Read the following message.
Dear Ms. Patel,
I am following up on invoice 1842, which I emailed on 5 November for the repairs completed at your office. Our records show an outstanding balance of $480. The payment deadline was 20 November, so I wanted to check whether the invoice reached your accounts payable team.
If payment has already been made, please send the payment reference and date. That will allow us to match it to the invoice and avoid sending another reminder. There is no need to make a second payment while we check.
If the original email did not arrive, I can resend the invoice as a PDF. Please confirm the correct accounts payable address first. The work description and amount have not changed, so this would be a copy of the existing invoice, not a new charge.
You mentioned that your finance officer works part-time. If you need a few more days to obtain approval, please let me know when payment can be expected. I can note the agreed date on your account, but I would appreciate hearing from you by Friday.
You can reply to this email or call the number on the invoice. For security, please use the payment instructions already agreed with your office; this message does not request a change of bank account.
Kind regards,
Simon
Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option according to the information given in the message.
2.If payment was made, Ms. Patel should send
3.Simon needs the email address confirmed
4.The resent PDF would represent
5.If approval takes longer, Simon requests
6.Ms. Patel should follow
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 (▾).
I will check with accounts payable about invoice 7. If they have paid, I will send 8. so you can locate the transaction. If the email is missing, please resend 9., not a new charge. I will reply by 10. with an expected payment date if approval is still pending. We will use 11. when paying.
Regards,
Ms. Patel
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: an invoice remains unpaid in the records
Why this is correct: Simon writes because an invoice is still unpaid in the records. The whole message is about invoice 1842 and its $480 balance. He wants to know whether it reached the accounts payable team.
Passage Reference: Our records show an outstanding balance of $480.
Tips: For the main reason for writing, ask what problem made the email necessary. Every later paragraph should connect to it.
Why the other options are wrong:
- he wants to replace the agreed bank details: He says the message does not request a change of bank account.
- a new repair needs to be paid for: It is the original invoice.
- the charge for the completed repair has gone up: The amount has not changed.
Correct Answer: the payment date and reference
Passage Reference: If payment has already been made, please send the payment reference and date.
Why this is correct: Ms. Patel should send the payment date and reference if payment was made. Simon can use both details to match the transaction to the invoice.
Tips: Find what Simon asks for in case the bill has been settled. Read what he says it will help him do.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a new purchase order: That does not identify the past transaction.
- another full payment: A second payment is not needed while they check.
- approval for another repair: The question concerns payment already made.
Correct Answer: to resend a missing invoice correctly
Passage Reference: Please confirm the correct accounts payable address first.
Why this is correct: Simon needs the address so he can resend the existing invoice as a PDF if the original email did not arrive. Confirming it first helps him send the invoice to the correct accounts payable team.
Tips: Use the sentence before and after an address request to learn what will be sent there.
Why the other options are wrong:
- to notify a different supplier: It goes to the customer’s accounts payable team.
- to forward a new charge: The PDF would copy the existing invoice.
- to send a revised description of the work: The description is unchanged.
Correct Answer: a copy of the original charge
Passage Reference: The work description and amount have not changed, so this would be a copy of the existing invoice, not a new charge.
Why this is correct: The resent PDF would be a copy of the original charge. Its amount and work description would stay the same.
Tips: Find the part of the letter about the resent PDF. Compare its words with each option.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a second charge for the same repair: Simon says a resent invoice would be a copy, not a new charge.
- a charge for a future service visit: It concerns completed work.
- an invoice with a higher amount: The amount is unchanged.
Correct Answer: an expected payment date
Passage Reference: If you need a few more days to obtain approval, please let me know when payment can be expected.
Why this is correct: Simon requests an expected payment date if approval takes longer. He can record that agreed date on the account.
Tips: Two deadlines appear in this paragraph. Ask what Simon wants to learn if the officer needs more time.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a new work description: The work details have not changed.
- a promise to replace the finance officer: No staffing change is requested.
- a second invoice number: The existing invoice remains valid.
Correct Answer: the previously agreed instructions
Passage Reference: For security, please use the payment instructions already agreed with your office; this message does not request a change of bank account.
Why this is correct: Ms. Patel should follow the previously agreed instructions. Simon confirms that this email does not change the bank account.
Tips: Find where Simon tells Ms. Patel how she can reply to him. Read the sentence that comes next.
Why the other options are wrong:
- any new account quoted in this message: No bank-account change is requested.
- cash payment during another repair: No such arrangement is given.
- instructions from a different supplier: Those would not be the agreed instructions.
Correct Answer: 1842
Passage Reference: I am following up on invoice 1842, which I emailed on 5 November for the repairs completed at your office.
Why this is correct: Simon is following up on invoice 1842 for the office repairs.
Tips: The options use very similar numbers. Compare each digit with the number Simon gives, in order.
Why the other options are wrong:
- 1841: The invoice number is 1842, not 1841.
- 1482: 1482 mixes up the digits. The email says 1842.
- 1824: 1824 is not the invoice number stated.
Correct Answer: the date and payment reference
Passage Reference: If payment has already been made, please send the payment reference and date.
Why this is correct: The date and payment reference will help Simon locate the transaction. Ms. Patel should send them only if accounts payable has already paid.
Tips: The phrase 'so you can locate the transaction' calls for tracking information, not more money.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a new account authorization: No account change is requested.
- a revised work order: That does not identify payment.
- a second payment: The supplier says this is unnecessary during checking.
Correct Answer: a copy of the existing invoice
Passage Reference: The work description and amount have not changed, so this would be a copy of the existing invoice, not a new charge.
Why this is correct: A copy of the existing invoice is what Simon can resend. It will repeat the same repair description and amount without creating another charge.
Tips: Find where Simon explains what he would resend. Then read what he says has not changed.
Why the other options are wrong:
- a new invoice for future repairs: It concerns the completed work.
- a revised repair description: The description remains unchanged.
- an additional bill for the same repair: Simon says this would not be a new charge.
Correct Answer: Friday
Passage Reference: I can note the agreed date on your account, but I would appreciate hearing from you by Friday.
Why this is correct: Friday is the deadline for Ms. Patel's reply. By then, she can provide an expected payment date if approval is still pending.
Tips: Do not confuse the old payment deadline with the new deadline for replying.
Why the other options are wrong:
- the next month: That is later than requested.
- the end of the year: Friday is the requested deadline.
- the next repair visit: No such visit is the response deadline.
Correct Answer: the agreed payment instructions
Passage Reference: For security, please use the payment instructions already agreed with your office; this message does not request a change of bank account.
Why this is correct: The agreed payment instructions are the safe details to use. Simon states that his reminder does not request a new bank account.
Tips: Go back to the security sentence. Choose the method Simon says is already set, not anything new or forwarded.
Why the other options are wrong:
- new details from another supplier: Those are not agreed for this invoice.
- a different account suggested in a forwarded email: The message does not authorize a change.
- cash at a later service visit: No such payment arrangement is stated.
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