ENGLISH EXERCISE Unit 7 – Keep it brief

1. You are a journalist for a celebrity magazine and are going to interview a well-
known actor. Look at the question you want to ask, then complete the exercises
below.

Question 1
It’s extraordinary you’ve been a movie actor for over 40 years. Is it true you’ve made over
200 films?

Question 2
It must be very difficult to keep fit when you’re filming. How many hours a day do you
exercise? I don’t suppose you manage to get to the gym in the morning before you go onto
the set, do you?

Question 3
Approximately 90 per cent of all your fans are children. Why do you think that is? Do you
find it strange to be so popular with children when you mostly play frightening villains?
For example, the foreign agent in the latest James Bond film.

1.A. Full sentences are not necessary when writing notes. Which words in Question 1
could you omit?
- Answer:
In Question 1 I could omit : “It’s extraordinary you’ve been”, “for”, “Is it true you’ve”.
Because full sentences are not necessary when writing notes, so when I omit these words,
not only the notes will be abbreviated but also it has enough completely meaning and I can
understand exactly what I want to ask.
 New Question 1 only has:
A movie actor over 40 years.
Made over 200 films?

1.B. You can use dashes instead of full stops and commas and after question marks.
Rewrite this note using a dash: Fit? How many hrs a day exerc.?
- Answer:
Fit – how many hrs a day exerc.?

1.C. Abbreviate these words and phrases: over 40 years; difficult; in the morning;
foreign.
- Answer:
Over 40 years : + 40 yrs
Difficult : diff.
In the morning : a.m
Foreign : frg

1.D. You can emphasize important words by using CAPITAL LETTERS, underlining,
and highlighting. Are there any words you will want to highlighting?
- Answer:

Student: PHAM THI HUONG QUYNH 1 Student ID: K49CLC1 – 1001025142

ENGLISH EXERCISE Unit 7 – Keep it brief

Question 1:
It’s extraordinary you’ve been a movie actor for over 40 years. Is it true you’ve made
over 200 films?

Question 2
It must be very difficult to keep fit when you’re filming. How many hours a day do you
exercise? I don’t suppose you manage to get to the gym in the morning before you go
onto the set, do you?

Question 3
Approximately 90 per cent of all your fans are children. Why do you think that is? Do
you find it strange to be so popular with children when you mostly play frightening
villains? For example, the foreign agent in the latest James Bond film.

1.E. You can emphasize your emotions or attitude by punctuation (e.g. !!! ???). Give an
example of where you will do that.
- Answer:
Question 1
It’s extraordinary you’ve been a movie actor for over 40 years!!! Is it true you’ve made
over 200 films???

Question 2
I don’t suppose you manage to get to the gym in the morning before you go onto the set, do
you???

Question 3
Do you find it strange to be so popular with children when you mostly play frightening
villains??? E.g., the foreign agent in the latest James Bond film.

1.F. Are there any symbols you will use to make your notes even shorter?
- Answer:
Question 1
A movie actor +40 yrs. +200 films???

Question 2
Fit- ?hours /a day exerc.? Gym in a.m b4 on2 the set???

Question 3
~ 90% fans - children. Why? Find strange when mostly play frightening villains??? E.g, the
frg agent in the latest James Bond film.

2. Make a draft of your notes here. Reread your notes and underline the correct
alternative in these sentences. Make any changes that are necessary to your notes.
- Answer

Student: PHAM THI HUONG QUYNH 2 Student ID: K49CLC1 – 1001025142

ENGLISH EXERCISE Unit 7 – Keep it brief

Question 1
A movie actor +40 years!!!
Made +200 films???

Question 2
Fit - ? hrs / a day exerc.?
Gym a.m. b4 go on2 the set???

Question 3
~ 90% fans - children. Why? Find strange when mostly play frightening villains??? E.g, the
frg agent in the latest James Bond film.

- The notes are clear / not clear.

- There are some / aren’t any unnecessary words.
- I understand / don’t understand my abbreviations.
- There are some / no parts that could be made clearer by highlighting.

Student: PHAM THI HUONG QUYNH 3 Student ID: K49CLC1 – 1001025142

 FOREIGN TRADE UNIVERSITY
HOCHIMINH CITY CAMPUS

Department : INT’L BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Subject : Business English
Class : K49CLC1
Student : Pham Thi Huong Quynh
Student ID : 1001025142

Hochiminh city, November 12nd 2010