From Inquiry to Review (Intermediate)
- englishiseasierwithamal.com
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
From Inquiry to Review
I. Read both emails and answer the questions:
Email 1: Pre-Trip Formal Request
Subject: Inquiry Regarding Accessibility & Dietary Requirements – Booking #TR-88402
Dear Customer Service Team,
I am writing to inquire about specific accommodations for our upcoming "Coastal Explorer Excursion" scheduled for Saturday, August 15th (Booking #TR-88402).
My husband and I are exceedingly excited about the trip; however, I would appreciate it if you could clarify two points regarding our booking. First, my husband uses a folding wheelchair. Could you please confirm whether the tour vessel is fully accessible? Second, I submitted a request for gluten-free meal options during the online checkout, but I have not yet received confirmation.
We would be immensely grateful if you could confirm these arrangements at your earliest convenience so that we may prepare accordingly. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Clara Higgins
I. Vocabulary:
Coastal (adjective): Located on, relating to, or near a coast or seashore.
Excursion (noun): A short journey or trip, especially one taken as a leisure activity or group outing.
Inquire (verb): To ask for information in a formal or official way.
Accommodations (noun): Adjustments or provisions made to meet specific needs (e.g., accessibility, dietary).
Clarify (verb): To make a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible.
Vessel (noun): A ship or large boat used for transportation.
Accessible (adjective): Easy to approach, enter, or use by persons with disabilities.
Accordingly (adverb): In a way that is appropriate to the particular circumstances.
II. Complete each sentence using a word from the vocabulary List
coastal - excursion- inquire - accommodations - clarify - vessel -accessible - accordingly
1. I am writing to ________________________ whether there are any discount tickets available for senior citizens.
2. The ferry is a large passenger ________________________ that carries up to five hundred people across the bay.
3. Our family booked a full-day boat ________________________ to explore the surrounding islands.
4. Please let us know your flight arrival time so that we may plan your pick-up ________________________.
5. The resort provided special ________________________ for guests who required wheelchair access.
6. Before booking the tour, I phoned the agent to ________________________ what was included in the price.
7. The tour bus took us along a beautiful ________________________ road with stunning ocean views.
8. All public entrances to the museum are fully ________________________ for visitors with mobility devices.
Email 2: Post-Trip Online Review
Subject: Constructive Feedback: Coastal Explorer Excursion (August 15)
Dear Management Team,
I am writing to share our feedback regarding the Coastal Explorer Excursion we took on August 15th. Overall, our experience was remarkably enjoyable, though there were a few minor operational issues that I feel should be brought to your attention.
On the positive side, the landscape views were exceptionally stunning, and our tour guide was thoroughly knowledgeable about the local marine life. Furthermore, the ramp access onto the boat worked seamlessly for my husband's wheelchair, which made our boarding process stress-free.
However, there were a couple of areas that require improvement. The special gluten-free lunch we had pre-ordered was slightly delayed, arriving almost forty minutes after the rest of the group was served. Additionally, the cabin audio system was somewhat muffled, making it difficult to hear the guide's commentary from the back row.
Despite these minor drawbacks, we had a immensely memorable day. With a few small adjustments to meal timing and sound equipment, this tour would be outstanding.
Kind regards,
Clara Higgins
I. Vocabulary:
Explorer (noun): A person or entity that travels through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it (often used in tour names).
Constructive (adjective): Serving a useful purpose; intended to build up, improve, or help.
Operational (adjective): Relating to the functioning or running of an organization, service, or system.
Seamlessly (adverb): Smoothly and continuously, without any awkward transitions or problems.
Drawback (noun): A feature that renders something less acceptable; a disadvantage or problem.
Muffled (adjective): (Of a sound) faint, deadened, or muted, making it difficult to hear clearly.
Commentary (noun): A spoken description or explanation of events as they happen (e.g., tour guide explanations).
Adjustment (noun): A small alteration or movement made to achieve a desired fit, appearance, or result.
II. Find the word that matches each definition below.
1. A ship, boat, or tour vehicle's overall functioning or running: ____________________
2. Useful, helpful, and intended to promote improvement (e.g., feedback): ____________________
3. Smoothly, easily, and without any problems or interruptions: ____________________
4. A disadvantage, problem, or feature that makes something less attractive: ____________________
5. A spoken description or explanation provided during a tour: ____________________
6. Faint, muted, or unclear in sound quality: ____________________
7. A person who travels through an unfamiliar area to discover new things: ____________________
8. A small change or alteration made to improve a situation: ____________________
Part 3: Paragraph Organization Practice
Task A: Structuring the Request Email
Put the following scrambled sentences into the correct order (1 to 5) to create a logical formal inquiry email.
_____ [A] Secondly, I would like to verify if vegetarians are catered for during the lunch stop.
_____ [B] I am writing to inquire about our upcoming canyon hiking excursion on September 10th.
_____ [C] Dear Tour Operations Team,
_____ [D] Thank you in advance for your time and assistance.
_____ [E] First, could you please let me know if the trail is suitable for someone recovering from a knee injury?
Task B: Structuring the Review Email (Balancing Positives & Negatives)
Reorder these paragraphs (1 to 5) to build a well-balanced formal review.
_____ [A] Positive Points: To begin with, the bus driver was exceptionally punctual, and the scenery along the coast was remarkably beautiful.
_____ [B] Conclusion / Closing: Overall, we had a pleasant trip, and with a bit more organization at lunch, this tour would be excellent. Best regards, Sandra Lee.
