TOEIC Reading Test

1. With energy prices _________ than ever, many petroleum companies are investing in deep water exploration.

High

Higher

Highly

Highest

the comparative form of the adjectives is used with than.

Explanation

the comparative form of the adjectives is used with than.

2. The hotel complex is located five miles ________ the international airport

Away from

Far from

Next to

Along with

Only away from is appropriate when used with units of measurement.
The othrs refer to positions, not to specific distances.

Explanation

Only away from is appropriate when used with units of measurement.
The othrs refer to positions, not to specific distances.

3. As a result _________ the air traffic controllers' strike all fights have been diverted to alternative destinations.

With

From

Of

For

As a result is followed by the preposition of

Explanation

As a result is followed by the preposition of

4. Financial _______ are predicting that a slowdown in consumer spending will affect profit margins.

Analysis

Analysts

Analyze

Analytical

Analysts is a noun that refers to a profession, analysis is a noun that describes an act, analyze is a verb, analytical is an adjective

Explanation

Analysts is a noun that refers to a profession, analysis is a noun that describes an act, analyze is a verb, analytical is an adjective

5. The caribbean islands are still one of the most popular tourist __________ during the winter season.

Situations

Positions

Directions

Destinations

A tourist destination is a common collocation.

Explanation

A tourist destination is a common collocation.

6. The report form must be completed and _______ to the workshop supervisor within 24 hours of an accident.

Substituted

Subscribed

Submitted

Subjected

"Someone submits a report"

Explanation

"Someone submits a report"

7. The most successful investors are ___________ who can evaluate the effects that strategic challenges will have on a company's stock price.

Those

Their

These

Them

Those is a demonstrative pronoun used ti add information.
Their is the possessive adjective.
These does not follow common and correct usage.
Them an object pronoun.

Explanation

Those is a demonstrative pronoun used ti add information.
Their is the possessive adjective.
These does not follow common and correct usage.
Them an object pronoun.

8. Please note that neither Dr. Johnson ___________ Dr. Lang is available for consultation on Monday and Friday mornings.

Or

Nor

But

And

The conjunction neither is followed by nor.

Explanation

The conjunction neither is followed by nor.

9. Product managers _________ performance is considered exceptionnal will be awarded annual bonus.

Whose

Who

Which

Whom

Whose is the possessive form of the relative pronoun and refers to managers.
The others do not express possession.

Explanation

Whose is the possessive form of the relative pronoun and refers to managers.
The others do not express possession.

10. In her new position as dean of the university, Dr Morganti will ________ full responsability for academic affairs and curricular development.

Resume

Presume

Consume

Assume

Someone assumes rsponsability.
To resume means to take something up again, not to start something new.
Presume and consume do not follow common and correct usage.

Explanation

Someone assumes rsponsability.
To resume means to take something up again, not to start something new.
Presume and consume do not follow common and correct usage.

11. The warehouse manager has been unable to account _________ the missing supplies.

By

For

To

With

Someone accounts for somenthing.

Explanation

Someone accounts for somenthing.

12. The increase in profits during the third quarter was ____________ due to a notional advertising campaign.

Almost

Most

Mostly

Much

Mostly is an adverb, indicating the primary cause. Almost does not make sense, it would be correct if the phrase read "almost entirely due to".
Most is the superlative form.
Much is the determiner, pronoun or adverb.

Explanation

Mostly is an adverb, indicating the primary cause. Almost does not make sense, it would be correct if the phrase read "almost entirely due to".
Most is the superlative form.
Much is the determiner, pronoun or adverb.

13. _______ flexible work time was introduced, productivity levels have improved by almost five percent.

As

Before

Since

While

Since expresses the strarting point of a period of time and is used with the present perfect.

Explanation

Since expresses the strarting point of a period of time and is used with the present perfect.

14. With more than 200,000 domestic accidents every year, househol safety is not something that should be taken for ____________.

Granted

Accepted

Agreed

Given

The idiomatic expression is "to take for granted".

Explanation

The idiomatic expression is "to take for granted".

15. Transferring our ________ facilities to areas with lower labor costs will lead to greater profitability in the long term.

