PRAGMATIC GAME - TRAVELLING - level B1+

You're travelling with a friend, and they accidentally spill some food on your shirt while on the train. They apologize immediately. What would be your response? There is only 1 appropriate answer.

• A - I'll just grab a napkin. No biggie.

• B - I appreciate your apology. This is inconvenient, and I'll need to clean it. Let's be more cautious moving forward.

• C - Oh, don't worry about it at all! Accidents happen. Thank you for apologizing, but it's really no big deal. Let's just enjoy the rest of our trip!

• D - You need to be more careful. This is so annoying.

Answer explanation

A - friendly, casual, and downplays the incident, making it easy for both parties to move on

B - too formal and makes the incident seem more significant than it is

C - overly long and might feel excessive for a simple accident

D - blunt and could hurt your friend's feelings

You're travelling with a group of friends, and one of them forgets their passport at the hotel just before you're about to board a flight. What can you tell her/him?

THERE ARE 2 APPROPRIATE ANSWERS!

• A - Looks like we'll have to delay our plans now.

• B - Come on, how could you be so dumb to forget your passport? Now we're in a mess.

• C - Seriously? How could you forget your passport? Now we have to sort this out quickly.

• D - This is quite unfortunate. Let's contact the hotel immediately to resolve this.

Answer explanation

A - a straightforward acknowledgment of the situation, indicating a change in plans

B - overly rude and insulting

C - expresses frustration but focuses on quickly resolving the issue

D - too formal and may come off as insincere or detached among friends

 You're staying at a hostel, and your roommate accidentally takes your charger instead of theirs. How would you point out they mistook their charger for yours?

THERE ARE 2 APPROPRIATE ANSWERS!

• A - I believe there has been a mix-up. It appears you may have taken my charger instead of yours.

• B - Oh, I didn't know my charger had teleportation powers. It ended up in your bag!

• C - Hey, I think my charger decided to make friends with your stuff.

• D - Hey, you took my charger. Can you give it back?

Answer explanation

A - overly formal for a casual setting, making it sound stiff and out of place

B - uses humor to indicate the mix-up, making it clear there was a mistake

C - highlight the situation, keeping the tone friendly and non-confrontational

D - too blunt, potentially causing unnecessary tension

You're at a train station and ask a fellow passenger which platform your train to London departs from. They give you the wrong information unintentionally. How would you point out that they have made a mistake? There is only 1 appropriate answer.

• A - I appreciate your assistance, but I have verified that the train to London actually departs from a different platform.

• B - You got it wrong. The London train's on another platform. I will ask someone knowledgeable.

• C - I'm so sorry to trouble you, but I think there's a small mistake. The London train actually leaves from a different platform. Thanks for your help!

• D - Thanks, but I’ve just checked the schedule, and it looks like the train to London departs from a different platform.

Answer explanation

A - too formal for a casual interaction with a fellow passenger

B - too blunt and can come off as rude

C - overly apologetic and longer than necessary, which can make the interaction awkward

D - provides a polite and concise correction

You are on a long train journey and the passenger next to you is talking loudly on the phone. How would you ask them to keep their voice down or to leave the compartment while talking on the phone?

THERE ARE 2 APPROPRIATE ANSWERS!

• A - Excuse me, could you please keep it down? It's a bit noisy.

• B - Could you please lower your voice or take your call outside the compartment?

• C - Could consider taking your call outside the compartment? Your loud conversation is disruptive. Thank you for your understanding.

• D - If you don't lower your voice, I'll have to involve the train staff.

Answer explanation

A - a polite request that directly communicates the issue without being confrontational

B - provides a clear request with two possible solutions, maintaining politeness and clarity

C - overly formal and slightly awkward in phrasing, making it less effective for a casual setting like a train journey

D - confrontational and escalates the situation, which could create unnecessary tension and conflict

You are exploring a new city and have just arrived at your hotel. When you check in, you notice that the room assigned to you does not match the description you booked online. How do you point out to the receptionist that there has been a mistake?

There is only 1 appropriate answer.

