Business decisions: expressing certainty and probability

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for B2 learners explores Business decisions: expressing certainty and probability through a real audio recording. Across 9 interactive exercises, you'll develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings
• A reading passage to practise newly learned language

Lesson activities (9 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Reading — Read a short passage on the topic and answer comprehension questions.
3. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
4. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the audio recording, with definitions and usage notes.
5. True / False — Test your detailed understanding — decide if each statement matches the source.
6. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary. Drag and drop or type your answers.
7. Multiple choice — Choose the correct answer from four options — testing comprehension and language use.
8. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
9. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the audio recording:

• A safe bet — something that is very likely to happen, succeed, or be true.
• To have reservations about (something) — to feel doubt or have concerns about a plan or idea.
• In all likelihood — a more formal way to say 'very probably'.
• To hedge your bets — to reduce your risk of loss by supporting more than one possible outcome or having a backup plan.
• A foregone conclusion — a result that is so certain to happen that it can be predicted in advance.

Grammar

This lesson includes a grammar focus with clear explanations and practice exercises.