Meaning of 'Two out of every five companies struck...'

[johnxyy]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #164 "Idioms with the phrasal verb go", question 7

Two out of every five companies struck by disaster ......... of business.

(a) go back
(b) go over
(c) go out
(d) go off

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #164 "Idioms with the phrasal verb go", answer 7

Two out of every five companies struck by disaster go out of business.

Correct answer: (c) go out

Your answer was: correct
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what does the sentence mean?

thx
johnxyy

[Alan]

Hi,

This expression really indicates some kind of percentage. It means that if you look at an average of 5 companies, you will usually find that 2 of them will very often be unsuccessful and have to stop trading.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Colour Idioms