Negotiating a Flexible Working Policy

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

C1. 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, Multiple choice, Fill in the blank (text), Fill in the blank (dropdown), Cloze (text), Cloze (dropdown), Matching, Error correction, Sentence transformation, Sentence reordering

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. Under no circumstances … employees be penalised for reporting a technical fault.

   1. they
   2. should they
   3. they should
   4. should
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   should

   The subject employees follows the gap; fronted under no circumstances requires should employees be.

2. Question 2 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Staff consultation is necessary before adoption, but it does not guarantee adoption.

   1. Consulting staff is a prerequisite for adoption rather than a guarantee of it.
   2. The board may adopt the policy without consulting staff.
   3. The policy cannot be adopted without staff consultation, but consultation alone is insufficient.
   4. Consulting staff automatically obliges the board to adopt the policy.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Consulting staff is a prerequisite for adoption rather than a guarantee of it.; The policy cannot be adopted without staff consultation, but consultation alone is insufficient.

   A prerequisite is necessary; neither correct statement treats it as sufficient.

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

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use an adjective from DISCRETION. Managers retain some ___ authority over exceptional requests.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   discretionary

   Discretionary describes authority that allows choices rather than imposing an automatic outcome.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The revised wording should leave no room ___ conflicting interpretations of the attendance rule.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. by
   2. for
   3. at
   4. of
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   for

   Leave room for describes space or opportunity for something.

5. Question 5 · Cloze (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Form a word from each capitalised word. The policy balances 1___ (AUTONOMOUS) with accountability. Clear criteria are needed to ensure 2___ (CONSISTENT), while exceptional cases require careful 3___ (JUDGE).

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   autonomy

   Blank 2

   consistency

   Blank 3

   judgement / judgment

   The three gaps require nouns; both judgement and judgment are accepted spellings.

6. Question 6 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The agreement is intended to safeguard flexibility 1___ compromising service. Its success will hinge 2___ consistent implementation. It should not be construed 3___ a promise that every request will be approved.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. unless
   2. despite of
   3. except
   4. without

   Choices for blank 2

   1. on
   2. to
   3. of
   4. with

   Choices for blank 3

   1. as
   2. for
   3. with
   4. to
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   without

   Blank 2

   on

   Blank 3

   as

   Use without plus ing-form, hinge on and construe as.

7. Question 7 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Completing negotiation statements.

   Answer choices

   • to the normal notice requirement.
   • for applying the criteria consistently.
   • employees' existing contractual rights.

   Items

   • The board is willing to make an exception
   • The agreement does not prejudice
   • The union will hold managers accountable
   Check answers and explanations

   1. The board is willing to make an exception

   to the normal notice requirement.

   2. The agreement does not prejudice

   employees' existing contractual rights.

   3. The union will hold managers accountable

   for applying the criteria consistently.

   Make an exception to and hold someone accountable for take prepositions; prejudice is a transitive verb and takes a direct object.

8. Question 8 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. The committee recommended to consider every request on its merits.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   The committee recommended considering every request on its merits.

   Recommend takes an ing-form here rather than a to-infinitive.

9. Question 9 · Sentence transformation

   Rewrite or complete the second sentence as instructed, keeping the same meaning unless the task asks you to change it.

   Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first. Use the given word unchanged. The managers should have explained the new rules before the trial began. The new rules ___ before the trial began.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   should have been explained by the managers

   The modal perfect passive retains the criticism of a missed past duty and identifies the same agents.

10. Question 10 · Sentence reordering

    Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

    Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

    Sentence parts

    • Whatever the final attendance requirement,
    • consistently across comparable roles.
    • must be applied
    • the policy
    Check answers and explanations

    Correct order

    Whatever the final attendance requirement, the policy must be applied consistently across comparable roles.

    Whatever introduces a concessive condition; the passive main clause states the requirement.

11. Question 11 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Choose the best completion. The board has agreed to the change in …, subject to a workable implementation plan.

    1. principality
    2. principled
    3. principle
    4. principal
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    principle

    In principle means general agreement whose practical details may still need to be settled.

12. Question 12 · Fill in the blank (text)

    Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

    Use the noun from TRANSPARENT. Greater ___ is needed about how exceptional requests are assessed.

    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    transparency

    Transparency is the noun referring to openness and clarity in decision-making.

13. Question 13 · Error correction

    Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

    Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Only after staff raised objections the board agreed to revise the wording.

    Check answers and explanations

    Accepted answers

    Only after staff raised objections did the board agree to revise the wording.

    Fronted only after requires auxiliary inversion: did the board agree.

14. Question 14 · Sentence transformation

    Rewrite or complete the second sentence as instructed, keeping the same meaning unless the task asks you to change it.

    Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first. Use the given word unchanged. The board approved the policy on condition that it would be reviewed after six months. The board's approval was ___ a review after six months.

    Check answers and explanations

    Accepted answers

    conditional on

    Conditional on expresses the requirement attached to approval.

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.