Manufactured

Manufactures

Manufacturing

Manufacturer

Manufacturing is adjective that describes the facilities.
manufactured is the past participle
manufactures is th third person of singular of the verb
manufacturer is a noun

Explanation

Manufacturing is adjective that describes the facilities.
manufactured is the past participle
manufactures is th third person of singular of the verb
manufacturer is a noun

16. Alternative energies will never become economical unless governments __________ incentives to homeowners and corporations.

Is providing

Provide

Provided

Will provide

The first conditional is formed with the simple present in the if clause, which in this case begins with unless.
Is providin is the present continuous.
Provided is the past simple.
Will provide is the future.

Explanation

The first conditional is formed with the simple present in the if clause, which in this case begins with unless.
Is providin is the present continuous.
Provided is the past simple.
Will provide is the future.

17. Professor Singh argues that the major aid insitutions could make better use of the funds that they have at their ___________.

Disapproval

Dismissal

Dispersal

Disposal

An institution has funds at its disposal.

Explanation

An institution has funds at its disposal.

18. Food and beverage suppliers will once again be _________ the main sponsors of this year's Bellevue city marathon.

Along

Amid

Among

Around

Among is a preposition that expresses inclusion in a group.
Although the others are also prepositions, their meanongs emphasize position:
along = next to
amid = in the middle of or surrounded by
aroud = in the area

Explanation

Among is a preposition that expresses inclusion in a group.
Although the others are also prepositions, their meanongs emphasize position:
along = next to
amid = in the middle of or surrounded by
aroud = in the area

19. Local residents are launching a new _______ to promote greater involvement in community affairs.

Initial

Initiation

Initiate

Initiative

Initiative is a noun that describes a new action.
Initial is an adjective indicating at the beginning.
Initiation is a noun that refers to the process of introducing someone to a group.
Initiate is a verb form.

Explanation

Initiative is a noun that describes a new action.
Initial is an adjective indicating at the beginning.
Initiation is a noun that refers to the process of introducing someone to a group.
Initiate is a verb form.

20. All things _________, the board's decision to pay a dividend may not have been the right one.

Consider

Considerable

Considerate

Considered

The common expression all things considered uses the past participle form of the verb to consider.

Explanation

The common expression all things considered uses the past participle form of the verb to consider.

21. Mr. Meyers pointed out at the meeting, centralizing the order processing system will mean standardizing procedures across all business units.

As

Such as

Since

So

As is a conjunction that express agreement.

Such as is used to present examples
Since expresses cause.
So is a conjunction meaning therefore

Explanation

As is a conjunction that express agreement.

Such as is used to present examples
Since expresses cause.
So is a conjunction meaning therefore

22. Goods that are returned __________ warranty should be accompanied by proof of purchase.

With

Under

Over

On

"Goods are under warranty"

Explanation

"Goods are under warranty"

23. Health car morkers should always explain the _________ effects of physical exercise to thei patients.

Benefiting

Benefits

Beneficiary

Beneficial

Beneficial is an adjective that describes effects.

Explanation

Beneficial is an adjective that describes effects.

24. Due to the unusually cool weather last month, the number of visitors th the state's major theme parks was __________ lower than forecast.

Extremely

Highly

Significantly

Well

The adverb significantly expresses how much lower.
The others cannot be used with a comparative adjective.

Explanation

The adverb significantly expresses how much lower.
The others cannot be used with a comparative adjective.

25. Mr Walton's physical therapist recommended that he __________ the treatment until the swelling has gone down.

Continue

Continued

Has continued

Is continuing

Continue is the subjunctive form (after "recommand that")

Explanation

Continue is the subjunctive form (after "recommand that")

26. _____________ having an advanced degree in molecular biology, Ms. Dempsey has led several research projects in biotechnology.

Beneath

Beside

Besides

Between

The adverb besides means in addition to.

Explanation

The adverb besides means in addition to.

27.
Ms. Sato admitted that the sales of her division have been _________ but said she expected better results next month.

Disappointed

Disappointing

Disappointingly

Disappointment

Disappointing is an adjective describing the sales.

Explanation

Disappointing is an adjective describing the sales.

