If you are writing a letter to the Housing Department to repair a lock, you would begin the letter with ________.

Dear Sir or Madam

The correct answer is Option (3) - Dear Sir or Madam

When writing a formal letter to a government department or official body, such as the Housing Department, the appropriate salutation is "Dear Sir or Madam" if the recipient's name or specific designation is not known. This maintains a professional and respectful tone.

Options

1. Dear friend

   • Incorrect: This is informal and inappropriate for a formal letter.

2. Hi

   • Incorrect: This is too casual and unsuitable for formal correspondence.

3. Dear Sir or Madam

   • Correct: This is the standard and respectful way to address an unknown recipient in formal communication.

4. None of these

   • Incorrect: "Dear Sir or Madam" is the correct option, so this choice does not apply.

Example

"Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to request the repair of a lock in my residence..."