What? When? Where?: Business English A1

11 A1 Business exercises on “What? When? Where?”, with answers. Complete each task and check it straight away. Free, no account needed.

SkillBusiness
LevelA1 Beginner
Exercises11
Gaps45
Topic7 of 8

Before you start. 11 exercises · 11 audio tracks · 15:05. Play each track, then do the tasks.

Exercise 1. Listen to Emily and Mark talking about their jobs. Write the correct name next to each picture.

Audio
Audio
  • B.
    Listen again. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
  • Emily
  • 1
    We’re never busy in March or April.
  • 2
    Winter is always quiet so I usually go on holiday in July or August.
  • 3
    I always go on holiday in spring.
  • 4
    I can speak Japanese.
  • Mark
  • 5
    November and December are busy.
  • 6
    I usually go on holiday in March, April or May.
  • 7
    I can go on holiday in summer.
  • 8
    I can’t speak Spanish.
Exercise 1, picture 1 of 2: Listen to Emily and Mark talking about their jobs.
Exercise 1, picture 2 of 2: Listen to Emily and Mark talking about their jobs.

Exercise 2. Listen and complete the office rules with can and can’t.

Audio · 13 gaps
Audio
  • In the new flexi-time system, staff need to work thirty-seven hours a week. They (1) choose when they start and finish work and they (2) decide when to go to lunch.
  • • All employeesneed to be in the office from 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • • This means employees (3) start after 10.30 a.m.
  • • They (4) finish work before 3 p.m.
  • • The building opens at 7 a.m. so employees (5) start work then.
  • • Employees (6) take one hour for lunch from 11.15 a.m. to 2.45 p.m.
  • • They (7) take lunch before 11.15 a.m. or after 2.45 p.m.
  • • They (8) work until 8 p.m. when the building closes.
  • • Remember, if you drive to work, you (9) only park your car in spaces 120-225.
  • • Employees need their ID card or they (10) enter the car park.

Exercise 3. Listen and complete the list with the company names in the box.

Audio · 7 gaps
Audio
  • FT Global 500 – World’s top companies in 2015
Apple     Berkshire Hathaway     ExxonMobil     General Electric     Microsoft     Novartis     PetroChina     Toyota Motor Corporation
CompanyCountryValue ($bn)
1stUSA724.7
2ndUSA356.5
3rdUSA356.5
4thGoogleUSA345.8
5thUSA333.5
6thChina329.7
7thWells FargoUSA279.9
8thJohnson & JohnsonUSA279.7
9thIndustrial and Commercial Bank of ChinaChina275.3
10thSwitzerland267.8
11thChina MobileHong Kong267.2
12thWal-Mart StoresUSA265.1
13thUSA249.7
14thNestléSwitzerland243.7
15thToyota Motor CorporationJapan238.9

Exercise 4. Listen and find the number you hear.

Audio
Audio
  • 1
    Our department always has a meeting on the 1st Thursday of the month.
  • 2
    Mr Barker’s office is on the 32nd floor.
  • 3
    The delivery arrives on the 10th of November.
  • 4
    Can you come to Sam’s 30th birthday on Monday?
  • 5
    That’s the 15th email today.
  • 6
    My holiday starts on the 9th of July.
  • 7
    Thank you for waiting, you are 5th in line.
  • 8
    I’m out of the office from the 20th of January for a week.

Exercise 5. Listen and write the dates you hear.

Audio · 8 gaps
Audio
  • 1
    14/9/2021
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7

Exercise 6. Listen to Colin’s phone call with Michaela. Answer the questions.

Audio
Audio
  • 1
    Does Colin give Michaela some time off?
  • 2
    How many people are on holiday in July?
  • 3
    What dates does Colin suggest for Michaela’s holiday?
  • 4
    What does Colin ask Michaela to do?
  • B. Match 1-6 with a-f.
  • 1
    Could I please take
  • 2
    You can take from
  • 3
    I’m afraid you can’t take
  • 4
    Could you let me know
  • 5
    Could I also take Friday
  • 6
    Can you finish
  • a)
    as soon as possible?
  • b)
    Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th.
  • c)
    all the days you want.
  • d)
    the report before you go?
  • e)
    some time off?
  • f)
    15th July?

