Toeic Reading practice15 key

READING
In this section of the test, you will have the chance to show how well you understand
written English. There are three parts to this section, with special directions for each part.
YOU WILL HAVE ONE HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES
TO COMPLETE PARTS 5, 6, AND 7 OF THE TEST
PART 5: Incomplete Sentence
Directions: You will see a sentence with a missing word. Four possible answers follow
the sentence. Choose the best answer to the question and fill in the corresponding oval on
your answer sheet.
1. Nelson Employment Agency is looking for an _______ administrative secretary to
manage a busy legal office specializing in employment law.
A. experience
B. experimental
C. experienced
D. experiencing
2. Because the vote on the budget has been _______, I need the cost estimates from the
Housekeeping Department today.
A. pushed up
B. phased out
C. pushed back
D. pulled out
3. The final report should be sent _______ the company’s main office before the end of the
month.
A. in
B. to
C. on
D. at
4. All employees _______ to attend next Friday’s staff meeting.
A. encourage
B. will encourage
C. are encouraged

D. are encouraging


5. Our employees must strive to always remember that this company was founded on the
_______ that providing customer satisfaction is our most important goal.
A. principal
B. principles
C. principled
D. principle
6. The park service asks visitors to behave __________ and show respect for wildlife.
A. responsible
B. responsibly
C. responsibilities
D. responsibility
7. Investors who lose faith on a company ________ sell off their stocks and invest
elsewhere.
A. exactly
B. typically
C. approximately
D. greatly
8. The current ___________ of this office plans to leave before the end of the month.
A. occupancy
B. occupying
C. occupy
D. occupant
9. You can choose to have your paycheck mailed to you, _________ you can have your
salary deposited directly onto your bank account.
A. or
B. if
C. but

D. so
10. They brought extra chairs into the room __________ they expected a large number of
people to attend the meeting.
A. although
B. since
C. however
D. nevertheless


11. Mr. Jones _________investing in that company, but he finally decided against it.
A. considered
B. considerate
C. considerable
D. considerably
12. During the busy tourist season, you should ________ hotel reservations several weeks ahead of
time.
A. makes
B. made
C. make
D. making
13. The television advertisement was so effective that customer service representatives
had a difficult time __________ with the sudden increase in incoming calls.
A. taking over
B. holding down
C. putting through
D. keeping up
14. It is important to turn __________ the engine before checking the oil level.
A. against
B. off
C. together

D. with
15. I'd like to ask everyone to come by my office tomorrow and meet my new _______ assistant, Marcella.
A. administration
B. administrative
C. administrator
D. administer
16. Before you leave today, please try to contact the executive secretary, _______ ask her
for the CEO's contact information and availability.
A. but
B. and
C. although
D. despite


17. We regret _________ your office of the changes to the program earlier and apologize
for any inconvenience this may have caused.
A. not having informed
B. to inform
C. not to inform
D. the informing
18. Twenty new electrical engineers will _________ the company next month.
A. recruit
B. join
C. connect
D. perform
19. In a press release dated March 3, Charter Travel Corporation _______ a record-setting
$3 million increase in last quarter revenues.
A. announced
B. announce
C. announcing

D. has been announced
20. It is important that we provide _______ information to our clients when they call to
either inquire about their statements or the status of their claims.
A. accurate
B. evident
C. efficient
D. approved
21. The recent worldwide increase in oil prices has led to a _________ demand for electric
vehicles.
A. greater
B. greatest
C. greatly
D. greatness
22. Mr. Anderson has decided that we are going to bring in a _______ from Miracle
Software to design our new client management database.
A. consultation
B. consultant
C. consulting
D. consulted


23. It was recently reported in the Sun Times that many furniture manufacturers have
temporarily cut back on using quality materials due to a _______ profit margin.
A. rising
B. receding
C. mounting
D. expanding
24. Both the Mitra and the Bhatta chemical companies are in better financial shape than many of
_______.
A. themselves

