Globalization practice questions.

Choose the correct form: "If borders ___ tomorrow, global trade would increase dramatically."

• disappear
• will disappear
• disappeared
• had disappeared

Answer: disappeared

This is a second conditional (hypothetical present/future), so the if-clause takes the past simple "disappeared" while the main clause uses "would".

Which word best completes the sentence? "Cheap flights and the internet have ___ the barriers of distance between people."

• broken down
• broken up
• broken into
• broken out

Answer: broken down

The phrasal verb "break down" means to remove or overcome barriers; "break up" means to end, "break into" means to enter by force, and "break out" means to begin suddenly.

Report the statement using the usual backshift of tenses. The reporter said, "Global supply chains are becoming more fragile." → "The reporter said that global supply chains ___ more fragile."

• are becoming
• were becoming
• will become
• have become

Answer: were becoming

With the usual backshift after a past reporting verb, the present continuous "are becoming" becomes the past continuous "were becoming". Keeping "are becoming" is only possible when stressing that the situation is still true, which this task excludes.

Choose the best synonym for "outsourcing" in the sentence "The firm reduced costs by outsourcing production abroad."

• subcontracting
• online advertising
• importing
• recruiting

Answer: subcontracting

"Outsourcing" means contracting work out to an external (often foreign) provider, so "subcontracting" is the closest synonym.

Which article is correct? "___ globalization we experience today began in earnest after the 1980s."

• A
• An
• The
• no article

Answer: The

The definite article "The" is required because the noun is specified by the following relative clause "we experience today".

Identify the register: Which sentence is most appropriate for a formal opinion essay about globalization?

• Globalization is kind of a big deal for loads of people.
• Globalization has profound consequences for people around the world.
• Basically globalization messes everything up, you know?
• Loads of stuff changes because of globalization and whatnot.

Answer: Globalization has profound consequences for people around the world.

A formal essay requires neutral, precise vocabulary such as "profound consequences"; the other sentences use informal fillers like "kind of", "loads of", "basically" and "whatnot".