Model answers

Dear Ms Patel,

I am writing about the balcony repairs that began in our building on Monday. I understand that the work is necessary, but the noise starts at 7 a.m. every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, and it continues until late afternoon.

This is causing me real difficulties. I work night shifts at the hospital three times a week, so I usually sleep until noon. Since the drilling started, I have only been able to sleep for three or four hours, and last week I made a small mistake at work because I was so tired. Several neighbours with young children have told me that their babies are also being woken up.

Would it be possible to start the work at 9 a.m. instead, and to keep weekends quiet? If the schedule cannot change, perhaps the noisiest jobs could be done in the afternoon. I would also appreciate a weekly timetable so that residents can plan ahead.

Thank you for considering this request. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Chen Wei, Apartment 4B

I strongly prefer Option A, turning the building into a community centre, for three main reasons.

First, downtown already has two large supermarkets within a short walk, so another one would not add much. In contrast, there is nowhere in the area where residents can take an evening class, hold a club meeting or simply meet their neighbours. A community centre would fill a real gap.

Second, a centre would bring people together in a way that a shop cannot. Newcomers to the city, for example, could join language classes and meet people who share their interests. Seniors who live alone could take part in activities instead of staying at home.

Finally, although selling the building would give the city money once, a well-used centre would benefit residents for many years. Some costs could be covered by renting rooms to local groups and charging small fees for classes.

For these reasons, I believe a community centre is the better long-term choice for our city.

I know you’re really busy at the moment, but I think you can still get fitter without finding a lot of extra time. First of all, try to build exercise into things you already do. For example, you could get off the bus one stop early and walk the rest of the way to work, or take the stairs instead of the lift. That adds up to quite a lot in a week. Second, if I were you, I’d choose short workouts at home. Twenty minutes in the morning is enough if you do it regularly, and you don’t have to travel to a gym. And finally, ask a friend to join you on weekends — maybe a bike ride or a swim. It’s easier to stay motivated when someone is expecting you. Start small, and I’m sure you’ll feel the difference in a few weeks.

Last summer I planned a surprise birthday dinner for my sister at a restaurant by the lake. I booked a table weeks in advance and invited six of her friends. But when we arrived, the restaurant had no record of my booking, and every table was full. At first I was really embarrassed, especially because my sister was standing right next to me. Then one of her friends suggested we buy food from the market and have a picnic instead. We found a quiet spot by the water and ate as the sun went down. In the end, my sister said it was the best birthday she’d had.

This is a busy city park on a sunny day, with tall buildings in the background. On the left there’s an ice cream cart, and the seller is handing a cone to a young boy. In the middle, a woman is sitting on a bench reading a book, and next to her an older man is feeding some birds. In front of them, a man is jogging along the path with his dog. On the right there’s a small pond with a couple of ducks, and a little girl is flying a kite near the water. It looks like a relaxed afternoon.

I think the boy is going to walk away happily with his ice cream, but because it’s so warm, it will probably start to melt quickly. The jogger’s dog seems very interested in the birds, so I expect it will run toward them and the birds will fly away, which might annoy the older man who is feeding them. The girl with the kite is standing quite close to the pond, so her parents will probably call her to move back. And the woman on the bench might look up from her book to see what all the noise is about.

I know you love the idea of the city apartment, and the museums do sound great, but I really think the lake cabin is the better choice for us this year. First, it costs about half as much, so we could use the money we save for something else, like the kids’ summer camp. Second, we’re all so busy that what we really need is a rest. In the city we’d be rushing from place to place, but at the lake we can go out on the boat, hike in the mornings and actually spend time together. And no internet might be a good thing — nobody will be checking work emails. We can always do a city weekend later in the year. So, shall we book the cabin?

Hi Sam, I need to talk to you about Saturday, and I feel really bad about it. My manager asked me to cover an extra shift because a colleague is sick, and she said it would help my chances of getting the promotion I’ve been hoping for. I know I promised to help you move, and I don’t want to let you down. So here’s what I was thinking: I’ll come over on Friday evening and help you pack everything into boxes, so on Saturday the movers only need to carry them. And on Sunday I can come and help you unpack and set up the kitchen. I’ll also bring dinner both nights. Would that work for you?

In my opinion, many companies should at least try a four-day working week, for two main reasons. First, I think people work more efficiently when they have enough rest. When I had a long weekend last month, I came back to work with more energy and finished my tasks faster. If workers are less tired, they make fewer mistakes, so the company doesn’t necessarily lose productivity. Second, it could help companies keep good staff. These days many people, especially parents, value free time as much as salary, so a shorter week would make a job more attractive. Of course, it won’t work for every business — hospitals and shops need staff every day. But for office jobs, I believe the benefits are worth testing.

So, I found the bike I told you about, and it’s really unusual. It looks like a normal bicycle with two wheels, but in front of the handlebars there’s a big wooden box, about as wide as a small table. On top of the box there’s a little coffee machine and a stack of paper cups, and the front of the box says “Fresh Coffee”. Above the seat there’s a large umbrella, so the rider stays out of the sun. On the back there’s a rack with a small tree in a pot, and a black sign hanging from it that says “Coffee, three dollars”. It’s basically a coffee shop on wheels — perfect for your business.