Business English Reading Comprehension Exercises

Test your understanding of real business English as it appears in current news and media. Each exercise asks you to read a short article on a real business topic, then answer comprehension questions. Topics span finance, technology, international trade, economics, and more. Aimed at intermediate to advanced learners.

Exercises

Exercise 1: GM to close German plant
Exercise 2: Apple to increase screen size on iPhones
Exercise 3: North Dakota, the USA's second leading oil producer
Exercise 4: The struggling Spanish economy
Exercise 5: Bank of America's investment banking cuts
Exercise 6: Selling budget cars in China
Exercise 7: Lockheed Martin gets extra funding to build jets
Exercise 8: Starbucks' difficulties in Europe
Exercise 9: Vale SA's legal fight against Brazil's tax claims
Exercise 10: Consumers using their credit cards again
Exercise 11: U.S. economy on the upswing?
Exercise 12: Pending nurses' strike in New York City
Exercise 13: Protesting self-driving cars in San Francisco
Exercise 14: Steep price increase to register electric vehicles in Michigan
Exercise 15: Childcare voucher crisis in Mississippi
Exercise 16: The UN's prediction for the global economy
Exercise 17: The EU's free trade deal with MERCOSUR
Exercise 18: E-commerce via Gemini
Exercise 19: A jump in stock prices to end the year
Exercise 20: Meta secures massive energy deal

💡 Tips for improving your reading comprehension
Read authentic business materials regularly
Real-world texts — emails, reports, news articles — reflect the vocabulary and structure actually used in professional settings. Start with shorter pieces and work up to longer ones.
Skim first, then scan for details
In business you rarely read everything carefully. Practice skimming for the main idea, then scanning for specific facts, numbers, and names.
Build vocabulary in context
Focus on common business collocations like “market share,” “cost reduction,” and “regulatory compliance.” Recording phrases (not just single words) speeds up comprehension significantly.