B. they
C. their
D. them
25. You cannot, as a manager, _______ entirely on statistics to gauge employee
performance, because statistics can often be misleading.
A. rely
B. trust
C. expect
D. convince
26. Founded ten years ago, the Youth Media Network _______ the leading source of print
and broadcast news for adolescents.
A. become
B. becomes
C. becoming
D. has become
27. Please _______ the new policy states that you must work the day before and the day
after a holiday in order to qualify for holiday allowance.
A. remembrance
B. remember
C. memory
D. memorable
28. Most companies are legally prohibited from _______ any specific information on
former employees when asked for information by future employers.
A. released


B. releasing
C. release
D. to release
29. Bronson's firm is moving to a larger suite in the same office tower where it is _______ located.

A. mostly
B. largely
C. recently
D. currently
30. To increase productivity, the office has _______ strict rules regarding personal phone
calls, appropriate dress, and personal email use.
A. imposition
B. imposter
C. imposed
D. imposing
31. Reductions in the budget require us ______ our costs for international travel.
A. limited
B. to limit
C. limiting
D. limit
32. If there _______some restaurants near the hotel, we would not have to spend time and
money on taxis.
A. were
B. was
C. will
D. would be
33. This photocopier is expensive, but it is __________ than the other one.
A. more durable
B. most durable
C. durably
D. durable
34. Even though many workers complained, all employees at the electric company had to
_______ a safety training course before their official start dates.
A. comply
B. compose

C. compile


D. complete

35. ________Mr. Lee works very hard and always meets his deadline; he still hasn’t been given a
promotion.
A. Since
B. Even
C. Despite
D. Although
36. Notice: The meeting ______ for today has been postponed until Thursday at 4 P.M.
A. scheduled
B. happening
C. important
D. open
37. Our boss is very organized and tidy and _________ that we keep the office neat.
A. consists
B. persists
C. resists
D. insists
38. The department requires someone with __________ in international law.
A. exploration
B. experience
C. explanation
D. expectancy
39. _______ the simplified characters used on the Chinese mainland, traditional Chinese
characters are used for writing in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
A. As far as
B. On behalf of

C. In regards to
D. In contrast to
40. An increase in a nation's rate of savings ultimately ______ to lower interest rates for
business and consumer loans.
A. lead
B. leader
C. leads


D. leading
Go on to the next page

Part 6: Text Completion
Directions: Read the texts on the following pages. You will find a word or
phrase missing in some of the sentences. Below each of the sentences, four
answer choices are given. Select the most appropriate answer to complete
the text. Then mark the letter (A), (B), (C) or (D) on your answer sheet.

Questions 41-43 refer to the following advertisement.

DO YOU TRAVEL ______________ ON BUSINESS?
41. A. rarely
B. uncommonly
C. frequently
D. occasionally

CALL ATA, THE ASIAN TRAVEL AGENCY
We’re the place for busy travellers like you. We take care of the logistics so you can focus on
your job. We handle airline, hotel, and rental-car reservations throughout Asia, and we always
offer the ___________ prices. Our regular business clients receive a 5% discount on every order.

42. A. low
B. lower
C. lowly
D. lowest
Our ___________ staff is ready to serve you in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai.
43. A. multilingual
B. multiplied
C. multitude
D. multifold

For excellent service, call ATA to learn more.


Questions 44-46 refer to the following letter.
8700 Oceanview Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90230
Ad Event Media Agency
September 15
Dear Mr. Jordan,
I have known Clara Wu for the past three years _______ she has worked as a Sales
Associate for Ad Event Media Agency
44. A. for
B. while
C. by
D. around
Clara has never failed to impress with _______ strong work ethic and her one-of-a-kind
personality.
45. A. its
B. their
C. her

D. his
Her job performance has always exceeded expectations, and she has consistently been a
top salesperson throughout her entire employment with our company. Clients and coworkers alike respond very well to Clara due to her highly developed interpersonal and
communication skills. Because she is an _______ listener and interviewer, Clara is able
46. A. idealistic
B. agreeable
C. acceptable
D. exceptional
to consistently meet her clients' needs in a positive and thorough manner. I recommend
her for employment without reservation. Please feel free to contact me if you have any


questions or concerns.

