1

business
communication
DICTIONARIES
Longman:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/
Oxford:
http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/
Macmillan:
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/
Cambridge:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Collins/Cobuild:
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-cobuild-learners
Merriam-Websters (focus on American English):
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

Adrian Ciupe, 2014

A speaking & writing

Below you may find a set of questions which you can prepare prior to class meetings, at your leisure.
When answering any of these questions, be ready to justify your answer with your own arguments; use
examples and your own experience to support your opinion.
THIS MODULE IS REQUIRED FOR THE SPEAKING AND WRITING TESTS!
1. Would you prefer to have a formal or an informal boss? Why?
2. Is informality necessarily a sign of impoliteness? How can formality and informality be interpreted /
perceived in different cultures?
3. Is it easier for you to express yourself better in speech or in writing? Explain.
4. What kinds of problems do you usually have when you express yourself orally (in English and / or
Romanian)?
5. What problems do you usually encounter when trying to express yourself in writing (in English and / or
Romanian)?
6. Enumerate and explain a few advantages and disadvantages (regarding communication) of using the
following technological advances / gadgets: the Internet, a laptop, a tablet, a mobile phone, a
multimedia projector, a web cam. Which of these do you most frequently use for communication
purposes and why?
7. Is it important to have a FACEBOOK / TWITTER / etc. account or not? What are some of the benefits
and shortcomings of using such facilities?
8. What qualities should a web designer have? Explain and illustrate.
9. Explain the difference between shop talk and small talk.
10. Describe some benefits and downsides of one-to-one communication versus written communication.
11. In one-to-one communication nonverbal clues may be important. Can you mention and explain a few of
them which could have a great impact on you and your interlocutor?
12. People skills are very important in business. Do you think you have them? What are they? Explain.
13. Do you think that if you are the shy type you lack people skills? Explain.
14. If you had a choice between a job requiring permanent contact with other people or one allowing you
to just work behind your desk, which would you choose and why?
15. Are you a computer nerd? If so, do you think this helps or hampers your communication with others?
16. Mention a few job types that do not require communication with other people. Justify your choice(s).
17. Are you an outgoing person, ready to socialise with strangers in a variety of situations? Explain.
18. What is a socialite? Are you one? Would you like to be one? Why?
19. What would you expect from your communication with your boss? Explain.
20. What would you expect from your communication with your colleagues / co-workers? Explain.
21. Imagine you might have a co-worker with a disability. How would you be prepared to communicate
with him / her?
22. Imagine you might be part of a virtual team (people in various locations working together as a team
using the Internet to get through to one another). What do you think this kind of communication
requires? Would you be prepared to work in this way? Why (not)?
23. Different communication problems can arise in the workplace. Do you think you might have the skills
needed for conflict resolution (= Rom: soluionarea / rezolvarea conflictelor)? Describe these skills.
24. Do you think that communication skills are innate (= we are born with them) or acquired (= we learn
them)? Explain.
25. How is business / professional communication different from communication in ones private life?
Explain and illustrate.
26. In what situations would you choose to stop communicating with others? Describe some possible
scenarios and also the ensuing consequences in a professional / business context.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014

B reading & language

The following practice tests simulate the question formats in your final test and may be used in the
construction of the final test versions. Directions and further explanations will be available in class. The
tests not covered in class are part of your self-study use the dictionaries suggested (see page 1).
THIS MODULE IS REQUIRED FOR THE FINAL TEST!
PRACTICE TEST 01
do, dodge, field, take, vex

A number of questions 01 ____ rise / raise / arise / arouse from this unhappy situation.
After a 02 ____ LONG discussion, they decided that she should go back to work.
After the takeover, he broke 03 ____ / severed all contact with his former boss.
At this point a key question remains 04 ____ ANSWER .
Ellen isnt here. Can I 05 ____ a message?
Finally, theres the thorny / 06 ____ question of money.
Freedom of the press has come 07 ____ question (= started to be doubted) in recent years.
He didnt answer, so I 08 ____ PHRASE my question.
He 09 ____ questions (= answered a lot of questions) from reporters about the announcement.
He had skilfully evaded / avoided / 10 ____ Margies questions.
He is an enthusiastic student who always joins / takes part / participates 11 ____ class discussions.
He used the report as a basis 12 ____ discussion about the companys expansion to the West.
He wrote to him about practical matters to 13 ____ with the company branch in Austria.
Hes 14 ____ far the best candidate, theres no question about it.
Her loyalty is 15 ____ question (= there are no doubts about it).

