Grammar-based sentence completions - TOEIC
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When he finally did arrive, over seven hours late, Paul's _________________ appearance was extremely disturbing to all of us. He was wearing tattered sheets for pants.
When he finally did arrive, over seven hours late, Paul's _________________ appearance was extremely disturbing to all of us. He was wearing tattered sheets for pants.
In this sentence, we're looking for an adjective to describe "Paul's appearance." Since we are specifically told that "he was wearing tattered sheets for pants," it is only reasonable to describe his appearance as "disheveled," which means messy or not in proper order.
In this sentence, we're looking for an adjective to describe "Paul's appearance." Since we are specifically told that "he was wearing tattered sheets for pants," it is only reasonable to describe his appearance as "disheveled," which means messy or not in proper order.
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The mystery of Paul Williamsonbergfriend's disappearance remains a hotly ____________ topic in the industry; there remain strongly held beliefs on both sides of the question.
The mystery of Paul Williamsonbergfriend's disappearance remains a hotly ____________ topic in the industry; there remain strongly held beliefs on both sides of the question.
While "debated" can also be used as a verb, in this case it is the correct adjective to describe the "topic" of Paul Williamsonbergfriend's disappearance. It is important to recognize the way in which a word with more than one possible application is being used in a given sentence.
While "debated" can also be used as a verb, in this case it is the correct adjective to describe the "topic" of Paul Williamsonbergfriend's disappearance. It is important to recognize the way in which a word with more than one possible application is being used in a given sentence.
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The hockey team was made up of amateurs __________ professionals; there were men who had played for years as well as men who were still in college.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The hockey team was made up of amateurs __________ professionals; there were men who had played for years as well as men who were still in college.
The correct answer is "and." This is the best choice because the conjunction "and" joins ideas together. The phrase, "men who had played for years as well as men who were still in college" indicates that both types of people were involved, not just one. Some key words are "as well as," a phrase meaning the same thing as "and." For those reasons, the best choice is "and."
The correct answer is "and." This is the best choice because the conjunction "and" joins ideas together. The phrase, "men who had played for years as well as men who were still in college" indicates that both types of people were involved, not just one. Some key words are "as well as," a phrase meaning the same thing as "and." For those reasons, the best choice is "and."
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
When I moved to a new city, I thought I would hate it, _________ I came to see it as a wonderful place.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
When I moved to a new city, I thought I would hate it, _________ I came to see it as a wonderful place.
The best choice is "but." We know that this sentence requires the word "but" because there is a contrast--at first the speaker thought one thing, but then changed her mind. The other options link sentences in different ways that aren't appropriate in this sentence.
The best choice is "but." We know that this sentence requires the word "but" because there is a contrast--at first the speaker thought one thing, but then changed her mind. The other options link sentences in different ways that aren't appropriate in this sentence.
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I am either going to yoga ___________ kickboxing class tonight, both of which take place at 7:00pm.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I am either going to yoga ___________ kickboxing class tonight, both of which take place at 7:00pm.
The correct answer is "or." We know that the speaker is making a choice between two things, and cannot do both activities since they both take place at 7:00pm, which is why the answer is not "and." The conjunctions "but" and "so" do not make sense in this sentence. The best choice is "or."
The correct answer is "or." We know that the speaker is making a choice between two things, and cannot do both activities since they both take place at 7:00pm, which is why the answer is not "and." The conjunctions "but" and "so" do not make sense in this sentence. The best choice is "or."
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I want to go to the movies, ________ my parents won't let me.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I want to go to the movies, ________ my parents won't let me.
The correct answer is "but." In this sentence, the meaning of "but" can be understood the same way as the word "however." This sentence has a contrast--the subject wants to do something but cannot. If the sentence conveyed an alternative we might consider "or" but this sentence does not. The only conjunction that shows this contrast in meaning is "but," so it is the best choice.
The correct answer is "but." In this sentence, the meaning of "but" can be understood the same way as the word "however." This sentence has a contrast--the subject wants to do something but cannot. If the sentence conveyed an alternative we might consider "or" but this sentence does not. The only conjunction that shows this contrast in meaning is "but," so it is the best choice.
