Read the following message.
Dear Mr. Jones,
I am writing to apply for the R&D Product Development Summer Intern position, found on the University of Pennsylvania's PennLink system. I am a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, and majoring in Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics at UPenn. With my engineering coursework and project experience, my innovative mindset and affinity for problem solving, and my history of successful team projects, I believe I am a strong candidate for this role.
As an undergraduate, I have balanced a rigorous course load and a number of extracurricular activities that have allowed me to enhance my skills relevant to this role. Specific to engineering, through my academic project work I have developed abilities in 3-D design and modelling, an understanding of materials, and have practised different manufacturing technologies. For example, in my Machine Design and Manufacturing course, I along with two teammates created mechanical drawings and designs in SolidWorks. We then modelled, machined and assembled the parts of a working Stirling engine, meeting or exceeding all requirements and deadlines.
I have also developed the strong interpersonal and communication skills required to succeed as the R&D Product Development intern; in addition to academic team projects that require collaboration and strong writing and presentation skills, I have been selected by my peers for a leadership role within Penn's Formula SAE team this year, and am an active member of our ASME chapter. Throughout all of my experiences, I have used my dedication to efficient and creative problem solving and my ability to prioritize and manage competing demands to positive ends. I am eager to apply my engineering knowledge and skills at the Consumer Products Company.
I am very interested in interviewing for this opportunity and look forward to learning more about your requirements. Attached, please find my resume for your consideration; it contains not only a further description of my Stirling Engine project, but a more in-depth review of other related projects and experiences that I would be glad to discuss with you. Please feel free to contact me at (215) 000-0000 or by email at student@upenn.edu. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Sarah
Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option according to the information given in the message.
2.Extracurricular activities have helped her
3.With her teammates, Sarah built
4.Sarah says the role requires
5.She can get positive results when she
6.The main point of Sarah's letter is that she is
Here is a response to the message. Complete the response by filling in the blanks. Select the best choice for each blank from the drop-down menu (▾).
Thank you for applying for our summer internship. Your example of 7. was useful because it showed how you applied design and manufacturing skills with a team.
We also noted your experience in 8. The role involves collaboration, so we would like to hear more about how you organize competing tasks and communicate with other team members.
We would like to invite you to 9., as you requested. Please reply with two times when you would be available next week. No appointment to the internship has been made yet.
Before the meeting, we will review 10. It will help us prepare questions about the other projects you mentioned. At the meeting, you will also have an opportunity to 11.
Kind regards,
Mr. Jones
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Why this is correct: Sarah says she is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics at UPenn.
Passage Reference: majoring in Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics at UPenn
Tips: Find where Sarah names her major. Check every word of the option against it.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Civil Engineering and Planning: She does not name civil engineering.
- Electrical Engineering and Computing: She does not name electrical engineering.
- Chemical Engineering and Materials: She does not name chemical engineering.
Correct Answer: build relevant skills
Passage Reference: extracurricular activities that have allowed me to enhance my skills relevant to this role
Why this is correct: She says extracurricular activities helped her enhance skills relevant to the role.
Tips: Find what the activities allowed her to enhance.
Why the other options are wrong:
- specialize in a different degree: She stays in mechanical engineering.
- complete a previous paid internship: She is applying for this internship, not reporting an earlier paid one here.
- replace all her academic coursework: She balances coursework with activities. She does not replace it.
Correct Answer: a working Stirling engine
Passage Reference: assembled the parts of a working Stirling engine
Why this is correct: Her team modelled, machined, and assembled a working Stirling engine.
Tips: Use the Machine Design and Manufacturing example.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a design drawing without a completed model: They went beyond drawings to a working engine.
- a replacement for a factory production line: No factory line replacement is described.
- a commercial car for a customer: The Formula SAE mention is separate from this course project.
Correct Answer: interpersonal and communication skills
Passage Reference: I have also developed the strong interpersonal and communication skills required to succeed
Why this is correct: She says those skills are required to succeed in the R&D internship and that she has developed them.
Tips: Find where Sarah writes about what this role requires. Test each option against her words there.
Why the other options are wrong:
- experience managing the employer's factory: She has not managed this employer's factory.
- experience recruiting permanent engineers: Recruiting engineers is not claimed.
- knowledge of the employer's internal procedures: She is still learning about the company's requirements.
Correct Answer: prioritizes and manages competing demands
Passage Reference: my ability to prioritize and manage competing demands to positive ends
Why this is correct: She credits her ability to prioritize and manage competing demands for positive results.
Tips: Match the blank to the ability she pairs with positive ends.
Why the other options are wrong:
- leaves planning to her teammates: She presents herself as an active planner.
- works only when one task is assigned: She manages several demands at once.
- avoids taking part in team projects: She stresses team projects and leadership.
Correct Answer: keen to take up a summer internship
Passage Reference: apply for the R&D Product Development Summer Intern position
Why this is correct: Sarah's letter is a job application. She opens by saying she is writing to apply for the summer intern position, and she ends by asking for an interview. So the main point of her letter is that she is keen to take up a summer internship.
Tips: Ask what Sarah wants from Mr. Jones. Check the exact job she names and what stage she is at.
Why the other options are wrong:
- applying for a permanent role after graduation: The post is a summer internship, not a permanent graduate job.
- requesting a teaching position: She seeks product development work, not teaching.
- accepting an internship already offered: She is still applying and hoping to interview.
Correct Answer: building a working Stirling engine
Passage Reference: assembled the parts of a working Stirling engine
Why this is correct: Mr. Jones thanks her for the Stirling engine example of team design and manufacturing.
Tips: Reuse the concrete project from her letter.
Why the other options are wrong:
- designing only a paper drawing: The team built a working engine, not only a drawing.
- repairing the employer's machinery: She has not repaired this company's machines.
- supervising an established factory team: Her example is a student course team.
Correct Answer: leading within the Formula SAE team
Passage Reference: selected by my peers for a leadership role within Penn's Formula SAE team
Why this is correct: Peers selected her for a leadership role on Penn's Formula SAE team.
Tips: Find the student leadership role she names.
Why the other options are wrong:
- recruiting professional engineers: She does not recruit professional engineers.
- managing your company's research department: She has not managed the company's research department.
- teaching the manufacturing course: She took the course. She did not teach it.
Correct Answer: an interview
Passage Reference: I am very interested in interviewing for this opportunity
Why this is correct: Sarah asked to interview, and Mr. Jones invites her as requested.
Tips: Match the invitation to what Sarah said she wanted.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a contract-signing session: No job offer has been made yet.
- a confirmed start date: He says no appointment to the internship has been made.
- a final performance appraisal: Appraisal would come after work, not before hiring.
Correct Answer: your attached resume
Passage Reference: Attached, please find my resume for your consideration
Why this is correct: Sarah attached her resume, and Mr. Jones will review it before the meeting.
Tips: Scan Sarah's letter for each of the four things named in the options. Keep only the one she really mentions.
Why the other options are wrong:
- your completed internship assessment: The internship has not started.
- your final salary statement: No salary documents are discussed.
- your signed employment agreement: No agreement has been signed.
Correct Answer: ask about the role and its requirements
Passage Reference: look forward to learning more about your requirements
Why this is correct: Sarah wants to learn more about requirements, and the meeting will let her ask.
Tips: Find what Sarah says she looks forward to. Compare her words there with each option.
Why the other options are wrong:
- present an end-of-internship report: The internship has not begun.
- confirm that the appointment is final: He states no appointment has been made yet.
- assess the other candidates: Candidates do not assess one another in this invite.
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