1.

COLLOCATIONS
#1
See how many collocations / language chunks you can find in the following text:
CMA delivers premium training in negotiation skills and all aspects of influential communication. Drawing
on over 30 years of powerful research at Harvard University, we develop skills and systems that make a real
difference - including negotiation, influence, conflict resolution, business writing, feedback and coaching
skills. And what sets us apart? In a nutshell, our ability to achieve results for our clients something were
very passionate about.
#2
Complete the sentences with work, job or career.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

At the peak of her ____ she became world-famous for her successes.
He got his first steady ____ in a garage on the outskirts of the town.
His ____ in sales spanned thirty-odd years.
His ____ took off after he was appointed to the Board of Directors.
I took on too much ____ last week, thats why I fell behind.
It was a scandal that ruined his ____ and he was forced to take early retirement.
She had a brilliant ____ in show biz.
Shes going to apply for a ____ in an old peoples home.
This is quite a demanding ____, but Ill try to pull my weight.
Weve been carrying out ____ on the design of the new conference centre.

#3
Match the beginning of each sentence on the left with its ending on the right.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

He always achieved
He set
I like to keep
I will give
She fielded
Sue will take
Theyve made

my appointments.
a presentation to a 200-strong audience.
my phone calls while I took time off to convalesce.
his goals in his career.
preparations for the sales conference scheduled for tomorrow.
some difficult targets for the staff.
the minutes at the next meeting.

#4
Complete the collocations with the following words: carry out, conduct, float, go, launch, make, ruin,
sack, set.
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2.
3.
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5.
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12.

To ____ a company on the stock market

To ____ a new product
To ____ a profit
To ____ bankrupt
To ____ into business
To ____ into partnership
To ____ market research
To ____ public
To ____ up a business
To ____ a loss
To ____ a career
To ____ an employee

#5
Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending.
1.
2.
3.
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9.
10.

Frank and Tim do

It will be necessary to lay
Its not so easy to make
Lots of time off is the best aspect
She was the last person to join
Shes been quite content since she went
Theyve had a ridiculous volume
When you get hired, try to build up a good network
William will be going on paternity
Youll have to circulate the agenda to all members

of contacts.
of staff.
part-time / full-time / freelance.
a job-share at the bank.
off many of our staff in London.
of work these days.
leave next week.
a living as a secretary.
of the job.
the staff in our branch.

2. DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS, PHRASAL VERBS

#1 (DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS)
Fill in with the correct preposition:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

What do I have to do to participate ____ the conference?

How much did they charge you ____ this service?
What youre saying amounts ____ blackmail.
Theres a ban ____ food imports from some countries.
My boss has an aversion ____ lack of punctuality.
She is finding it difficult to adjust ____ the new workplace.
Discrimination ____ the workplace is to be avoided ____ all costs.
The board was agreeable ____ his proposal.
Many employees confined ____ wheelchairs can work ____ home.

#2 (DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS)
Fill in with the correct preposition:
The objective of this programme is to teach interpersonal communication skills 1____ business people. One
of the main problems 2____ business and marketing is the inability 3____ people to communicate
effectively. Communication skills are essential 4____ interaction 5____ business and 6____ them,
misunderstanding and conflict are inevitable. The acquisition of communication skills will enable students
to benefit fully 7____ further education and training 8____ their business careers.
#3 (DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS)
Fill in with the correct preposition:
Punctuality and regular attendance 1____ classes is 2____ prime importance for successful completion
3____ this course, just as the same punctuality and attendance is important 4____ the business world.
Students will be expected to arrive 5____ class 6____ time and to remain 7____ class until the end of the
class session. If you come 8____ class late, make sure you notify your instructor after class that you
attended class; otherwise, you will be marked absent.
#4 (PHRASAL VERBS)
Complete the sentences with the correct forms of these verbs: drop, drum, dry, hire, hook, lay, mount,
pay, pick, put.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

A lot of their business was ____ up by word-of-mouth advertising.

All computers in this institution are ____ up to a central server.
As costs are rising and income is ____ up well have to tighten the belt.
At weekends he ____ himself out as a bodyguard to supplement his income.
Dont you think its time you ____ up what you owe me?
In the past month demand for the new range of products has ____ off sharply.
On her holiday in Jamaica expenses ____ up fast, leaving her virtually penniless.
They couldnt manage to ____ together a new sales team.
They ____ out more than $1 million on new machinery in the glass factory.
Trading has been slow for some time but is now ____ up, fortunately.

