HEAAADERLOGORIGHT
BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
QUERYING
FIGURES
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1 Warm up
Look at the pictures. What do you think the problems could be?
Now, in pairs discuss the questions below.
1. Have you ever experienced any of the above situations? How did you deal with it?
2. What type of mistakes or problems with numbers do you have to deal with in your job?
3. How would you try to explain a numerical mistake to your boss, to a colleague or to a customer?
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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
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2 Types of numerical error
In pairs, study the following sentences. Match the words in bold with their correct definitions.
1. There seems to be a discrepancy in the data. The thickness of the concrete slabs should be the
same. (n)
2. There was a mix-up on the website - the price we paid was for a different product. (n)
3. The accountant was accused of deliberately inflating the company’s profits, but he claimed it was
simply an oversight. (n)
4. The cashflow figures are very misleading. They suggest that we are making huge losses, when in
fact this isn’t true. (adj.)
5. During the dot-com bubble, many Internet-based companies were grossly overvalued on the stock
market. (v)
6. The sum of the monthly sales figures is inconsistent with the total annual sales figure because of
rounding. (adj.)
7. Company officials misled the public in order to inflate the company’s profits.
a. a difference between two figures that should be the same
b. a mistake that causes confusion
c. different and not agreeing with other parts of an idea, study, research, data sheet, etc.
d. give (something) a value that is too high
e. a mistake made because somebody failed to notice something
f. make higher than the true figure
g. causing someone to believe something that is not true
What are the opposites of inflate and overvalue?
3 Reporting and explaining errors
Listen to the dialogues and complete the first two columns of the table below. Listen again and
complete the third column.
call incorrect figure correct figure probable reason for
error
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Part B: Look at the following expressions from the dialogues and put them into the correct categories
below.
1. I’ll go through it again and work out a more reasonable figure.
2. I’ll look into it right away.
3. It might be due to our new accounting software.
4. It’s probably an oversight on our part.
5. I’ve just been going through your data and it looks like you’ve undervalued ...
6. There seems to be a rather large discrepancy between ...
7. There seems to be some sort of mix-up.
8. We forecasted a turnover of ... when the actual value was ...
9. We ordered ..., but you have billed us for ...
10. You valued the property at ..., but my estimates put the figure at around ...
11. The figures are clearly inconsistent.
12. I must have overlooked something.
13. Your report states that ... but the real figure is more likely to be ...
14. I’ll check with my colleague and get back to you.
1. Reporting an error
2. Quoting a discrepancy
3. Explaining an error
4. Promising action
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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
QUERYING FIGURES
4 Reading
Part A: Reorder the paragraphs to make a text.
One common issue in the business world is incorrect orders. This can happen for a variety of
reasons, from simple miscommunication to technical glitches in the ordering system. Whatever
the cause, it’s important to address the problem quickly and efficiently to avoid any negative
impact on your business.
If you notice an incorrect order, the first step is to gather all the relevant information. This
includes the customer’s name, order number, and the details of the mistake. Make sure you
have a clear understanding of what went wrong before reaching out to the customer or supplier.
Once you have the necessary information, it’s time to reach out to the customer or supplier and
begin the process of resolving the issue. Depending on the severity of the mistake, this may
involve a simple correction or a more involved negotiation process.
Regardless of the situation, it’s important to remain professional and courteous throughout the
process. Remember that mistakes happen, and it’s how you handle them that sets you apart as
a skilled and capable business professional.
Whether you work in sales, accounting, or management, understanding how to identify and
correct errors can make a big difference in your company’s success.
1 As a business professional, it’s important to be able to query figures and investigate mistakes in
orders.
Part B: Choose one correct answer:
1. What is the first step to take when querying figures in the case of an incorrect order?
a. Reach out to the customer or supplier.
b. Gather all relevant information.
c. Correct the mistake immediately.
d. Negotiate with the customer or supplier.
2. Why is it important to address an incorrect order quickly and efficiently?
a. To avoid any negative impact on your business.
b. To punish the supplier or customer responsible for the mistake.
c. To protect your reputation as a business professional.
d. To save money on future orders.
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3. What should you do before reaching out to the customer or supplier about an incorrect order?
a. Correct the mistake immediately.
b. Make sure you understand what went wrong.
c. Negotiate with the customer or supplier.
d. Apologize for the mistake.
4. How should you handle mistakes as a business professional?
a. Ignore them and hope they go away.
b. Deny responsibility and blame others.
c. Remain professional and courteous throughout the process.
d. Avoid contact with the customer or supplier.
5 Role play
Make three short phone calls with your partner, reporting and explaining each of the following errors.
Take turns to be the caller and the receiver.
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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
QUERYING FIGURES
6 Speaking
Discuss any of the following questions.
1. Why would an accountant deliberately inflate or deflate figures?
2. Which companies do you know have been overvalued?
3. How can you ensure that budget forecasts are accurate?
7 Speaking: Let’s play!
Work in pairs. Take one word and explain the meaning so that the other student guesses the word.
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