WRITING A LETTER

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE ESOL EXAMINATIONS

TRIAL TEST 2127

English for Speakers of Other Languages

Certificate of Proficiency in English

You must answer this question.Write your answer in 280 – 320 words in an appropriate style on pages 3 and 4.

1- A local businesswoman has decided to develop a large, empty building in your city centre. The following uses have been suggested:

- a shelter for homeless people

- an indoor botanical garden

- free office space for new business

You write a letter to the businessboman in support of one of theses projects or a project of your own choosing, assessing the benefits to local people of the project you support.

Write your letter.

Dear madam,

I am writing this letter in response to support of the project of building a shelter for homeless people taking advantage of the large and empty land owned by conceptionist sisters in Uberaba city centre. The nuns live beside “Medalha Milagrosa” church and they agreed with the donation for the purpose we are discussing here.

The convent is responsible for many social activities and there have always been beggars in front of the church asking for money. Not only should homeless people take benefit of the shelter and other implementations, but also should they be given job opportunities. Therefore, I suggest those people could work with handicraft as there are religious articles to be sold beside the church.

Provided that the empty land is large, there is space to develop various crops providing its inhabitants with food as well as organic vegetables for sale. The community should be gathered in fairs to show what was produced by the people in the shelter.

As a result of what was above mentioned, all the people from Uberaba will face a great deal of benefits such as a decrease in violence – there are more jobs and, consequently, more opportunities; better income distribution as well as a growth in economy.

I do believe your idea will cause such a great impact in the city. There are lots of signs spread in the city telling you not to give alms to poor people but is the government taking its part? I do not think so. We all should take responsibility, nevertheless. By doing so, we narrow the distance among our christian brothers no matter what religion one belong to.

Yours faithfully,

Marcelo Maciel de Almeida

(283 words)