#5 (PHRASAL VERBS)
Complete the sentences with the correct prepositions / particles.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Could you please fill me in ____ the new developments in the firm?
I would like to be copied ____ on all correspondence while Im away.
Outsourcing implies that such training is often contracted ____ to specialist firms.
She reports only ____ the managing director.
The airline has been accused of ripping ____ customers.
The company collapsed after its main shareholder pulled ____ .
The company had to close ____ its loss-making stores in Eastern Europe.
The company has cleaned ____ its image and is now back in business.
This digital camera measures up well ____ similar products on the European market.
We have put ____ a request for extra funding to get the project off the ground.

3. IDIOMS
#1
Complete the sentences with bottom, climb, end, eye, go, ladder, mill, paper, sack, shop, snow, step in
the correct forms.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He got the ____ for incompetence and then she ____ into his shoes.
I have a lot of work to do virtually, Im ____ under.
I would loathe to work in a run-of-the- ____ job like that.
Im very busy, as I have to be on the ____ all the time.
Please stop talking ____ its so boring for the rest of us!
Shes been up to her ____ in work all week.
The contract looks good on ____ , but the reality is very different.
This position had no real prospects for advancement it was a dead- ____ job.
When he was first hired, he was at the very ____ of the career ladder.
Within a short space of time she managed to ____ to the very top of the career ____.

#2
Complete the folllowing sentences with belly, eye, floor, handshake, hat, line, order, rope, sack, work in
the correct forms.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

He was given his marching ____ after messing around with the accounts.
He was there to pay tribute to the police officer who was killed in the ____ of duty.
Im up to my ____ in work right now.
If our business venture goes ____ up, we stand to lose a few million pounds at least.
If you are rude to your clients you can easily get the ____ / push.
On my first day in the job, it was Tim who showed me the ____ now Im a real expert!
She was going to receive a golden ____ of $2 million to take early retirement.
She will retire only when she stops enjoying her work no plans to hang up her ____ just yet.
They have pushed decision-making closer to the people on the factory ____.
Writing such complex reports was all in a days ____ for her.

#3
Choose the correct option to complete the following idioms.
1. After the recent political crisis, the ____ fell / dropped out of the tourism market.
A lid
B bottom
C cap
D top
2. As long as youve got money to ____, you can stay at the Ritz Hotel.
A waste
B lose
C burn
D throw
3. Due to the recession, smaller businesses will surely go to the ____.
A bankruptcy
B jail
C prison
D wall
4. Given that were the only ones producing this gadget, well surely ____ the market in computer
software.
A bend
B corner
C squeeze
D fill
5. He was a real high-____ at a job placement agency, with a salary to match.
A flier
B flyer
C success
D expert
6. Investing so much in this venture meant that we got off on the wrong ____.
A leg
B foot
C wheel
D train
7. Now that profit is sure to come, hell be laughing all the way to the ____.
A shop
B store
C bank
D pension
8. The entire conference was a disaster from the word ____.
A go
B start
C jump

D hop

9. The small company was forced to shut up ____ due to funding cuts.
A accounts
B shop
C accounting
D store
10. This small souvenir shop round the corner really does a roaring ____.
A business
B trade
C commerce
D transaction

4. WORD BUILDING
#1
Use the words given in capitals to form words that fit in the gaps go through the 4 logical steps
described earlier.
Individual linguistic ability is also important. The use of difficult or 1____ APPROPRIATE words in
communication can prevent people from understanding the message. 2____ UNDERSTAND messages can
also result in 3____ CONFUSE . We can all think of situations where we have listened to something
explained which we just could not grasp.

#2
Use the words given in capitals to form words that fit in the gaps go through the 4 logical steps
described earlier.
1____ ATTITUDE barriers come about as a result of problems with staff in a(n) 2____ ORGANISE. These may
be brought about, for example, by such factors as poor management, lack of 3____ CONSULT with 4____
EMPLOY, personality conflicts which can result in people delaying or refusing to communicate, the personal
attitudes of individual workers which may be due to 5____ SATISFY at work, brought about by 6____
SUFFICE training to 7____ ABLE them to carry out particular tasks, or just resistance to change due to
entrenched attitudes and ideas.
#3
Use the words given in capitals to form words that fit in the gaps go through the 4 logical steps
described earlier.
Communicaid's Communication Skills courses are designed to meet the needs of 1____ ORGANISE seeking
to 2____ OPTIMUM their ability to communicate 3____ PROFESSION within an international environment.
Combining 4____ FLEXIBLE with a 5____ PERSON approach, Communicaid's communication skills courses
will assist you with the language and communication skills necessary to 6____ SURE that you not only relay
your message and ideas 7____ EFFECT but that it carries the impact you desire.