Solving Problems at Work

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

B1. 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

Single choice

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The printer has stopped working. Can you … what is wrong?

   1. take over from
   2. look after
   3. find out
   4. give in to
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   find out

   Find out means discover the cause.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. Our manager asked us … the report by Friday.

   1. to finish
   2. finishing
   3. finished
   4. finish
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to finish

   Ask someone to do something uses a to-infinitive.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. We ran … paper just before the meeting.

   1. away from
   2. out of
   3. up with
   4. over to
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   out of

   Run out of means exhaust a supply.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. If we leave now, we … the morning delivery.

   1. caught
   2. would caught
   3. will catch
   4. have catch
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   will catch

   A likely future condition takes present if-clause and will-result.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. Please keep me … about any changes to the schedule.

   1. informed
   2. informing
   3. information
   4. inform
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   informed

   Keep someone informed means maintain their knowledge.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The problem was more serious … we had expected.

   1. from
   2. to
   3. as
   4. than
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   than

   A comparative phrase takes than.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. She suggested … a technician instead of guessing.

   1. called
   2. call
   3. calling
   4. to call
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   calling

   Suggest takes an ing form for the proposed action.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. I can't … to lose another day's work.

   1. spend
   2. pay
   3. afford
   4. cost
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   afford

   Afford to do means be able to bear the cost or consequences.

9. Question 9 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. We managed … the files before the computer shut down.

   1. to save
   2. saving
   3. save
   4. saved
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to save

   Manage takes a to-infinitive for successful action.

10. Question 10 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Choose the best completion or reply. Could you take … of the customer desk while I'm away?

    1. attention
    2. charge
    3. part
    4. place
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    charge

    Take charge of means assume responsibility for.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

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.