16 | Progress test
Working with words
Complete these sentences with the missing
prepositions.
1 They managed _________ take the silk into
Europe.
2 We succeeded _________ winning the
contract.
3 Can you find _________ how our partner in
Vietnam is doing?
4 I’ve been looking __________ your proposal.
It looks good.
5 How did you come __________ that piece of
information?
Choose the correct answer from the words in italics.
6 The meeting was a complete / significant
disaster. Nothing went right.
7 Don’t you think that all those hours spent in
meetings are a total waste of time / flop?
8 Your speech was a real triumph / know-how.
What a success!
9 His most amazing / complete achievement has
been to work for the same company for over
forty years!
10 I think we need to bring in some outside
breakthrough / expertise to help us finish this.
Business communication skills
Complete this conversation with verbs from the list.
Change the form of the verb if necessary.
underline say focus tell be give learn
A How 11_____ your trip?
B Very interesting.
A So, 12_____ me an overview.
B Well, I was really impressed. The factory is
clean and well-organized. We could 13_____ a
lot from them.
A Why do you 14_____ that?
B They work in small groups, rather than in
lines. It seems more efficient and improves
quality. It 15_____ the importance of sharing
know-how.
A That’s interesting. Maybe we should
16
_____ on running some kind of exchange
between staff. So,17 _____ me more.
Business Result Intermediate Progress Test 16
Complete this conversation with verbs from the list.
Change the form of the verb if necessary.
go (x2) be (x2) make concentrate expect fill
A How did it 18_________at the conference?
What 19_________ your overall impressions?
B Well, there 20_________ no big surprises.
A Did you see Mr Chau?
B Oh yes. Let me 21_________ you in on what
he’s doing. Actually our meeting couldn’t
have 22_________ better. What he’s proposing
is some kind of merger.
A Rather like what we were thinking.
B Yes, but this wouldn’t be a joint venture. It
would be a merger of both companies.
A That isn’t really what I 23_________
B What 24_________ you say that?
A We don’t really want a full merger. Maybe we
need to 25_________ on our proposal for a
joint venture.
Language at work
Combine and transform the two sentences with the
contrasting word in brackets. See the example.
(despite + ing) She still hasn’t called that client. I
asked her to call him four times.
Despite asking her to call him four times, she still
hasn’t called that client.
26 (although) I’m busy. I can help you for an
hour.
______________________________
27 (despite + ing) She was late this morning. She
was warned yesterday about it.
______________________________
28 (even though) I told her you were busy. She
demanded to speak to you.
______________________________
29 (however) Things look bad. We must keep
trying.
______________________________
30 (despite + noun) The last plan didn’t work.
Let’s try again.
_________________________
Result __________ / 30 marks
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Speaking test
Role cards
Copy this page and cut out the role cards for the students. Students should do both role-plays. Then use the
Speaking test results forms to evaluate each student’s performance. You can then cut out the results and give
them to the students.

Student A Student B

1 Your company sells clothes. You have just
been on a trip to Thailand to look at a factory.
Give your colleague the following feedback:
 the trip was useful
 the factory is efficient and modern, and
staff seem very motivated
 they would like to supply us. Suggest
next step – to invite their CEO to your
country.
2 Your company runs communication skills
training. Your colleague has just been to visit
potential clients in Paris.
Ask for feedback on the trip.
1 Your company sells clothes. Your colleague
has just been to Thailand.
Ask for feedback on the trip.
2 Your company runs communication skills
training. You have just been to visit potential
clients in Paris. Give your colleague the
following feedback:
 the trip was interesting, but no firm
agreements
 the companies already have training
from French companies, but they were
interested in receiving training in
English and maybe English lessons
 two companies were very interested
and want prices.

Suggest next step – to send information and

make follow-up calls next week.

Speaking test results

Use these forms to evaluate the students.

Student A Student B

Can the student ... Didn’t do this Yes, but with Yes, did this Can the student ... Didn’t do this Yes, but with Yes, did this
(0 points) some mistakes very well (0 points) some mistakes very well
(1 point) (2 points) (1 point) (2 points)

say how the trip say how the trip

went? went?

give a general give a general

evaluation? evaluation?

report back on what report back on what

happened? happened?

report final outcome report final outcome

of the trip? of the trip?

suggest the next suggest the next

step? step?

Result __________ / 10 marks Result __________ / 10 marks

Business Result Intermediate Progress Test 16 Photocopiable © Oxford University Press