1. What is the primary purpose of a formal letter?
- D. To invite someone to a casual party.
- C. To share personal stories and anecdotes.
- B. To communicate for official, professional, or business purposes.
- A. To chat with a close friend.
Answer: Formal letters are used for serious matters and professional correspondence, maintaining a respectful and structured tone.
2. Which of the following is a key characteristic of an informal letter?
- B. A strict, objective tone.
- D. The inclusion of a subject line.
- C. A personal and conversational tone.
- A. Use of complex vocabulary and jargon.
Answer: Informal letters are written to friends and family, so they naturally adopt a casual, friendly, and personal style.
3. What information is typically included in the 'heading' of a letter?
- B. The recipient's name and title.
- D. The closing and signature.
- A. The main message of the letter.
- C. The sender's address and the date.
Answer: The heading, located at the top of the letter, provides the sender's contact information and the date of writing.
4. The greeting in a letter, such as 'Dear Mr. Sharma,', is called the:
- C. Introduction
- D. Postscript
- A. Subscription
- B. Salutation
Answer: The salutation is the formal or informal greeting that opens the letter and addresses the recipient directly.
5. Which of the following is an appropriate closing for a formal letter to a person whose name you know?
- B. 'Cheers,'
- C. 'Yours sincerely,'
- A. 'Best wishes,'
- D. 'Talk soon,'
Answer: When you know the recipient's name (e.g., 'Dear Mr. Smith'), 'Yours sincerely,' is the standard and correct formal closing.
6. In letter writing, what does 'P.S.' stand for?
- A. Please Send
- B. Primary Subject
- D. Private Signature
- C. Postscript
Answer: P.S. stands for Postscript, which is from the Latin 'post scriptum' meaning 'written after'. It's used for an additional message at the end of a letter.
7. Where is the recipient's address (the inside address) placed in a standard business letter?
- C. At the very bottom of the page, below the signature.
- B. On the left side, below the date and above the salutation.
- A. At the top right, above the date.
- D. On the back of the letter.
Answer: The inside address contains the recipient's details and is a crucial part of a formal letter, placed on the left margin.
8. The main paragraphs of the letter, where the primary message is conveyed, form the:
- A. Heading
- C. Closing
- D. Salutation
- B. Body
Answer: The body of the letter is the core section that contains all the detailed information, explanations, and points the writer wishes to communicate.
9. If you are writing a formal letter but do not know the recipient's name, which salutation is most appropriate?
- B. 'To my dear friend,'
- C. 'Dear Sir or Madam,'
- D. 'Hello!'
- A. 'Hey there,'
Answer: 'Dear Sir or Madam,' is the traditional and respectful salutation to use when the specific recipient is unknown.
10. The concluding part of the letter, just before the signature, is known as the:
- D. Introduction
- B. Postscript
- A. Complimentary close
- C. Subject line
Answer: The complimentary close (or closing) is a polite way to end the letter, such as 'Sincerely,', 'Regards,', or 'Yours faithfully,'.
11. What is the purpose of a 'Letter of Inquiry'?
- C. To apply for a job.
- D. To thank someone for a gift.
- A. To complain about a faulty product.
- B. To ask for information about a service, product, or opportunity.
Answer: A letter of inquiry is written to request specific information from a person or organization.
12. In a job application letter, what is the most important thing to highlight?
- C. Your family background.
- D. A summary of your entire life story.
- A. Your hobbies and interests.
- B. Your skills and qualifications relevant to the job.
Answer: The primary goal of a job application letter is to convince the employer that your skills and experience make you a perfect fit for the position.
13. Which document is almost always sent along with a job application letter?
- D. A letter of complaint.
- C. A résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- B. A handwritten thank-you note.
- A. A photograph of your family.
Answer: A résumé or CV provides a detailed summary of your education, work experience, and skills, supporting the claims made in your application letter.
14. What is the tone of a 'Letter of Complaint'?
- C. Firm, polite, and specific.
- D. Vague and casual.
- A. Apologetic and submissive.
- B. Sarcastic and rude.
Answer: An effective complaint letter is professional. It should clearly state the problem and the desired resolution without being aggressive or rude.
15. A 'Letter to the Editor' is a type of letter sent to a:
- D. School principal to request a leave.
- C. Publication (like a newspaper or magazine).
- B. Company manager to complain.
- A. Government official to seek help.
Answer: These letters are written to express an opinion on a recent article or a current issue, with the intention of being published.
16. When writing the date in a formal letter in British English, which format is correct?
- A. 14 September, 2025
- D. 14/09/2025
- B. September 14, 2025
- C. 2025, September 14
Answer: The standard British format is Day-Month-Year (e.g., 14 September 2025). The American format is Month-Day, Year (e.g., September 14, 2025).
17. In a business letter, what does 'Enc.' or 'Encl.' at the bottom signify?
- C. There are documents enclosed with the letter.
- B. The letter requires an urgent response.
- D. The end of the letter.
- A. The letter is confidential.
Answer: It stands for 'Enclosure' and indicates that other items (like a résumé, invoice, or brochure) are included in the envelope.
18. What is the main difference between 'Yours sincerely' and 'Yours faithfully'?
- C. 'Faithfully' is used in American English, and 'sincerely' in British English.
- D. There is no difference; they are interchangeable.
- A. 'Sincerely' is informal, while 'faithfully' is formal.
- B. 'Sincerely' is used when you know the recipient's name; 'faithfully' is used when you don't.
Answer: The rule is: If you start with a name ('Dear Mr. Jones'), end with 'Yours sincerely'. If you start with 'Dear Sir/Madam', end with 'Yours faithfully'.
19. The subject line in a formal letter or email should be:
- D. Concise and specific to the letter's content.
- A. Long and detailed.
- C. Omitted to create curiosity.
- B. A full sentence with a period.
Answer: The subject line's purpose is to give the recipient a clear idea of the message's content at a glance, helping them prioritize.
20. What type of letter would you write to a company to praise their service or an employee?
- B. Letter of Inquiry
- A. Letter of Complaint
- D. Letter of Resignation
- C. Letter of Commendation
Answer: A letter of commendation is written to formally praise or express gratitude for excellent service, performance, or actions.
21. In which part of a formal letter would you state the purpose of writing?
- D. Next to the date.
- B. In the first paragraph of the body.
- A. In the postscript.
- C. In the complimentary close.
Answer: The opening paragraph should immediately and clearly state the reason for writing the letter.
22. A letter that asks for payment for goods or services is called a:
- C. Collection Letter
- B. Thank-You Letter
- D. Invitation Letter
- A. Cover Letter
Answer: A collection letter is a formal notification sent to an individual or business to collect an overdue payment.
23. Which of these is NOT a standard part of a formal letter?
- A. Sender's Address
- C. A list of hobbies
- D. Salutation
- B. Date
Answer: Personal information like hobbies is generally irrelevant in a formal letter unless specifically asked for in a context like a specific application.
24. What is the correct punctuation after the salutation in a formal letter in American English?
- A. A colon (:)
- D. No punctuation
- C. A semicolon (;)
- B. A comma (,)
Answer: In American English business correspondence, a colon follows the salutation (e.g., 'Dear Mr. Smith:'). In British English, a comma is more common.
25. The format where all elements of the letter are aligned to the left margin is called:
- B. Modified Block Format
- A. Full Block Format
- C. Semi-Block Format
- D. Indented Format
Answer: Full block is the simplest format where every line starts at the left margin, with no indentations.
