Question

Complete the conversation with the most suitable option:
Ritu: ‘Hello’
Suharsh: ‘Could I speak to Mr. Solanki?’
Ritu: ‘____. ‘Can I take a message’.
A) If you don’t mind.
B) I’m afraid he is not at home.
C) In case it is urgent.
D) Both B and C

Answer 1

Hint: To find an appropriate response to Suharsh’s request, you have to keep in mind that the phone call was meant for Mr. Solanki and instead of Mr. Solanki, Ritu has picked up the phone for some unknown reasons. Therefore, you have to justify why Ritu has picked up the phone.

Complete answer:
The caller 'Suharsh' has requested Mr. Solanki in the provided dialogue. Instead, 'Ritu' picks up the phone.
Let us look at the given option to get the correct answer:
A) If you don’t mind: This option is incorrect because it provides no justifiable responses to the issue, "Could I speak to Mr. Solanki?"
B) I’m afraid he is not at home: This is the correct option. Since 'Ritu' responds to the query by saying that the person for whom the call was intended, 'Mr. Solanki,' is not at home, this is the most fitting response. The next sentence, 'Can I take a message,' is in sync with this answer.
C) In case it is urgent: This option is incorrect because it is an inappropriate response to the issue, "Could I speak to Mr. Solanki?"
D) Both B and C: This option is incorrect because Option C is incorrect. Option B is the only correct answer.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B. I’m afraid he is not at home.

Note: Remember, if you are answering someone else’s phone at the caller wishes to talk to the owner of the phone, politely tell them that the requested person is not available to take the phone call and then offer to take a message for them.