Adrian Ciupe, 2014

PRACTICE TEST 02
bad, matter, oppose, pursue, put, rest, settle

Are there any matters 01 ____ arising / rising / raising / arousing from the report?
His aggressive attitude did not help / improve 02 ____ .
His future had become a matter 03 ____ speculation.
His honesty is now 04 ____ question (= doubted).
His role is to 05 ____ FACILE discussions between the two 06 ____ groups.
I failed the test and, to make matters 07 ____ , all my friends passed.
I hope this will 08 ____ / resolve the matter.
I recently 09 ____ some of these questions to some staff members.
I think we should let the matter drop / 10 ____ , dont you?
Ill forward her message to you when I log 11 ____ .
If he refuses to help, I see no point in 12 ____ the matter.
13 ____ answer to your last question, Yes.
Negotiations on reducing sulphur dioxide emissions have ended 14 ____ agreement.
He resigned and we thought that would be the 15 ____ end / close / fix / finish of the matter.
PRACTICE TEST 03
bring, broach, burn, key, make, query, talk, text

I was afraid to 01 ____ the matter with my parents.

My phone beeps when I get a 02 ____ message.
Our staff are always available to answer customers 03 ____ .
Please leave your contact 04 ____ informations / datas / dates / details and we will write
to you.
Quitting your job 05 ____ such a small matter is ridiculous.
She kept asking 06 ____ RELEVANT questions.
Some of the questions in the last section were very 07 ____ TRICK .
The 08 ____ question is this will we be able to keep our company afloat?
The chairman 09 ____ threw / blew / sliced / slashed the subject open for discussion, asking
us for comments.
The discussion centred 10 ____ the best way to use the money.
The exact cause of this crisis affecting the firm is still open 11 ____ question.
The government promised a full public consultation before a decision was 12 ____ to build the
airport.
The job 13 ____ me into contact with a lot of interesting people.
The main / basic / 14 ____ / core / fundamental message is that we need to reduce the amount of
waste we produce.
The next round of trade 15 ____ will be held in the spring.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014

PRACTICE TEST 04
drive, enquiry, heart, probe, spend

Ill 01 ____ arise / arouse / raise / rise the matter at the next meeting.
Its good to come 02 ____ contact with employees from different cultures.
Its vitally important that we get the right message 03 ____ to our clients.
She came to see me 04 ____ / about a matter of some importance.
She failed to get / put his message 05 ____ to the board.
She usually deals 06 ____ financial matters.
Since this is quite a complex matter, we need professional 07 ____ advice / advices / ads /
adverts .
Thank you for your 08 ____ about our website.
The Chancellors speech rammed / drummed / 09 ____ / hammered home the message that cutting
public 10 ____ is the governments top priority.
The crux / 11 ____ of the matter is this: how do we prevent these floods from happening again?
The main 12 ____ COME of the discussions was a trade 13 ____ AGREE between the two
countries.
The policeman asked me some searching / 14 ____ questions.
The price is, 15 ____ question (= certainly), too high.
PRACTICE TEST 05
conflict, hold, involve, laugh

