sit here?

D OFFERING

1 Offering help

A: Let me carry your suitcase

A: Let me give you a hand

B: Thank you very much / That would be a real help / Thanks / Thanks, but I can manage

* At the shop

A: May I help you? / Can I help you? / Are you looking for something?

B: Yes, I’m looking for a Swiss watch / Yes, I’d like to buy some bread / No, thanhks I’m just looking

2 Offering things

drink?

B: Yes, please I’ll have an orange juice / Yes, please / No, thanks

A: Would you like tea or coffee?

B: Tea please / I don’t mind

3 Offering to bring something

Example: A: I wonder if I might be able to bring something / Let me bringsomething, will you?

B: It’s enough just to have you come / Oh, you don’t need to

Exercises:

1 Helen: “Shall I collect the tickets for the concert for you?”

Peter: “ ”

A Long time no see B It’s kind of you to do so

C Make yourself at home D Nice to meet you!

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2013)

2 Jack: ‘Can I borrow your notes, please?’

Jill: ‘ ’

A Well done! B No, thanks C Yes, sure D Yes, I can

(HSG Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2014)

3 – “Don’t fail to send your parents my regards.”

– “ .”

A It’s my pleasure B You’re welcome C Thanks, I will D Good idea, thanks

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2009)

4 Mr Black: “I’d like to try on these shoes, please.”

Salesgirl: “ ”

A That’s right, sir B By all means, sir C I’d love to D Why not ?

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2010)

5 “Can I get you another drink?”

Jerry: “ .”

A Not just now B No, I’ll think it over

C Forget it D No, it isn’ t

(University Entrance Examination by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2010)

6 Tom: “Can I have another cup of tea?”

Christy: “ .”

A Allow yourself B Help yourself C Do it yourself D Be yourself

(UE Examination – A1 - by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2012)

7 Stephanie: “Oh, no! I left my book at home Can I share yours?”

Scott: “ ”

A No, thanks B Yes, I do too C No, not at all! D Yes, sure!

(UE Examination – D1 - by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2013)

8 Jane had difficulty carrying her suitcase upstairs, and Mike, her friend, offered tohelp Select the most suitable response to fill in the blank

Mike: “Need a hand with your suitcase, Jane?”

Jane: “ ”

A That’s very kind of you B Not a chance

C I don’t believe it D Well done!

(UE Examination – D1 - by Ministry of Education and Training, in 2014)

willing for sb to have sth or do sth) 5 A 6 B 7 D 8 A

E ADVISING AND WARNING

1 Advising

B: I have a toothache

A: You should/ ought to/ ’d better see a dentist / Why don’t you see a dentist? /

If I were you, I’d see a dentist