• A - Excuse me, I noticed that the room assigned to me doesn't quite match the description I booked. Could you please look into this?

• B - This isn't the room I booked online. It doesn't match the description at all. You need to fix this right now.

• C - Excuse me, my assigned room does not match the description of my booking. Please rectify this promptly.

• D - This room is nothing like what I booked online. Sort it out now, or we’re going to have a problem.

Answer explanation

A - polite, clear, and respectful, it communicates the issue

B - blunt and demanding, which can come off as rude and may create unnecessary tension

C - although polite, it is too formal for a casual interaction, making it sound stiff and impersonal

D - aggressive and threatening, which is likely to escalate the situation rather than resolve it

You're on a guided tour of a historic site, and the guide has just finished explaining a particularly intricate aspect of the architecture. However, you didn't quite catch all the details. How would you ask for the information you missed to be repeated? There is only 1 appropriate answer.

• A - Sorry, I was talking to someone while you were explaining the architecture so I didn't catch what you just said. Can you repeat it?

• B - Oh, that's extremely interesting. Can we hear more about the history of this site, please?

• C - Excuse me, could you please repeat the last part about the architecture? I didn't catch all the details.

• D - Excuse me, I missed some details of your explanation. Could you kindly repeat it for me? I would greatly appreciate it.

Answer explanation

A - too casual and admits to being distracted, which might not come across well to the guide

B - it may be interpreted as sarcasm or with ironic undertones

C - polite, clear, and directly addresses the need for repetition

D - overly formal and a bit lengthy for the situation, which can make it sound unnatural

You are at a café and want to order a cup of coffee. You will hear a response from the barista. Your task is to find THE LEAST PRECEDING STATEMENT for the given response.
Response from the barista:

"Of course, would you like that with milk or without?"

• 1. "Can I have a coffee, please?"

• 2. "I’d like to buy ice coffee."

• 3. "Would you mind preparing some coffee?"

• 4. "I want to order the best coffee from your cafe"

Answer explanation

1. it is generally polite and maintains the flow of the conversation.

2. it indicates a preference for a different type of coffee. The barista can easily understand the customer's needs.

3. it sounds overly formal and out of place in this context.

4. it expresses a desire for a high-quality recommendation. It shows interest in the barista’s expertise, which is generally acceptable in a café setting.

You are lost and trying to ask a pedestrian for directions to the nearest subway station. You will hear a response from the pedestrian. Your task is to find THE LEAST PRECEDING STATEMENT for the given response.

Response from the pedestrian:

"Just go straight down this road and take the second right. You'll see the station entrance on your left."

• 1. "Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the nearest subway station?"

• 2. "Where is the subway station?"

• 3. "Can you help me find the nearest subway station?"

• 4. 4. "Would you be so kind as to show me the way to the subway station?"

Answer explanation

1. This is an appropriate way to initially ask for directions. While not a direct follow-up to the given directions, it’s still polite and courteous.

2. This is also a proper way to ask for the location of the subway station. Though not the best follow-up after receiving directions, it’s still an understandable question.

3. This is another correct way to ask for help in finding the subway station. Similar to the others, it’s not ideal after getting directions but is acceptable.

4. Too formal and may come across as too demanding. The pedestrian has already given clear directions, and asking them to physically lead you to the station could be seen as inconvenient or burdensome. It is also too formal. 

You are at the train station and want to buy a ticket to the city center. You will hear a response from the ticket agent. Your task is to find THE LEAST PRECEDING STATEMENT for the given response.

Response from the ticket agent:

"Single or return?"

• 1. "Excuse me, can I buy a ticket to the city center, please?"

• 2. 2. "I need a ticket to the city center, hurry up."

• 3. "One ticket please."

• 4. "Good morning. I’d like to buy a ticket".

Answer explanation

1.This is a polite initial request for a ticket.

2. It is considered rude to speak to the cashier this way as it lacks politeness and proper acknowledgment of the agent's inquiry.

3. This response is straightforward. However, it is still polite.

4. This is a courteous and respectful way to begin the transaction.