Thinking · Professional English · C1

Which kind of question is it?

Eight questions you might be asked at work. Choose the branch each one belongs to, then check. Two of them are not what they first seem.

1Why did customer complaints double in March?
Why…?. Something has already happened and you are asked to explain it. That is a diagnosis. Open this kind →
2Should we roll the new system out to every branch in January?
Should we…?. A commitment under uncertainty. The thinking is about reversibility, testing and the cost of waiting. Open this kind →
3Is it acceptable to tell a patient only part of the truth?
Is it right…?. It turns on what is fair and acceptable, and no tool settles it. You say what you weigh. Open this kind →
4Should we fix the website or the payment system first?
What first…?. It begins with “should we”, but the decision is already made. The question is order, so it belongs to priorities. Open this kind →
5What happens to us if our main supplier fails in the winter?
What if…?. You are asked to look ahead: how likely, how bad, and what is the plan. Open this kind →
6Which of the two suppliers would you choose?
Which…?. A choice between named options. Criteria and trade-offs are what the answer needs. Open this kind →
7Would it be fair to dismiss someone for a mistake the system allowed?
Is it right…?. It is about fairness and responsibility, not about facts you could look up. Open this kind →
8We have six open problems and one engineer. Where do we start?
What first…?. Too much to do and limited capacity. The answer is an order, with a reason for it. Open this kind →