Questions 47-49 refer to the following advertisement.

Big Foot Shoes
Walk a mile in our shoes, and you'll never buy from anyone else!
END OF THE YEAR SALE!
Saturday, December 16th ONLY
Mark your calendars because you're not going to want to miss this one. For one day only,
everything in the store _______ heavily discounted.
47. A. will have been
B. are
C. will be
D. was
That means all of your favorite brands and styles will be under one roof and selling at prices you
won't believe. Take the Fastbreak Running Shoe, regularly priced at $89.99. The sale price is an
astonishing $49.99. That's a forty dollar price _______!
48. A. cut

B. reduce
C. sale
D. cost
But we didn't stop with the price cuts. Check out our cool two-for-one special, which allows you
to take home two pairs of shoes - any style and price - for the price of one. Everything in the store
is on the sale, including all accessories. This is the time to stock up on all your favorite shoes,
because you'll never see shoe prices this _______ again.
49. A. cheaply
B. cheaper
C. cheapest
D. cheap


Big Foot Shoes

Questions 50-52 refer to the following notice.

Public Notice: Landscaping Job
The city council has recently agreed to spend an estimated three million dollars __________ the
city park near the harbor.
50. A. has developed
B. will be
developed
C. develop
D. to develop
Local landscaping contractors are encouraged to visit their city council website (www.harborcitcc.org) in regards to how to bid __________ work for the project.
51. A. about
B. in
C. at
D. on

All bids _________ submitted by August 13, 2010.
52. A. were
B. must be
C. will be
D. have been
Harbor City, City Council


Go on to the next page

PART 7: Reading comprehension
Directions: In this part of the test, you will read a selection of texts, such as magazine and
newspaper, articles, letters, and advertisements. Each text is followed by several
questions. Choose the correct answer to each question and mark the letter (A), (B), (C) or
(D) on your answer sheet.
Questions 53-54 refer to the following advertisement.
Career.com -- Job Profile
Job: Architect (entry level)
Duties associated with this job include: Data compilation, design computation, and elementary
architectural assignments.
Possible duties: Estimate and plan preparation or structure inspection.
Requirements: Bachelor's degree in architecture. No professional experience required.
Base salary range: $30,000 to $50,000 a year.
* data specific to the New York City area

53. What is being offered?
A.
B.
C.
D.

A marketing position
An architect position
A graphic design position
A elementary school teaching position

54. According to the information, what is true about the job?
A.
B.
C.
D.

It requires a master's degree.
It pays between $50,000 and $80,000 a year.
It is a high level position within a company.
It does not require professional experience


Go on to the next page
Questions 55-57 refer to the following fax.

FAX
To: Peter Cooke, Headly Electronics
From: Darren Simpson, Customs and Excise Bureau
Re: Shipment
Date: April 2nd
A shipment of 48 refrigerators has now been cleared for collection by the Dover Port
Authority Customs and Excise Bureau. This shipment arrived on March 27 th. An import
tariff of £13 is payable on each item in the shipment. At £13 x 48 that comes to a total of
£634. This is payable before the shipment will be released for collection. Payment should

be made to Westman Bank, account #223003, account holder: Custom and Excise. Please
fax us once payment has been made.

55. What is the purpose of this fax?
A.
B.
C.
D.

To inform Peter Cooke that his shipment is ready for collection
To inform Peter Cooke that his shipment has been rejected
To inform Darren Simpson that he should pay a fee
To inform Darren Simpson of the cost of a refrigerator

56. Who is Darren Simpson?
A. An official at the Customs and Excise Bureau
B. An importer of electrical appliances
C. A trader
D. A banker
57. What should Peter Cooke send after paying the important tariff?
A. A letter
B. £634
C. A fax


D. An email

Questions 58-60 refer to the following advertisement.

Italian Food at its Finest...The Venezia

Under New Ownership
Open 7 Days, 11 A.M.–11 P.M.

