Expressions Quiz: Business

You can do this quiz online or print it on paper. It tests comprehension of common English expressions about doing business.

Read each sentence and choose the answer with the closest meaning to the words in italics.

1. After leading the market for fifty years, the company went broke.

made smaller profits
made fewer products
became bankrupt
a) made smaller profits b) made fewer products c) became bankrupt

2. We've got a product in the pipeline that's going to make millions.

being developed
being marketed
being shipped
a) being developed b) being marketed c) being shipped

3. We'll be doing a roaring trade in heaters when the weather changes.

selling quite a few
selling a great many
selling many fewer
a) selling quite a few b) selling a great many c) selling many fewer

4. The secret to running a small business is to keep your head above water.

learn from your mistakes
stay out of debt
make a good profit
a) learn from your mistakes b) stay out of debt c) make a good profit

5. Is the website a going concern at this stage?

a profitable business
a failing business
a concerning business
a) a profitable business b) a failing business c) a concerning business

6. Hisense cornered the market in smart TVs by selling high-quality units at low prices.

entered the market
dominated the market
improved its market share
a) entered the market b) dominated the market c) improved its market share

7. The companies are still negotiating, but I hear it's close to being a done deal.

a deal that's failed
a deal that's been finalized
a deal that's been terminated
a) a deal that's failed b) a deal that's been finalized c) a deal that's been terminated

8. Selling overpriced T-shirts is the cash cow tourist shops need just now.

brief source of income
illegal source of income
regular source of income
a) brief source of income b) illegal source of income c) regular source of income

9. According to their CEO, the company's been in the red ever since it started.

losing money
making money
owing money
a) losing money b) making money c) owing money

10. We've managed to keep our business in the black for another year.

with more money than debt
with more debt than credit
with more expenses than income
a) with more money than debt b) with more debt than credit c) with more expenses than income

Your score is:

Correct answers:

Contributor: Matt Errey. Matt is the author of several books including 1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context and Common English Idioms for learners, and Matt's ESL Games and Quizzes for teachers.