How good is your business English? Is your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary as you would like it to be? Do you know what to say on the telephone, in meetings, in negotiations and in social situations? Do you know the latest business buzzwords and jargon? Are you familiar with the idioms that are used in business? Can you read the business press? How is your general knowledge of the business world? Last, but not least, do you make the typical mistakes made by Polish speakers?
You can find out the answers to these questions with a special business English test. There are 100 questions, divided into 10 sections. Take 45 minutes or so to test yourself .
For each completely correct answer, give yourself one point. On page 19, you will also find some comments on your results. If you want to try the test more than once, copy these pages before filling in the answers. After you have finished the test, look up in a dictionary any words or phrases you didn't know.
Good luck and have fun!
1. Prepositions
How well do you know your business English prepositions? What are the missing words in the following sentences?
1. I work _______ the personnel department ______ IBM.
2. I'm working ________ a new project.
3. Don't panic. Everything is __________ control.
4. Last year we increased profits ______ 18 per cent.
5. We want more participation ______ the decision-making.
6. We can't predict the result _______ this stage.
7. There was a 10 per cent reduction ________ the workforce.
8. You have to focus more ______ the needs of the customer.
9. There's been a dispute _______ working hours at the factory.
10. I deal _______ all the things that my boss is too busy to do.
2. What would you say?
Saying the right thing is important, both in formal and informal business situations. Find the best response to match the typical English social expressions (1) to (10).
1. Hello! I'm Gill Bates.
2. How are you?
3. What can I get you to drink?
4. What would you like to start with?
5. I'm afraid I have to be going.
6. Thanks for a lovely evening.
7. Do you mind if I open the window?
8. Would you like to come for dinner on Saturday?
9. Lovely weather, isn't it?
10. I'm afraid I've forgotten the file again.
a) Yes, it's beautiful.
b) What would you recommend?
c) Oh, what a pity!
d) Never mind. It doesn't matter.
e) How do you do? I'm Michael Mouse.
f) Not at all. It's been a real pleasure.
g) Fine, thanks. And you?
h) No, it's my turn. What'll you have?
i) Thank you. That would be really nice.
j) Not at all. Go ahead!
3. Actions words for business.
Verbs are the action words you need in business English. But do you know how to use them? For each verb below, pick the noun which does not typically go with it
1. to meet
a) a deadline b) expectations c) a target d) an appointment
2. to adopt
a) a proposal b) an employee c) a suggestion d) a policy
3. to implement
a) a decision b) a strategy c) a directive d) a challenge
4. to take part in
a) a company b) a seminar c) a meeting d) a discussion
5. to carry out
a) duties b) research c) a meeting d) a plan
6. to make
a) an appointment b) a complaint c) business d) money
7. to reach
a) an agreement b) a decision c) a target d) success
8. to fix
a) a time b) a price c) a forecast d) a deadline
9. to draw up
a) an agenda b) a delay c) a plan d) a scheme
10. to provide
a) support b) progress c) feedback d) an estimate
4. Find the mistake(s)
Do you know the typical mistakes that Poles make when they speak English internationally? If you do, you will be able to correct the mistakes in these sentences.
1. I always do a lot of mistakes when I speak English.
2. I am working for General Motors since five years.
3. I am the responsible of marketing.
4. Please sign the cheque on the backside.
5. We need more people who are good qualified.
6. My chief is not very tolerant.
7. Moral has been bad since the news about job cuts.
8. If we will want to make more money, we will have to increase our prices.
9. We need a new politic on health and safety.
10. Sales fell down during 1998, but costs rose.
5. Business jargon
To understand global communication, you need to know the jargon. How well do you know
it? Match the following sentences with the buzzwords and phrases of international business.
We've had to fire a lot of people.
We're focusing on our core business and handing over some responsibilities to outside agencies.
We' re looking for a radical redesign to get improvements in costs, quality and service.
We need to move authority down the line to the people who deal with our customers.
We're looking in detail at what our competitors do so that we can define best practice and improve our own performance.
I meet regularly with a young managers as part of her professional development programme.
The days of the standard product are gone. More and more, we have to provide individual solutions for every one of our clients.
We can compete successfully only if all countries remove their barriers to trade.
I can give you only a very approximate idea of the costs.
We never forget that our basic aim is to make a profit.
a level playing filed
mentoring
customization
the bottom line
empowerment
ballpark figure
downsizing
business process re-engineering
benchmarking
outsourcing
6. Business communication
Do you know the right things to say on the telephone, in meetings and negotiations and during presentations? Which is the best expression for each of these business situations?
1. You are making a phone call. You want to reach Stella Smith.
a) Could you put me on to Stella Smith, please?
b) Could you put me up to Stella Smith, please?
c) Could you put me over to Stella Smith, please?
d) Could you put me through to Stella Smith, please?
2. You are making a phone call. You have a message from someone who tried to call you when you were out. You are now talking to her colleague.
a) Could I speak to Maggie May, please? I'm returning her call.
b) Could I speak to Maggie May, please? I'm sending back her call.
c) Could I speak to Maggie May, please? I'm reaching her again.
d) Could I speak to Maggie May, please? I'm recalling her.
3. You are making a phone call. You have not understood what the other person is saying.
a) Could you say again, please?
b) Repeat, please.
c) Could you repeat that, please?
d) Will you please say this again?
4. You are taking part in a meeting. It is ten minutes before the end, and you still have a lot to discuss.
a) Time is running away.
b) We don't have much time left.
c) We are very short in time.
d) We must move the minutes forward.