Considerable discussion 01 ____ raised / rose / arose / aroused over the role played by the
US in the economic crisis.
I asked Rob if he would pass 02 ____ a message for me.
The police said they were looking 03 ____ / investigating the matter.
The public is getting contradictory / 04 ____ / mixed messages from the government about
immigration.
The subject is still 05 ____ discussion and no 06 ____ AGREE has been reached.
The subject of who owns the islands is likely to come 07 ____ for discussion.
The trouble were in is no 08 ____ matter, because it can lead to bankruptcy.
The two companies have agreed to enter 09 ____ discussions aimed 10 ____ resolving the issue.
The two leaders had informal discussions 11 ____ the phone.
The two leaders 12 ____ discussions about trade.
There was a round-table discussion 13 ____ the president and business leaders.
This study brings up / 14 ____ rises / raises / arises / arouses / poses several questions.
We are currently 15 ____ discussion with another company.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014

PRACTICE TEST 06
address, bring, heat, press, range, tackle

The two sides have begun negotiations aimed 01 ____ ending the dispute.
The verdict sends 02 ____ a clear message: the law applies to rich and poor 03 ____ LIKE .
There are 04 ____ GO discussions as to how we can deal with the problem of global warming.
There is something I need to speak to you about its a delicate / 05 ____ SENSE matter.
There were a number of 06 ____ discussions between staff and management.
They had wide- 07 ____ discussions covering strategic business matters.
They turned their attention to more 08 ____ matters.
This has called / threw / 09 ____ into question peoples right to retire at 60.
This is a matter 10 ____ the Board of Directors.
Two questions need to be 11 ____ .
We need to focus on the matter in / 12 ____ hand.
We shall confine our discussion in this presentation 13 ____ the countrys deficit.
Were running out of time and I think we had better bring the discussion 14 ____ a close.
Who has the ability to 15 ____ the tough questions facing the company?
PRACTICE TEST 07
enjoy, grow, require, restore

A good partnership 01 ____ a lot of communication.

A lot of people seem to think the answer 02 ____ lies / lays / stands / sits in technology.
All staff have training 03 ____ customer relations.
Ask your friends and acquaintances if they know of any job 04 ____ VACANT .
Britain agreed to 05 ____ full economic relations with Libya.
Britain threatened to 06 ____ knife / slit / slash / sever economic relations with the regime.
By the time they sat down to dinner, a warm rapport had 07 ____ between the two employees.
During the interview, he 08 ____ MOST gave short answers to my questions.
For years, the company 09 ____ good relations with its workers.
He believes that wind power is the long-term answer 10 ____ our growing energy 11 ____ crise /
crisis / crises / crize .
He demanded an answer 12 ____ his question.
He entered 13 ____ a business partnership with his brother-in-law.
He had begun to 14 ____ set / place / establish / implement friendly relations with the
other workers.
He had found the manager to be a sensible man during their 15 ____ brief / overall / general /
speedy acquaintance.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014

PRACTICE TEST 08
casual, deteriorate, feel, give, go, introduce, type

He 01 ____ me to an acquaintance of his, who had visited Tokyo.

He nodded at his workmate, as if she was just a 02 ____ acquaintance.
Her version of the story bears 03 ____ small / little / sorry / sore relation to the data in the
business report.
Her colleagues at work did not improve on 04 ____ FAR acquaintance.
I always 05 ____ a special rapport with my subordinates in my job.
I didnt get a 06 ____ SATISFY answer from the company.
I met an old 07 ____ ACQUAINT outside the company headquarters.
I 08 ____ struck / stroke / stricken / made up an acquaintance with one of my workmates.
I was keen to 09 ____ into partnership with that firm.
Ill 10 ____ you an answer tomorrow.
Im afraid there are no easy answers in this 11 ____ of situation.
12 ____ answer 13 ____ your question, yes, you can go.
In his speech, he 14 ____ EMPHASIS the need to improve relations with other companies.
Industrial relations 15 ____ , as the trade unions and management refused to speak to each other.
PRACTICE TEST 09
-

