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Joy English · Level B2 · Communication at workjoy-english.com

Test 5: Communication at work

Name:Date:

A mixed grammar and vocabulary test about communicating with colleagues and clients: choose the right word, write missing words and build new words.

Part 1: Multiple-choice gaps

Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

  1. Before the meeting, Lena sent everyone an agenda so that they could ___ their thoughts.
    • a) assemble
    • b) gather
    • c) raise
    • d) pick
  2. If you disagree with a colleague, try to ___ your concerns calmly and in private.
    • a) rise
    • b) arise
    • c) raise
    • d) lift
  3. Kofi's manager gave him some ___ feedback, which helped him improve his presentations.
    • a) constructed
    • b) structural
    • c) creative
    • d) constructive
  4. Writing short, clear emails saves time and helps to ___ misunderstandings.
    • a) avoid
    • b) escape
    • c) refuse
    • d) deny
  5. The project failed partly because the two teams didn't ___ information with each other.
    • a) divide
    • b) split
    • c) spread
    • d) share
  6. ___ the deadline was approaching, nobody seemed to know who was responsible for the final report.
    • a) Despite
    • b) Although
    • c) However
    • d) In spite
  7. Aiko suggested ___ a short video call every morning to keep the team updated.
    • a) having
    • b) to have
    • c) that have
    • d) have
  8. Jamal was asked to ___ the main points of the discussion in a short email.
    • a) abbreviate
    • b) shrink
    • c) summarise
    • d) compress

Part 2: Open gaps

Type one word in each gap.

  1. I look forward ___ hearing your thoughts on the proposal.
  2. Please let me know if there is anything ___ I can do to help.
  3. Ravi got ___ well with his colleagues from the very first day.
  4. The manager asked us ___ we had any questions about the new system.
  5. The instructions were written in ___ a confusing way that nobody understood them.
  6. Try to reply to clients within twenty-four hours, ___ if you can only say that you are looking into the problem.
  7. It was the lack of communication, not the budget, ___ caused the project to fail.
  8. Sofia apologised ___ replying late and explained that she had been ill.

Part 3: Word formation

Use the word in CAPITALS at the end of each sentence to form a word that fits the gap. Type one word.

  1. Good ___ skills are essential in almost every job. (COMMUNICATE)
  2. Half the team were ___ by the instructions and did the wrong task. (CONFUSE)
  3. It is ___ to interrupt a colleague while they are giving a presentation. (POLITE)
  4. Tomás responded to the client's complaint calmly and ___. (DIPLOMACY)
  5. There was a ___ between the two departments about who should pay for the new software. (AGREE)
  6. Managers who listen ___ to their staff tend to earn more trust. (ATTENTION)
  7. Sending messages late at night can put ___ pressure on employees. (NECESSARY)
  8. Her presentation was clear, well organised and very ___, so the board approved the plan. (PERSUADE)

Answer key

Part 1: Multiple-choice gaps

  1. b) gatherGather your thoughts means think carefully and get ready before you speak.
  2. c) raiseRaise a concern means mention a problem. Rise and arise do not take an object.
  3. d) constructiveConstructive feedback is criticism that is helpful and aims to improve something.
  4. a) avoidAvoid means stop something from happening. We escape from a place and refuse or deny a request or claim.
  5. d) shareShare something with somebody means let them have or know it too.
  6. b) AlthoughAlthough is followed by a full clause. Despite needs a noun, in spite also needs of, and however links two sentences.
  7. a) havingSuggest is followed by the -ing form, or by that + subject + verb.
  8. c) summariseSummarise means give the main points briefly. Abbreviate is used for words, not ideas.

Part 2: Open gaps

  1. toLook forward to + -ing form. Here to is a preposition.
  2. else / more / further / thatAnything else (or anything more or further) means any other thing. That is also possible here: anything that I can do.
  3. on / alongGet on well and get along well both mean have a friendly relationship.
  4. if / whetherReported yes/no questions use if or whether.
  5. suchSuch + a + adjective + noun is followed by that to show the result.
  6. evenEven if means that the situation does not change the advice.
  7. that / whichIn a cleft sentence (It was ... that ...), we use that. Which is also possible for a thing.
  8. forApologise for + noun or -ing form.

Part 3: Word formation

  1. communication / communicativeCommunication skills is the usual phrase: a noun used like an adjective before skills. Communicative skills is also possible.
  2. confusedThe people had the feeling, so we use the -ed adjective: confused by.
  3. impoliteInterrupting is bad manners, so we need the negative adjective: impolite.
  4. diplomaticallyWe need an adverb to match calmly. Diplomatically means in a careful way that avoids offending people.
  5. disagreementAfter a we need a noun. The two departments had different opinions, so it is a disagreement.
  6. attentivelyAfter listen we need an adverb: attentively, meaning carefully and with interest.
  7. unnecessaryBefore the noun pressure we need an adjective, and the meaning is negative: unnecessary.
  8. persuasiveAfter very we need an adjective. Persuasive means able to make people agree.

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