This article involves completing sentences with appropriate words that fall under the category of “Help and information.” The goal is to use words that convey support, guidance, or details that assist someone in understanding or solving a problem.
Exercise 1: Complete sentences 1 – 14 with words and expressions from the box.
bills * borrowing * cable * cash * Ceefax * The Citizens’ Advice Bureau * clubs * computer * DAB * digital * directions * directory * DVDs * entertainment * events * freeview * Google * government * Internet * Internet café * libraries * licence * local newspapers * lost * maps * membership * national newspapers * National Savings and Investments * organisations * parcels * passport * police officer * police station * post office * property * reference * satellite * search engine * sporting * stations * subscription * tax * Teletext * terrestrial * Thomson Local * tourist information centre * vehicles * website * Yahoo * Yellow Pages
1. If you want to find a telephone number for a person or company in your area, you should look in a telephone __________.
2. The __________ is a book containing the names, telephone numbers and (usually) the addresses of businesses and __________ in your area.
3. The __________ is a book which gives information on a wide range of local services and businesses, and often includes __________ of local towns, details about local __________ and organisations, etc.
4. __________ will keep you informed about what is happening nationally and internationally, as well as reporting on major __________ events and entertainment.
5. __________ are a good place to look for information on things such as __________ to rent or buy and __________ for sale, as well as letting you know about local news and __________.
6. Most large towns and cities have a __________, which can tell visitors about local events and places of interest, as well as giving information about local public transport, etc.
7. __________ and __________ are information services which can be accessed on most televisions.
8. There are many local and national radio __________ providing music, __________ and news 24 hours a day. Many of these are __________ stations, which means that they can only be received by digital radios.
9. There are five __________ television channels (BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5) which can be received on ordinary televisions. However, this is now changing, and it will soon be necessary to have __________ television equipment to receive any television station. Many television services are __________, which means that you do not need to pay to watch them. You need to pay a __________ in order to watch other __________ and __________ broadcasts. If you have a television in your home, you must have a television __________.
10. Each major town or city has at least one __________, which can give you free information on a huge range of topics, including consumer rights, healthcare and money matters.
11. __________ are not just for __________ books. Many now have CDs and __________ which members can take out, as well as __________ facilities. Most will have a __________ section containing books and guides that you can read on the premises, but which you cannot remove from the building. They will also have most of the books and guides mentioned in numbers 1 – 5 above. __________ of libraries is free, as are most of the services they provide.
12. If you are __________ or need __________ in a town or city, you can ask a __________ to help you (or if you cannot see one, you can go to the nearest __________ for help).
13. Your local __________ is not just a place where you can send letters and __________. In addition to many other things, you can __________ cheques, pay __________, pay for your road __________, and get various forms that you might need (for example, a __________ application form). You can also save your money at the post office, using __________ (a __________ -backed service)
14. The __________ is a good source of information. Most towns have an __________, library or other computer service provider where you can access this. Use a __________ such as __________ or __________ to enter key words which will help you find the information you need. The BBC __________ (www.bbc.co.uk) is particularly recommended for news and information from around the world.
Correct Answers:
- directory
- Yellow Pages / organisations
- Thomson Local / maps / clubs
- National newspapers / sporting
- Local newspapers / property / vehicles / events or entertainment
- tourist information centre
- Teletext / Ceefax
- stations / entertainment / DAB or digital (= Digital Audio Broadcasting)
- terrestrial / digital / freeview / subscription / cable / satellite / licence
- Citizens’ Advice
- Libraries / borrowing / DVDs / computer / reference / Membership
- lost / directions / police officer / police station
- post office / parcels / cash / bills / tax / passport / National Savings and Investments / government
- Internet / Internet café / search engine / Google / Yahoo / website
Exercise 2: In the UK there are a lot of groups and organisations that you can telephone in the event of a specific problem. These all provide free help and information on their helplines. Complete sentences 1 – 14 below with one of these groups from the box.
BT Customer Services * Childline * Crimestoppers * DVLA * Equal Opportunities Commission * HM Revenue and Customs * NHS Direct * Parentline Plus * Refugee Council * Samaritans * Seniorline * Shelterline * Transco * Victim Supportline
1. Mr Michaud and his family came to the UK to escape threats and persecution in their country. They want to try to get permanent residence in the UK, so Mr Michaud calls the _________ on 0207 820 3085.
2. Mr Watkins is self-employed and has some questions about paying tax. He calls _________ on 0845 010 9000.
3. Ms Ranscombe passed her driving test recently, but has not received her new, full driving licence. She calls the _________ on 0870 240 0009.
4. Mrs Taylor wants to have a telephone line installed in her house. She calls _________ on 0800 800 150, and they put her through to the correct department.
5. Alan Bradley believes that his neighbour is selling illegal drugs from her house. He reports her anonymously by calling _________ on 0800 555 111.
6. Ms Treby believes that she has been denied a job she applied for because of her age. She calls the _________ for advice on 0845 601 5901.
7. Mr Wade is a pensioner and would like some advice on the services for older people in his area. He calls _________ on 0808 800 6565.
8. Tony Sheppard has been evicted from his flat and has nowhere to live and no friends he can stay with. He calls _________ on 0808 800 4444.
9. Janet White’s friend is feeling very depressed after she lost her job and her husband left her. Janet has done everything she can to cheer her friend up, but with no result, so suggests that she calls the _________ on 08457 909090.
10. Alice Walker is a single mother who is struggling to raise her two young children. She calls _________ on 0808 800 2222.
11. There is a strong smell of gas in Mrs Dowling’s house. She calls __________ on 0800 111 999.
12. John Withers has very bad flu, but is unable to visit his doctor. He calls _________ on 0845 4647 and asks them what he can do to get over it more quickly.
13. Neil Jefferson, aged 15, is very unhappy and worried because he is being bullied a lot at school. He calls _________ on 0800 1111 for help and advice.
14. Mr Dyson’s house has been burgled twice in the last month. On the second occasion, the burglars attacked him when he tried to stop them. Naturally he is feeling upset and vulnerable. He calls the ________ on 0845 30 30 900.
Correct Answers:
- Refugee Council (He could also call the Immigration Advisory Service on 020 7378 9191)
- HM Revenue and Customs
- DVLA
- BT Customer Services
- Crimestoppers
- Equal Opportunities Commission
- Seniorline
- Shelterline
- Samaritans
- Parentline Plus
- Transco
- NHS Direct
- Childline
- Victim Supportline
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