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Business English Vocabulary Quiz: Shortcut, Breakthrough, Advantage, Bottleneck
- Erin West
- Feb 26
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Want to test your Business English vocabulary? This quick quiz will help you practice common workplace words. These are everyday terms you’ll hear in meetings, emails, and project discussions.
Today’s Challenge:
You are working on a project, but the approval process is very slow. The work is finished, but the review stage is stopping the project from moving ahead. You say:
The review process is a major ________. It's taking too long to get approvals, and it's delaying the entire project.
A) shortcut
B) breakthrough
C) advantage
D) bottleneck
Choose the correct option and listen to the sentence.
Did you get it right?
Let’s take a closer look.
What does "shortcut" mean in Business English?
SHORTCUT
noun, countable
a quicker or easier way to do something
Using automation is a shortcut to reducing manual work in data entry.
He took a shortcut by copying last year’s report instead of writing a new one.
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What does "breakthrough" mean in Business English?
BREAKTHROUGH
noun, countable
an important discovery or achievement that helps solve a problem
The breakthrough in supply chain management reduced costs by 30%.
Her research led to a breakthrough in customer engagement strategies.
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What does "advantage" mean in Business English?
ADVANTAGE
noun, countable
something that helps you be better or more successful than others
Having strong negotiation skills is a key advantage in sales.
Early access to market trends gives our company an advantage over competitors.
What does "bottleneck" mean in Business English?
BOTTLENECK
noun, countable
a problem that slows down progress or stops things from moving forward
The hiring process became a bottleneck because approvals took too long.
A lack of resources is creating a bottleneck in product development.
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That's right! The correct answer is D) bottleneck.
Practice More Business English Vocabulary
At work, projects move fast — sometimes you need a shortcut, sometimes you hit a setback, and other times you celebrate a breakthrough. Native speakers use these words all the time to describe progress, problems, and solutions in business.
Take this quiz and practice key Business English vocabulary you’ll hear in real meetings and project discussions!
Practice Business English vocabulary with this printable worksheet (includes answers).
QUIZ - ANSWER KEY: DEFINITIONS and MORE EXAMPLES
1. This app offers a _______ to access reports quickly without going through all the menus.
A) bottleneck
B) shortcut
C) delay
The correct answer is B) shortcut.
What does "offer a shortcut" mean?
OFFER A SHORTCUT
collocation
to give someone a faster or easier way to do something
This app offers a shortcut to check your emails.
The teacher offered a shortcut to solve the math problem.
A map can offer a shortcut when you are lost in the city.
2. After months of testing, the team finally made a _______ and introduced a new feature that solved the problem.
A) breakthrough
B) setback
C) shortcut
The correct answer is A) breakthrough.
What does "make a breakthrough" mean?
MAKE A BREAKTHROUGH
collocation
to achieve big progress or find an important new solution
The scientists made a breakthrough in cancer research.
After weeks of talks, the two companies made a breakthrough and signed the deal.
She made a breakthrough in learning English when she started practicing every day.
3. One major _______ of using cloud storage is that you can access files from anywhere, on any device.
A) bottleneck
B) advantage
C) expense
The correct answer is B) advantage.
What does "a major advantage" mean?
A MAJOR ADVANTAGE
collocation
a very big or important benefit
Working from home is a major advantage because you save time on travel.
Speaking two languages is a major advantage when looking for a job.
Having fast internet is a major advantage for online learning.
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4. The approval process is the main _______ that’s slowing down the entire launch.
A) shortcut
B) breakthrough
C) bottleneck
The correct answer is C) bottleneck.
What's the meaning of "the main bottleneck"?
THE MAIN BOTTLENECK
collocation
the problem that is stopping progress
The approval step is the main bottleneck in our project.
Traffic is the main bottleneck on my way to work.
The old computer system is the main bottleneck for the team.
5. The project faced a major _______ when the software didn’t pass the security test.
A) breakthrough
B) setback
C) shortcut
The correct answer is B) setback.
What does "face a major setback" mean?
FACE A MAJOR SETBACK
collocation
to experience a serious problem that delays your plan
The team was close to finishing, but they faced a major setback when the key worker got sick.
The trip was planned, but losing the tickets was a major setback.
The company faced a major setback when the new product failed safety tests.
Business English Vocabulary Quiz
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between "a setback" and "a bottleneck"?
"A setback" is a problem that makes you lose progress or delays your plan. "A bottleneck" is one step or stage in the process that slows everything else down.
The client rejected the first design, which was a major setback for the marketing team.
The server crashed the night before launch, creating a major setback.
The finance department is the bottleneck because invoices take weeks to approve.
The testing stage is the bottleneck — everything else is ready, but nothing can move forward until it’s complete.
Can “shortcut” be negative in business?
Yes. Sometimes "a shortcut" can mean skipping steps and doing lower-quality work. But in technology, a shortcut is usually positive — it means a faster way.
He took a shortcut and the report had mistakes. (negative)
The search bar gives you a shortcut to find documents quickly. (positive)
Is “breakthrough” formal or informal?
It’s neutral. You can hear it in business meetings, scientific reports, or even everyday conversations.
What are common collocations with “advantage”?
big advantage (Speaking English is a big advantage in global business.)
competitive advantage (Our low prices give us a competitive advantage.)
clear advantage (The new system has a clear advantage over the old one.)
major advantage (Working from home is a major advantage for many employees.)
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