Alia wrote to Basma offering to sell him a block of shares in Ahsan Ltd. In his letter, which arrived on Tuesday, Alia asked Basma to let me know by next Saturday. On Thursday Basma posted a reply accepting the offer. At 6pm on Friday she changed her mind and telephoned Alia. Alia was not there but her telephone answering machine recorded Basmas message stating that she wished to withdraw her acceptance. On Monday Alia Opened Basmas letter, which arrived that morning, and then played back the message on the machine.

a. What is the effect of Alia writing to Basma to offer to sell her shares? b. What is the effect of Alias stipulation as to the time the offer is open? c. What is the effect of Basmas posting a reply? d. What is the effect of Basmas change of mind? Is there effective communication when a message is left on an answering machine? e. Which of Basmas two communications is determinative?