Netflix cuts 6% of workforce as growth slows and programming unit is reorganized

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

C2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Fill in the blank (dropdown)

How to approach this practice

Read the complete sentence and notice the subject, verb form, time reference and word order before answering.

1. Question 1 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The restructuring, ___ by weaker engagement, extended beyond layoffs.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. prompting
   2. prompted
   3. having prompt
   4. to prompting
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   prompted

   A past participle correctly introduces a reduced passive clause.

2. Question 2 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Had engagement continued to accelerate, Netflix ___ unlikely to have reorganized so extensively.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. would be
   2. would have been
   3. will have been
   4. would being
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   would have been

   A third conditional requires would have plus the past participle.

3. Question 3 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The company cut spending lest its investment priorities ___ further misaligned.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. become
   2. became
   3. to become
   4. becoming
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   become

   After lest, formal English uses a bare subjunctive verb.

4. Question 4 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Netflix’s leaders acted as though the previous structure ___ no longer adequate.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. is
   2. was
   3. were
   4. be
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   were

   A past unreal comparison takes the past subjunctive were.

5. Question 5 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The article suggests that growth is becoming harder ___ over time.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. sustain
   2. sustaining
   3. to sustain
   4. sustained
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to sustain

   The adjective harder is followed by a to-infinitive complement.

6. Question 6 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Only after the earnings release ___ the scale of the restructuring become apparent.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. did
   2. had
   3. was
   4. has
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   did

   A fronted negative adjunct requires subject–auxiliary inversion.

7. Question 7 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The company’s results were stronger than analysts had expected, ___ its strategic concerns remained.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. although
   2. because
   3. unless
   4. whereas
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   although

   A concessive conjunction is needed to connect contrasting clauses.

8. Question 8 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The departures may result in programming decisions ___ by a more cautious investment philosophy.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. shape
   2. shaping
   3. shaped
   4. to shape
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   shaped

   A past participle correctly modifies decisions receiving an influence.

What to review next

After checking an answer, explain the rule in your own words and write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any rules you could not explain.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.