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How To Start An Email Practice (B1-B2) - English Writing Quiz

15questions
7:30minutes
+16XP on pass

Challenge yourself: 15 How To Start An Email questions, 7 minutes, Level B1-B2. Can you get a perfect score? The questions start straightforward and build to tricky edge cases. Read every explanation to pick up tips that textbooks often skip.

Review the lesson first

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

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Questions 15
Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: Read this email opening: "Dear Dr. Williams," — What is this an example of?

Question 1 options
"Dear Dr. Williams," is a formal salutation (greeting) used at the beginning of a professional email. It follows the standard format of "Dear" + title + last name + comma.
Q2 15

Question 2: You are writing a formal email to a manager you have never met. Which greeting correctly fills the blank? "___ I am writing to request a meeting regarding the quarterly report."

Question 2 options
"Dear Ms. Carter," is the correct formal salutation when addressing a professional you have not met. It uses the proper title, last name, and a comma after the name.
Q3 15

Question 3: In a professional email, the subject line should be detailed and at least 15 words long so the recipient fully understands the topic.

Question 3 options
This is false. Subject lines should be short and concise, ideally 5–6 words or fewer, so the recipient can quickly understand what the email is about.
Q4 15

Question 4: Which email opening correctly demonstrates a professional, formal tone?

Question 4 options
"Dear Professor Adams, I am writing to inquire about the assignment deadline." uses a proper formal salutation with a title and last name, followed by a clear, professional opening line. The other options are too casual, misspelled, or impersonal.
Q5 15

Question 5: Match each email element to its correct description.

Question 5 options
Subject line
Salutation
Opening line
Sign-off
States the purpose of the email clearly
A brief summary of the email's topic
The greeting that opens the email
A polite closing phrase before your name

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

A subject line summarises the email topic briefly. A salutation is the greeting at the start. The opening line states the purpose. A sign-off is the polite closing phrase before your name.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which email opening contains a formatting error in the salutation?

Question 6 options
The salutation "Dear, Mr. Thompson," places an incorrect comma after "Dear". The correct form is "Dear Mr. Thompson," with the comma only after the name, not after "Dear". The other openings use correct punctuation in their salutations.
Q7 15

Question 7: You are emailing a client to follow up on a delayed shipment. Which opening line best fills the blank? "Dear Mr. Nakamura, ___"

Question 7 options
"I am writing in regards to the delayed shipment of your recent order." is the most professional and direct opening. It clearly states the purpose, uses appropriate register, and gets straight to the point, which is essential in professional correspondence.
Q8 15

Question 8: The following email opening has an error: "Dear Mrs. Reynolds, I am writting to inform you that the conference has been postponed." Which option correctly fixes the error?

Question 8 options
The word "writting" is a spelling error. The correct spelling is "writing" with a single 't.' The other options either keep the misspelling or introduce new errors such as incorrect punctuation or wrong word choice.
Q9 15

Question 9: Arrange the parts of a professional email in the correct order:

Question 9 options
  • Subject: Budget Proposal – Q3 Review
  • Dear Ms. Chen,
  • Please find the detailed breakdown of expenses attached below.
  • I am writing to share the updated budget proposal for the third quarter.

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

A professional email follows a standard structure: the subject line comes first, followed by the salutation (greeting), then the opening line stating the purpose, and finally the body paragraph with supporting details.
Q10 15

Question 10: You are a student emailing your university professor for the first time to ask about a course. Which option is the most appropriate way to start your email?

Question 10 options
Using "Dear Professor Kim" with the correct title and last name is the most appropriate greeting when emailing a professor for the first time. It shows respect and follows professional email conventions. First names and casual greetings are too informal for this context.
Q11 15

Question 11: What is the difference between using "Dear Mr. Harris," and "Hi James," in an email opening?

Question 11 options
"Dear Mr. Harris," uses a title and last name, which signals a formal, professional tone suitable for business correspondence or first-time contacts. "Hi James," uses a first name and casual greeting, appropriate for colleagues or friends you know well.
Q12 15

Question 12: You need to email the head of a department to report a workplace safety issue. Which version is the most appropriate for this formal context?

Question 12 options
"Dear Director Alvarez, I am contacting you to report a safety concern in the warehouse facility." uses a proper formal title, professional language, and gets directly to the point. This is the correct register for addressing a department head about a serious workplace matter.
Q13 15

Question 13: "To Whom It May Concern" is always the best greeting to use in a professional email because it sounds very formal.

Question 13 options
This is false. While "To Whom It May Concern" is formal, it can seem impersonal and generic. It is better to address the recipient by name whenever possible. This greeting should only be used as a last resort when you cannot identify the recipient.
Q14 15

Question 14: Why is it important to include a clear opening line such as "I am writing to inform you of..." immediately after the greeting in a professional email?

Question 14 options
A clear opening line helps the recipient understand the purpose of the email right away. This reduces confusion and saves the reader's time, which is essential in professional communication where people receive many emails daily.
Q15 15

Question 15: Which option best improves this weak email opening? "Hi, so I just wanted to reach out because, well, there's this thing about the project deadline that I think maybe we should probably talk about soon."

Question 15 options
The improved version removes unnecessary filler words and hedging language. It uses a clear salutation and gets straight to the point with professional phrasing, which makes the email more effective and easier to understand.

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