COUPON
$2 off
Any order over $10 with this
coupon.
Not valid with other offers.
Offer good until June 16.

COUPON
50% off
Buy 1 meal, get 2nd one 50% off with
this coupon.
Not valid with other offers.
Offer good until June 16.

58. What is the purpose of this advertisement?

A. To announce a change in business hours
B. To advertise a business for sale
C. To encourage diners to eat early
D. To attract more customers
59. What will customers receive if they spend more than $10?
A. A second meal
B. A liter of soda
C. 50% off their next purchase
D. A $2 discount on their bill
60. What will happen on June 16?
A. A new owner will take over the business.

B. The coupons will expire.
C. Prices will be further reduced.
D. The business will close.
Questions 61-65 refer to the following letter.
Mitchell Dorsey
1600 Linder Ln.
Springfield, MA

FREE
1 liter of soda with delivery
with this coupon.
Not valid with other offers.
Offer good until June 16.


716-555-4234
March 3, 2009
To whom it may concern:
This letter is a request to correct outdated information in my credit file. I have enclosed
a copy of the report your company provided to me on December 14, 2008.
The delinquent mortgage payments to SP Bank were caused by an accounting error
which was not my fault. The payments due have been cleared as of January 15, 2009
which you can confirm in the enclosed statement from SP Bank. I am requesting that
this item be deleted immediately from my record.
In addition, please send a corrected copy of my credit record to me and all the creditors
who have received a copy within the last 6 months.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions concerning this matter, don’t
hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mitchell Dorsey

Go on to the next page
61. What is the purpose of Mr. Dorsey's letter?
A. To apply for a new credit card
B. To complain about the accountants at SP Bank
C. To fix an error in his credit record
D. To close an old account
62. Why were his payments delinquent?
A. The bank was at fault.
B. He misread his statement.
C. He accidentally paid late.
D. The payment went to the wrong bank.
63. What is a mortgage?
A. A student loan for tuition
B. A fine for paying late
C. Payments for an automobile
D. A loan for a house
64. What does he want the bank to do?
A. Cancel his account
B. Delete one item
C. Write an apology


D. Call him back
65. Why does he request a corrected copy?
A. Because he has been waiting for 6 months.
B. So he can loan money.
C. To confirm the changes
D. Because other creditors need the information.

Questions 66-69 refer to the following advertisement.
Do you often take domestic flights? Collecting air miles, but still not getting anywhere?
If you think it takes too long to earn free flights with other frequent flyer programs,
you are not alone. Why don’t you join the club? The Western Airlines Flight Club. We
may not be the most famous, but we can promise you we are one of the best. The
Western Airlines Flight Club gets you on free flight faster because we reward you for
the number of trips you take, not how many miles you fly. For anyone who takes
mostly domestic flights, it’s a great way to earn a free flight. Join our club by taking 8
round trips (2 one ways = 1 round trip) within 12 consecutive months on Western
Airlines*. Before boarding each flight, have our Customer Service Agent stamp your
application. Once you’ve received 16 stamps, mail in your application and we’ll send
you a plastic embossed membership card which you will use to receive credit on all
future flights, a free round-trip ticket to anywhere in the continental US, and a free
drink coupon book. Remember, credit must be obtained prior to flight. Unfortunately,
we cannot credit passengers for past flights.
Call 1-888-888-8888 for an application form or download our printable form from
our website at www.western.flightclub.co. Get started now!
*A full list of condition may be viewed on our website. The number of free flight
that can be taken within a 12-month period by an individual is limited to a
maximum of four. Stamps are not transferable.