Exercise 7. Listen and write the dates.

Audio · 6 gaps
Audio
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6

0 of 6 answered

Exercise 8. Sarah phones Bill. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer, a, b or c.

Audio · 5 gaps
Audio
  • 1
    Can Bill work from home?
  • a Yes.
  • b He can work at home on the 19th November, but he can’t work at home on the 20th.
  • c No.
  • 2
    Can Bill go on holiday from 26th to 28th November?
  • a Yes.
  • b No, but he can go on holiday on the 29th and 30th November.
  • c No
  • 3
    What does Sarah ask Bill to do after his holiday?
  • a Have a meeting with the same client.
  • b Have a meeting with a different client.
  • c Have a meeting with the Sales Manager.
  • B. Complete the phrases from the conversation with the words in the box. Then listen again and check.
  • 1
    work at home on the 19th.
  • 2
    ... but you can’t on the 20th.
  • 3
    And you can take time off from the 26th to the 28th.
  • 4
    stay in Texas and arrange a meeting with him?
  • 5
    Could you what he says as soon as possible?
could you     I’m afraid     let me know     of course     you can

0 of 5 answered

Exercise 9. Complete the conversations with the phrases in the box. Then listen and check your answers.

Audio · 6 gaps
Audio
  • 1
    A: (1)
  • B: We aren’t finished, I’m sorry. (2)
  • A: The website? Hmm ... what can we do to solve this?
  • B: (3)
  • A: OK. Can we meet the deadline for the product launch?
  • B: (4) I’m sorry.
  • 2
    A: Is everything on schedule?
  • B: (5)
  • A: Can you finish by next week?
  • B: (6)
I think we need more time.
Where are we with planning the new project?
We have a problem with the website.
We need to ask an IT Specialist for help with it.
Yes, I think we can.
Yes, we’re on schedule.

Exercise 10. Listen to a conversation at a meeting. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?

Audio
Audio
  • 1
    The team can finish planning the project next week.
  • 2
    The project is on schedule.
  • 3
    There is a problem with the invoicing system.
  • 4
    The team want to use the old system.
  • 5
    The manager agrees with her colleague.
  • B. Choose the correct answers, a, b or c.
  • 1
    What’s the situation with the reports?
  • a)
    We can solve it.
  • b)
    We aren’t finished. There was a problem with the system.
  • c)
    Yes, I think we can finish it on Friday.
  • 2
    What can we do to solve this?
  • a)
    I think we can finish it by Thursday.
  • b)
    We can change to a new system.
  • c)
    We can see the solution.
  • 3
    Can you meet the deadline?
  • a)
    I think we need more time, I’m sorry.
  • b)
    We can solve it.
  • c)
    We can look for international suppliers.
  • 4
    Can you finish by next month?
  • a)
    We need to change how the system works.
  • b)
    Yes, I think we can.
  • c)
    It isn’t finished.

Exercise 11. Test

Audio
Audio
  • 1
    Listen to the conversation between Daniel and his manager, Anna, and choose the correct answer.
  • 0
    What is Daniel doing next month?
  • A
    He’s travelling to Australia.
  • B      He’s meeting family.
  • 1
    When does he want a holiday?
  • A
    the last week in September
  • B
    the first week in October
  • 2
    How many people are on holiday in the last week of September?
  • A
    3
  • B
    4
  • 3
    When does Anna say Dan can go on holiday?
  • A
    the last week in September
  • B
    the first week in October
  • 4
    What does Anna ask Dan to do?
  • A
    finish working
  • B
    finish a report
  • 5
    What day does Anna suggest for a meeting?
  • A
    Thursday
  • B
    Monday

View all Business exercises

Listen to a recording and type it, one sentence at a time

How to Practice

  1. 1Read each question carefully
  2. 2Write your answer or select the correct option
  3. 3Click “Check answers” to mark your gaps, or “Show answers” to see the answer key
  4. 4Review any mistakes and try similar exercises
  5. 5Move to the next exercise when ready