5.You are taking part in a meeting. Peter is not talking about the subject under discussion.
a) Can you stick to the main point, please, Peter?
b) Peter, you have taken a big digression.
c) You have wandered away from us, Peter.
d) Please notice the agenda, Peter.
6. You are chairing a meeting. You are about to start the meeting.
a) So, let us get the football rolling.
b) OK, let's make a start.
c) OK, we shall get down to business now.
d) Please, ladies and gentlemen, may we be starting?
7. You are opening a presentation.
a) I've divided my lecture into three main parts.
b) I've cut my presentation into three main parts.
c) I've divided my talk into three main parts.
d) I've cut up my presentation into three main parts.
8. You are closing a presentation.
a) Thank you for your attendance.
b) Thank you for paying attention.
c) Thank you for your attending.
d) Thank you for your attention.
9. You are negotiating.
a) If you give us 10 per cent off, we'll increase the size of our order.
b) If you will give us 10 per cent off, we'll increase the size of our order.
c) If you gave us 10 per cent off, we will be increasing the size of our order.
d) If you gave us 10 per cent off, we'll increase the size of our order.
10. You are in a negotiation. You want to check that the other side accepts your summary of the agreement.
a) Are you agree with that?
b) Have you agree with that?
c) Do you agree with that?
d) May you be agreeable with that?
7. Business abbreviations
The international media sometimes seem to offer a forest of initials and abbreviations. Can you find your way through? What do the following stand for?
1. CEO _____________________________________
2. VP _______________________________________
3. ASAP ____________________________________
4. R&D _____________________________________
5. AGM ___________________________________
6. MBA ___________________________________
7. VAT ____________________________________
8. PR _____________________________________
9. AOB ___________________________________
10. USP __________________________________
8. Business idioms.
Native English speakers use a lot of idioms — socially and professionally. How many of these do you know? Match each of the items in bold letters with one of the idioms on the right.
1. We have too much bureaucracy.
2. Susie is the first woman to be promoted to a senior management position.
3. Our researchers use themselves as subjects for their experiments.
4. They don't mind wearing a company uniform, but they refuse to sing the company song every morning.
5. He is always so discouraging about her ideas.
6. If I adopt the right tactics, I'll get promoted.
7. There are no special conditions that go with this deal.
8. I've made yet another embarrassing mistake.
9. They're both very intelligent. They know what's going on.
10. The final responsibility cannot be passed on to anyone else.
a) To be on the ball
b) To have no strings attached
c) The buck stops here
d) To pour cold water on something
e) Guinea pigs
f) To play your cards right
g) To put your foot in it
h) To break through the glass ceiling
i) Red tape
j) To draw the line at something
9. The business press
Newspaper headlines are often difficult to understand. Try these. Which is the right explanation for each headline?
1. “Marks & Spencer posts lower profits”
a) Marks & Spencer has mailed news of lower profits to shareholders.
b) Marks & Spencer has announced lower profits.
c) Marks & Spencer is predicting lower profits.
2. “Chairman's gaffe causes shareholder outcry”
a) A badly chosen remark from the chairman of the company has been well received by shareholders.
b) A badly chosen remark from the chairman of the company has led to protests from shareholders.
c) A promise made by the chairman of the company has been well received by shareholders.
3. “EU blow to British beef exports”
a) The latest European Union ruling on British beef exports is bad news for British farmers.
b) The latest European Union ruling on British beef exports is good news for British farmers.
c) The latest news on British beef exports is bad news for the European Union.
4. “Blair set to sell off British gold”
a) Britain may soon sell some of its gold reserves.
b) Britain will soon sell some of its gold reserves.
c) Britain has sold off some of its gold reserves.
5. “Shipley's job on line”
a) Ms Shipley wants to leave her job.
b) Ms Shipley is in danger of losing her job.
c) Ms Shipley works on the Internet.
6. “Howard in for bumpy ride”
a) Mr Howard is in prison for drunken driving.
b) Mr Howard will soon experience a period of difficulty in his job.
c) Mr Howard is looking forward to a period of difficulty in his job.
7. “Government slammed over beef ban”
a) The government has been criticized for its decision to allow the sale of beef.
b) The government has been praised for its decision to allow the sale of beef.
c) The government has been criticized for its decision to stop the sale of beef.
8. “Surge in orders leads to share rebound”
a) Shares have gone up because orders have risen.
b) Shares have gone down because orders have gone down.
c) Shares have gone down because orders have gone up.
9.”lnternet rumours rattle Wall Street”
a) Rumours about Internet stocks are exciting American investors.
b) Rumours about Internet stocks are making American investors nervous.
c) Rumours about Internet stocks are calming American investors.
10. “Brown acts over health report”
a) Mr Brown is pretending to take action as a result of a report about the National Health Service.
b) Mr Brown has a leading part in a play about a sick man.
c) Mr Brown is taking action as a result of a report about the National Health Service.
10. Current Affairs.
A good general knowledge of the English-speaking world can be important for business discussions. How good is yours?
1. Who is the vice-president of the US?
2. Who is the boss of Virgin?
3. Where is "the City"?
4. Where will the 2000 Olympics be held?
5. Where is Silicon Glen?
6. Where is the headquarters of Ford?
7. Which company tells you to "just do it"?
8. Which country is known as the "Celtic tiger"?
9. Where is the headquarters of Microsoft?
10. Which company owns Jaguar cars?
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