66. Which of the following is NOT required in order to qualify for a free flight?
A. Applications must be stamped prior to boarding every flight.
B. Passengers must get 16 stamps
C. Applications must be mailed in when they have 16 stamps.
D. Passengers must fly once a month for 12 months


67. What is different about this frequent flyer program?
A. 2 one-way trips are the same as a round trip.

B. The rewards are fast, and you get to join a club.
C. It doesn’t matter how far you fly.
D. You get a free drink coupon booklet with your first free flight.
68. How many free flights can a passenger take in one year?
A. As many as they qualify for
B. A maximum of 4
C. One
D. A maximum of 12
69. How can customers obtain an application form?
A. By calling a special phone line or downloading the form
B. By flying with Western Airlines
C. By attending a special seminar
D. By sending a fax to Western Airlines
Questions 70-73 refer to the following job announcement.

70. What kind of firm is hiring?
A. A computer company
B. An accounting office
C. An advertising agency


D. A law firm
71. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as qualification?
A. Experience as a supervisor.
B. Familiarity with automated financial systems
C. A law degree
D. A degree in accounting
72. What kind of applicant would be most attracted to this job?
A. A lawyer
B. An accountant

C. A computer science major
D. A director of human resources
73. The word “automated” in paragraph 5, line 2, closest in meaning to
A. global
B. modern
C. common
D. mechanical
Questions 74-76 refer to the following memo.
To: All Employees, Knight Accounting Agency
From: Ted Knight, Chief Executive Officer
Subject: Staff Retreat
I am writing to remind you that our annual staff retreat will be held on Wednesday,
December 13 and Thursday, December 14 at the City Convention Center, 1510 Parkland
Avenue. Attendance is mandatory for all employees. Please plan to arrive promptly at 8
a.m. on both days; continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Our annual staff retreat is an opportunity to acknowledge our accomplishments, receive
training and support, and set our goals for the coming year. We've hired a professional
trainer to start the retreat with some fun and informative activities designed to help us
work more effectively as a team. Next, we'll meet in small groups to talk about our jobs
and what we can do to become more successful. Finally, we'll come together as a group to
share insights and to write our mission statement and objectives for next year.
In preparation for the retreat, please write a personal mission statement and a brief
description of your job. Please email these to me at no later than 5 p.m.
on Monday, December 12. I will compile your responses into a handout that will be


distributed to all employees. In addition, managers should submit to me a list of
objectives for their divisions no later than 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13. Taking a
few moments out of your busy schedules to do this advance preparation will make the
retreat more valuable for all of us.

I look forward to seeing you at the City Convention Center! Feel free to contact me if you
have any questions.

74. What is the memo mainly about?
A. Some mandatory meetings for managers
B. A proposed luncheon for new employees
C. A required employee training session
D. An optional planning retreat for the staff
75. Who will lead a session on teamwork?
A. The company president
B. A hired facilitator
C. A group of executives
D. The business manager
76. When is the deadline for managers to submit their list of division goals?
A. December 12
B. December 13
C. December 14
D. December 15
Questions 77-80 refer to the following article.
Hard Times Ahead for Local Graduates
Billy Roybal just graduated from Centerville Community College with a degree in
semiconductor manufacturing technology. Like the other 30 students who enrolled in his
class two years ago, he was told that after graduation, he was virtually guaranteed a wellpaying job at the Supreme Semiconductor plant.
However, Billy and most of his classmates are either out of work or preparing to move
elsewhere. The reason: Supreme Semiconductor recently announced a hiring freeze.


Graduates of the community college training program aren't the only ones who are upset.
Officials at Centerville City Hall are debating whether to sue Supreme Semiconductor for
breach of contract. Five years ago, the city partnered with Centerville Community

College and Supreme Semiconductor in an innovative training agreement. The city
agreed to give the semiconductor company a significant tax break in return for funding
the training program at Centerville Community College. Supreme Semiconductor, for its
part, hoped to benefit with a steady stream of well-trained local workers who would help
the company expand over the next 20 years.
However, changes in the highly competitive computer technology industry have led to
less business for Supreme Semiconductor. Furthermore, pulling out of its contract to
sponsor the community college program may not be the only downside. Karl Thompson,
president of Supreme Semiconductor, told Central Valley Daily News that various
problems could force the company to close by the end of the year, resulting in a loss of
over 300 jobs in the Centerville area. He also said that company executives are hoping to
meet with city officials to find some ways of avoiding a lawsuit.
In the meantime, there are no easy answers for graduates such as Billy. He says finding a
high-paying job is more important to him than staying in Centerville, so if a suitable job
doesn't materialize within a few months he plans to look for employment in another state.
As he and others leave, hopes for a bright future for the computer technology industry
and Centerville are quickly fading. Some city officials are still hoping there is some way
to keep Supreme Semiconductor open. Without it, said Mayor Charles Laughlin, the
economy of Centerville will suffer a major blow.
77. What is the topic of the news article?