_____ [C] Salutation & Purpose: Dear Customer Support, I am writing to provide feedback on our recent city bus tour.
_____ [D] Area for Improvement: On the other hand, the restaurant where we stopped for lunch was somewhat overcrowded, which caused an unexpected 45-minute delay.
_____ [E] Balanced Summary: In general, our family enjoyed the excursion, though there are a few details that could be improved.
Part 4: Tone, Register, & Balanced Feedback Practice
Activity 1: Standard vs. Formal Register & Openers/Closers
Match the informal/casual expressions on the left with their appropriate formal business equivalents on the right.
Informal / Casual | Formal / Professional Register |
1. "Hey team!" | A. "Thank you in advance for your assistance." |
2. "I'm writing to ask about..." | B. "Overall, our experience was remarkably enjoyable." |
3. "The tour guide was awesome." | C. "Dear Management Team," |
4. "Fix this food issue." | D. "I am writing to inquire regarding..." |
5. "Thanks a lot for helping out!" | E. "The tour guide was thoroughly knowledgeable." |
6. "The tour was pretty cool overall." | F. "We feel the meal coordination requires slight improvement." |
Activity 2: Rearrange to Balance Feedback (Sandwich Method)
When writing formal reviews at CLB 5–6, use the Sandwich Method:
Positive Opening / 2. Constructive Criticism (Area for improvement) / 3. Positive Closing
Rearrange the mixed sentences below into a cohesive 3-sentence paragraph using the Sandwich Method.
Sentence A (Improvement): However, the check-in line was somewhat disorganized, causing a 20-minute delay.
Sentence B (Positive Opening): The mountain train excursion offered exceptionally breathtaking views of the valley.
Sentence C (Positive Closing): Despite this minor setback, our guide was immensely helpful, and we would certainly recommend this trip.
Activity 3: Identify the Sandwich Method Components
Read the sentences below from different tour reviews. Identify the function of each sentence by labeling it as:
[PO] = Positive Opening
[IMP] = Improvement (Constructive Criticism)
[PC] = Positive Closing
_____ "However, the check-in line was somewhat disorganized, causing a 20-minute delay."
_____ "Overall, our family had a truly memorable afternoon on the water."
_____ "The mountain train excursion offered exceptionally breathtaking views of the valley."
_____ "Despite this minor setback, our guide was immensely helpful, and we would certainly recommend this trip."
_____ "Unfortunately, the audio commentary was somewhat muffled toward the back of the bus."
_____ "The boat trip along the coast was remarkably scenic and well-organized."
Activity 4: Label & Reorder into a Balanced Review Paragraph
Set A
Label each sentence as PO (Positive Opening), IMP (Improvement), or PC (Positive Closing). Then, write the letters in the correct order to form a cohesive paragraph.
Sentence 1: "However, the lunch service was slightly delayed, which felt somewhat rushed. Label: [ ____ ]
Sentence 2: "Despite the timing issue, the staff remained polite, and we would happily book another excursion." Label: [ ____ ]
Sentence 3: "The guided walking tour was exceptionally informative and gave us great insight into local history." Label: [ ____ ]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Set B
Label each sentence as PO (Positive Opening), IMP (Improvement), or PC (Positive Closing). Then, write the letters in the correct order to form a cohesive paragraph.
Sentence 1: "With a few small adjustments to sound equipment, this tour would be outstanding." Label: [ ____ ]
Sentence 2: "Our experience on the Coastal Explorer was remarkably enjoyable from start to finish. Label: [ ____ ]
Sentence 3: "On the negative side, the cabin air conditioning was somewhat weak during the afternoon heat." Label: [ ____ ]
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Part 5: Grammar Focus — Adverbs of Degree
Explanation
Adverbs of degree modify adjectives, adverbs, or verbs to show intensity or strength. Using varied adverbs of degree makes your formal correspondence sound precise and sophisticated.
Intensity Level | Adverbs of Degree | Examples in Travel Context |
High Intensity | exceedingly, exceptionally, immensely, remarkably, thoroughly | The tour guide was thoroughly professional. We were immensely satisfied with the cabin. |
Moderate / Softened Intensity | somewhat, slightly, moderately, relatively | The bus was slightly noisy. The instructions were somewhat unclear. |
Grammar Practice: Sentence Completion
I. Complete each sentence by filling in the blank with an appropriate adverb of degree from the list below. (Use each word once).
exceptionally - slightly - thoroughly - somewhat -immensely
1. We were ________________________ grateful for the front desk staff, who helped us find our lost camera.
2. The tour guide's explanation of local history was ________________________ detailed and engaging.
3. The hotel room was ________________________ smaller than pictured on the website, but it was still comfortable.
4. The boat ride was ________________________ bumpy due to high winds, which made a few passengers uneasy.
5. The view from the hotel balcony was ________________________ beautiful at sunrise.
II. Choose the correct adverb of degree to complete each sentence.
The flight was ____________ delayed by twenty minutes, but we still arrived in time for our dinner reservation.
a) immensely
b) thoroughly
c) slightly
d) exceptionally
Our travel agent was ____________ helpful in organizing our visas, making the entire application process completely stress-free.
a) somewhat
b) immensely
c) slightly
d) moderately
The instructions for finding the tour shuttle bus were ____________ confusing, so a few tourists ended up at the wrong terminal.
a) thoroughly
b) exceptionally
c) somewhat
d) immensely
Before setting off on the mountain trek, the safety instructor made sure everyone was ____________ prepared and wearing proper gear.
a) thoroughly
b) slightly
c) somewhat
d) relatively
The customer service we received at the resort was ____________ outstanding, exceeding all of our expectations.
a) slightly
b) somewhat
c) moderately
d) exceptionally
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