28. The human resources manager has warned labor unions that prolonged strikes could _________ the company's plans to invest in a new plant and lead to layoffs.

Economize

Jeopardize

Monopolize

Penalize

Jeopardize means to endanger. The words warned, prolonged strikes, layoffs indicate risks.
The others cannot be used to describe the effect on the company's plans.

Explanation

Jeopardize means to endanger. The words warned, prolonged strikes, layoffs indicate risks.
The others cannot be used to describe the effect on the company's plans.

29.

Hardly _________ of the parts that we ordered are in stock.

Any

Few

None

Some

The adverb hardly is used with any

Explanation

The adverb hardly is used with any

30. The hospital director _________ following allegations of financial mismanagement.

Dismissed

Has been dismissed

Has dismissed

Will dismiss

has been dismissed is the passive form that the sentence requires.

Explanation

has been dismissed is the passive form that the sentence requires.

31. We ____________ to the joint venture, if we'd known more about our partner's real intentions.

Will not agree

Will not have agreed

Would not agree

Would not have agreed

In the third conditional, the then clause is formed with would + the present perfect.
Will not agree is the future.
Will not have agreed is the future perfect.
would not agree is the second conditional.

Explanation

In the third conditional, the then clause is formed with would + the present perfect.
Will not agree is the future.
Will not have agreed is the future perfect.
would not agree is the second conditional.

32. Many domestic appliances are left to run continuously and ________ consume large aounts of. electricity

Although

Even though

Whereas

Thus

Thus is an adverb that expresses consequence or result.

Explanation

Thus is an adverb that expresses consequence or result.

33. It is ___________ that permission to build will berefused as the site is zoned for residential use only.

Likely

Possibly

Probably

Surely

likely is an adjective that expresses probability.
The others are adverbs and are not correctin the context.

Explanation

likely is an adjective that expresses probability.
The others are adverbs and are not correctin the context.

34. Brisbane Associates has revealed that several customers of __________ have recently moved to rival brokerage firms.

Them

Their

Theirs

Themselves

Theirs is the possessive pronoun for Brisbane Associates.
Them is an object pronoun.
Their is a possessive adjective.
Themselves is a reflexive pronoun.

Explanation

Theirs is the possessive pronoun for Brisbane Associates.
Them is an object pronoun.
Their is a possessive adjective.
Themselves is a reflexive pronoun.

35. There is __________ chance of the mayor being re-elected unless he can restore confidence in the business community.

Few

Least

Low

Little

Little is a determiner that expresses not much for the non-count noun chance.
Few is used with count nouns.
Least is a superlative that requires the.
Low is an adjective that is not used with chance.

Explanation

Little is a determiner that expresses not much for the non-count noun chance.
Few is used with count nouns.
Least is a superlative that requires the.
Low is an adjective that is not used with chance.

36. All personner are required to report for work, __________ of prevailing weather conditions.

Although

Despite

Even

Regardless

Regardless is followed by of.

Explanation

Regardless is followed by of.

37. Under _________ circumstances are visitors allowed to enter the Research and Development center.

None

No

Any

All

"under no cicumstances" is a common adverbial phrase.

Explanation

"under no cicumstances" is a common adverbial phrase.

38. ABC Associates has always ___________ to provide its clients with innovative and cost-effective solutions for information management.

Sought

Searched

Prepared

Demanded

Sought is the simple past form of the verb to seek.

Explanation

Sought is the simple past form of the verb to seek.

39. The proposed alliance between the two companies fell __________ after they failed to reach an agreement about the transfer of technology.

Through

Down

Out

Over

to fall through is the common phrasal verb used when a plan (the alliance) fails to happen.

Explanation

to fall through is the common phrasal verb used when a plan (the alliance) fails to happen.

40. Many economists believe that the latest figures show that the risk of inflation has _______ slightly over the past six months.

Limited

Reduced

Cut

Lessened

Lessened is an intransitive verb in the past participle form, desribing the action of the noune inflation.
The others are the past participle forms of transitive verbs, which require a direct object.

Explanation

Lessened is an intransitive verb in the past participle form, desribing the action of the noune inflation.
The others are the past participle forms of transitive verbs, which require a direct object.