A Quick Heads-Up

by Vocafy Verificado

Inglês (EUA) B2 12 perguntas Words & expressions Work & money

Discover how heads-ups, reminders, and warnings work in short workplace messages—and what each one asks you to notice.

1. 1. Escolhe a resposta correta.

   What does “a heads-up” mean here?

   Just a heads-up: the team photo has been moved to the courtyard. It's still at noon.

   • Permission to change the location
   • Advance information about a change
   • A request to change the location

   The sender wants people to know something before the photo is taken.

   Show solution

   • Advance information about a change

   A heads-up helps someone prepare for something before it happens, often in a brief, informal message.

2. 2. Preenche o espaço em branco.

   I'll ___ you a heads-up once I know when the painters are coming.

   • make
   • do
   • give

   Think of the verb used in “___ someone some information.”

   Show solution

   I'll give you a heads-up once I know when the painters are coming.

   The usual expression is “give someone a heads-up.” You can also say “give someone a heads-up about” a particular topic.

3. 3. Preenche o espaço em branco.

   This is a reminder ___ send your timesheet by Friday.

   • to
   • about
   • for

   The next word, “send,” is the base form of a verb.

   Show solution

   This is a reminder to send your timesheet by Friday.

   Use “a reminder to” before an action. Use “a reminder about” before a noun phrase, such as “the deadline.”

4. 4. Escolhe a resposta correta.

   What does this message suggest?

   Quick reminder: our call is at 2 p.m., as we agreed yesterday.

   • The call has been moved to a new time.
   • Someone has already missed the call.
   • The time was already agreed on.

   Notice the reference to yesterday's agreement.

   Show solution

   • The time was already agreed on.

   A reminder brings known information back to someone's attention. It does not necessarily mean that anyone has forgotten.

5. 5. Escolhe a resposta correta.

   What should the reader do now?

   Warning: the heater's cord is damaged. Do not plug the heater in until the cord has been replaced.

   • Leave the heater unplugged.
   • Use the heater only for a few minutes.
   • Plug the heater in to check whether it works.

   The message sets a safety condition that must be met first.

   Show solution

   • Leave the heater unplugged.

   Warnings often connect a risk with a clear action that helps prevent harm.

6. 6. Escolhe a resposta correta.

   When will this colleague receive the information?

   I'll give you a heads-up before the new schedule is announced to the whole team.

   • At the same time as everyone else
   • Before the wider announcement
   • Only after the new schedule takes effect

   Separate the early message from the team announcement.

   Show solution

   • Before the wider announcement

   A heads-up can be an early notice to one person before information is shared more widely.

7. 7. Escolhe a resposta correta.

   What is the reader expected to do?

   Heads-up: I'm renaming the shared folders this evening. No action is needed from you.

   • Approve the change before it happens.
   • Rename the folders this evening.
   • Be aware of the change without taking action.

   The final sentence makes the reader's role clear.

   Show solution

   • Be aware of the change without taking action.

   A heads-up is not automatically a request. It can simply prevent a later change from being a surprise.

8. 8. Escolhe a resposta correta.

   Which version is more formal but keeps the same purpose?

   Just a heads-up: the staff entrance will be closed tomorrow.

   • Please note that the staff entrance will be closed tomorrow.
   • Please confirm whether the staff entrance should be closed tomorrow.
   • Please explain why the staff entrance must be closed tomorrow.

   The original gives information rather than asking a question.

   Show solution

   • Please note that the staff entrance will be closed tomorrow.

   “Please note that” is a more formal way to draw attention to information. “Just a heads-up” suits many everyday workplace messages.

9. 9. Escolhe a resposta correta.

   Why does this message function as a warning despite its casual opening?

   Just a heads-up: opening that attachment could install harmful software. Don't open it.

   • It repeats a task that the reader already agreed to do.
   • It identifies a risk and tells the reader how to avoid it.
   • It shares a routine change that requires no action.

   Look at the possible result and the final sentence, not just the opening phrase.

   Show solution

   • It identifies a risk and tells the reader how to avoid it.

   “Heads-up” can introduce a warning. The message's content matters more than its opening label.

10. 10. Escolhe a resposta correta.

    What is the status of the change?

    Heads-up: we may need to move tomorrow's meeting online. I'll confirm by 4 today.

    • It is possible but not yet confirmed.
    • It is a final decision that will simply be repeated later.
    • It has been ruled out, so the meeting must stay in person.

    Pay attention to “may” and the promise to confirm.

    Show solution

    • It is possible but not yet confirmed.

    “May” signals possibility. A heads-up can help people prepare even before a decision is final.

11. 11. Escolhe a resposta correta.

    Which interpretation matches the scope of the warning?

    Warning: if you send this report outside the company, you could expose private customer information. Sharing it with your project team is allowed.

    • Avoid all sharing, including sharing with the project team.
    • Avoid sharing with the project team; sharing outside the company is allowed.
    • Avoid sharing outside the company; sharing with the project team is allowed.

    The risk is linked to a particular group of recipients.

    Show solution

    • Avoid sharing outside the company; sharing with the project team is allowed.

    A warning can apply to one specific action rather than every related action. Here, “if” defines the situation that creates the risk.

12. 12. Escolhe a resposta correta.

    What do these messages mean for someone submitting on Friday?

    Reminder: the application deadline is still Friday at 5 p.m.
    Heads-up: the submission portal will be unavailable on Friday from 3 to 4 p.m.

    • They have until 6 p.m. because the portal closes for an hour.
    • They can submit after the portal reopens at 4 p.m., before the 5 p.m. deadline.
    • They must submit before 3 p.m. because the portal will not reopen in time.

    Keep the unchanged deadline separate from the temporary outage.

    Show solution

    • They can submit after the portal reopens at 4 p.m., before the 5 p.m. deadline.

    The reminder preserves the existing deadline; the heads-up adds a planning detail. New information does not automatically change an earlier requirement.