Answer Key

Arrangements and negotiations – Practice 2

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate word or phrase in the correct form.
  1. Last- [minute] negotiations are going on to avoid an all-out strike.
  2. A meeting of the Golf Club Committee was arranged for 1 March, but not everyone could attend it, so it was  [postponed] until March 31.
  3. There was some heavy  [horse] -trading in the negotiations and the Government has had to promise to spend large amounts of money to improve regional services.
  4. We start with  [small] talk over coffee, but then it gets serious.
  5. We have asked for 10%, but we do have a  [fallback] position if that is turned down.
  6. Discussions between the two sides broke  [down] when they started discussing pay.
  7. The unions suspended the strike until next week as a goodwill  [gesture] aimed at reopening negotiations with employers' organizations on ending the strike.
  8. We will hold talks on  [neutral] ground so neither side has an advantage.
  9. The details of the agreement haven't been firmed  [up] yet.
  10. We should  [set] up a meeting to discuss this issue before it gets out of control.