A. A new computer training program
B. A student's struggles to graduate
C. A company that can't provide jobs
D. A city that doesn't promote growth
78. The word “virtually” in the first paragraph, line 3 is closest in meaning to
A. quickly
B. basically
C. possibly

D. legally
79. According to the article, which entity might be used?
A. Supreme Semiconductor
B. Centerville Community College
C. The City of Centerville
D. Central Valley Daily News
80. Why is Billy Roybal thinking of leaving Centerville?
A. Training in his field is not available
B. He cannot fulfill his employment contract
C. The community college is going to close
D. He is unable to find work in the area
Questions 81-85 refer to the following article.

Investment Tips
By Scott Russell
Investing in stocks that are less than $5 per share is a good way to boost your stock portfolio.
Many big investors ignore these stocks because of the potential risks involved, however, these
stocks often grow significantly over the course of time. Investing in inexpensive stocks is a wise
move, provided that you hold on to them for at least one year to allow enough time for them to
develop.
Four stocks that I suggest for less than $5 per share are High Standard Pharmaceuticals
Company, Nova Oil, Inc., Direct Access Publishing Group, and Peak Media Holdings. If you are
new to the market, you might want to try investing in them through an online brokerage firm that
does not charge a high commission for their services, and remember: only invest up to five
percent of your entire stock portfolio in any stock, including these.

Quick Stock Quotes -- Thursday April 22 -- 2:40 P.M.
(Quotes delayed by 20 minutes)
Nova Oil, Inc. (NOI)

3.93 +0.08 +2.08%
Previous Close 3.85


Open 3.87
High 3.94
Low 3.79
Volume 864,300
Bid 3.91
Bid Size 600
Ask 3.97
Ask Size 3,300
52 Week range 1.64-8.90

81. What type of stocks is the article about?
A. Oil company stocks
B. Inexpensive stocks
C. Pharmaceutical stocks
D. Stocks from new companies
82. Why does Mr. Russell say big investors ignore these stocks?
A. They are risky.
B. They are too popular.
C. They often lose money rapidly.
D. It is difficult to make money from them.
83. What investment strategy does Mr. Russell NOT suggest in the article?
A. Investing in more than one stock at once
B. Investing through an online brokerage firm
C. Investing in the stock for at least one year
D. Investing up to five percent of a stock portfolio.
84. What company's stock is profiled?

A. Nova Oil, Inc.
B. Peak Media Holdings
C. Direct Access Publishing Group
D. High Standard Pharmaceuticals Company
85. At what price did the company's stock close on the previous day?
A. $3.79 per share
B. $3.85 per share
C. $3.91 per share


D. $3.93 per share

Go on to the next page
Questions 86-90 refer to the following email and directory.



86. Where does Marjorie work?
A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3
D. Level 4
87. To which department should Olga take the Arabic books?
A. Biography
B. Fiction
C. International Languages
D. Political Science
88. Why should Olga put a sign on a door?
A. To help children learn to read
B. To tell library users that a workshop location has changed

C. To inform people that Hussein can’t give a presentation
D. To let Adishree know that Hussein is out of the office today
89. Why does Olga need a library directory?
A. She hasn’t been working at the library for long.
B. Several locations have changed recently
C. She has never been in the library before
D. People often get lost in the library
90. What does Hussein plan to do tomorrow?
A. Stay home
B. Show Olga around the library
C. Return work
D. Read a story to children
Go on to the next page