01 ____ INDUSTRY relations have improved, and there have been no more strikes.
Is there a 02 ____ CAUSE relation between a plum job and further career 03 ____
perspectives / prospects / prospectuses / preventions ?
It is more difficult to 04 ____ stroke / strike / move / make up a rapport 05 ____ the
telephone.
It sounded 06 ____ the perfect answer.
It will be nice to 07 ____ NEW my acquaintance with him.
Its a pleasure to 08 ____ have / do / make / establish your acquaintance.
Its an article on possible employment 09 ____ sketches / schemes / receipts / recipes
and their relation to 10 ____ PROFESSION success.
Its not very 11 ____ HELP to just give one-word answers such as yes or no while being
interviewed for a job.
Many of the board members remarked 12 ____ the rapport between the two job candidates.
Most small business 13 ____ OPERATE have a 14 ____ powerful / close / near /
connected / strong rapport with their employees.
15 ____ first acquaintance, she seems rather unfriendly as a boss.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014

PRACTICE TEST 10
come, forge, get, search, sour

One my acquaintances spends nearly half her salary 01 ____ clothes.

We have been 02 ____ for an answer for years.
03 ____ Raise / Rise / Put / Place up your hand if you know the answer.
Relations between us have improved 04 ____ SIGNIFY .
Relations between workers and management are 05 ____ GENERAL good.
Businesspeople at large believe they have come 06 ____ with an answer to the problems posed by this
economic recession.
She couldnt think 07 ____ a suitable answer to his question.
She wrote to him, but she never 08 ____ an answer.
Shes a relation 09 ____ marriage because she married my cousin.
Spending more money is not always 10 ____ that / the / obvious / evident answer.
The employees 11 ____ little / small / easy / low rapport makes this a friendly working
environment.
The affair was 12 ____ DISASTER in terms of public relations.
The agency tries to 13 ____ effective partnerships with communities and private businesses.
The answer to her problem suddenly 14 ____ to her.
The dispute has 15 ____ relations further between the two rival companies.
PRACTICE TEST 11
dissolve, strain

The EU had hoped to 01 ____ make / launch / impress / propagate a more ambitious
economic partnership with Russia.
The government is struggling to come up with answers to our 02 ____ economy / economics /
economical / economic problems.
The obvious answer is to 03 ____ raise / arouse / arise / rise taxes, but that would be very 04
____ POPULAR .
The partnership was 05 ____ and John went freelance.
The 06 ____ brief / short / basical / foremost answer is that it cant be done.
The 07 ____ relations between the two companies became even worse on that occasion.
The two companies have built 08 ____ a close partnership over the past four years.
The two collaborators had no 09 ____ PERSON rapport whatsoever.
These two businessmen enjoyed a very 10 ____ SUCCESS partnership, spanning at least 30 years.
This university has close 11 ____ relations / relationships / establishments /
branches with local companies.
The US broke 12 ____ all relations with Cuba in the wake of the scandal.
Theirs is one of the most 13 ____ FRUIT working partnerships on the pharmaceuticals market.
There are excellent relations 14 ____ the workers.
These are important questions, and we want answers 15 ____ them.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014

C listening & language

The task sheets and directions will be available in class only. After this course unit has been covered in
class, you will receive web links to the audio scripts (+ sound). The audio scripts will be used in the
construction of the final test versions, based on the question formats practised in module B.
THIS MODULE IS REQUIRED FOR THE FINAL TEST!
After the listening exercises done in class, you will have access (via the Internet) to the audio scripts for the
recordings used. Approximately half of the number of questions in your final test will be based on these
audio scripts. The scripts are intended for your self-study, as an extension of your listening comprehension,
towards further language building (grammar structures and vocabulary). When you work with these audio
scripts on your own, focus on the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

collocations;
fixed expressions containing dependent prepositions;
phrasal verbs;
idioms;
derivatives (word building).

You have already been introduced to problems 1-5 above by the PREPARATORY COURSE MODULE A FINAL TEST LANGUAGE SKILLS module, covered at the start of the first semester of this academic year.
For all of your self-study tasks, including this, make sure that you use the dictionary links suggested on page
1 of this unit.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014