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I stayed in the sun too long, _______ I got a sunburn.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
I stayed in the sun too long, _______ I got a sunburn.
The correct answer is "so." The conjunction "so" shows a cause and effect relationship, which is the case in this sentence: the subject was in the sun too long, which caused a sunburn. The word "so" is similar in meaning to the word "therefore." The sentence would not make sense if the other conjunctions ("or", "but", and "for") were placed in the blank. That is why the best choice is "so."
The correct answer is "so." The conjunction "so" shows a cause and effect relationship, which is the case in this sentence: the subject was in the sun too long, which caused a sunburn. The word "so" is similar in meaning to the word "therefore." The sentence would not make sense if the other conjunctions ("or", "but", and "for") were placed in the blank. That is why the best choice is "so."
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A man walked into the bar, placed his straw hat on the chair next to him, flapped his tattered pants with a long, tapered finger, and cooly observed the dining hall. He removed from his billfold seven hundreds, placed them on the counter and asked for a telephone, saying he just needed to make a quick _______________.
A man walked into the bar, placed his straw hat on the chair next to him, flapped his tattered pants with a long, tapered finger, and cooly observed the dining hall. He removed from his billfold seven hundreds, placed them on the counter and asked for a telephone, saying he just needed to make a quick _______________.
Here, a "call" is a thing made with a phone, not the direct verb of the clause. The context that is important here is the phone. "Call" is the only noun listed that is related to a telephone.
Here, a "call" is a thing made with a phone, not the direct verb of the clause. The context that is important here is the phone. "Call" is the only noun listed that is related to a telephone.
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Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence.
Your brother, I am sorry to say, did not pass his driver's ___________.
Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence.
Your brother, I am sorry to say, did not pass his driver's ___________.
The correct answer is "exam." We know from the sentence that the subject was trying to pass something but failed. The nouns "experiment" and "estimation" are not things that can be passed. An "attempt" is a try, and although the subject did try to pass the exam, he was not successful. The best answer is "exam."
The correct answer is "exam." We know from the sentence that the subject was trying to pass something but failed. The nouns "experiment" and "estimation" are not things that can be passed. An "attempt" is a try, and although the subject did try to pass the exam, he was not successful. The best answer is "exam."
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
A tray of plates came crashing down, causing a _____________ in the quiet restaurant.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
A tray of plates came crashing down, causing a _____________ in the quiet restaurant.
The best choice is "disruption;" a word meaning a disturbance or commotion, which is what would occur if someone dropped plates in a quiet restaurant. "Tranquility," meaning an environment of calm, is the opposite of what would happen. "Separation" is a state of being moved apart, as is "break," so both of these choices do not make sense in this sentence. The best choice is "disruption."
The best choice is "disruption;" a word meaning a disturbance or commotion, which is what would occur if someone dropped plates in a quiet restaurant. "Tranquility," meaning an environment of calm, is the opposite of what would happen. "Separation" is a state of being moved apart, as is "break," so both of these choices do not make sense in this sentence. The best choice is "disruption."
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Noon came and went, and stlll, by Jean-Paul's estimates, they were only about half-way done their climb. Their __________ was slower than they'd hoped.
Noon came and went, and stlll, by Jean-Paul's estimates, they were only about half-way done their climb. Their __________ was slower than they'd hoped.
The possessive pronoun their indicates that a noun is needed, so the only two options are progress and progression. Progression is a noun describing the act of progressing, whereas progress (when used as a noun and not a verb) can be used to measure space or distance.
The possessive pronoun their indicates that a noun is needed, so the only two options are progress and progression. Progression is a noun describing the act of progressing, whereas progress (when used as a noun and not a verb) can be used to measure space or distance.
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
____________ have to go to school for many years to get their degrees.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
____________ have to go to school for many years to get their degrees.
The correct answer is "Doctors." This sentence requires a plural noun to agree with the plural pronoun "their" later in the sentence. The other answer choices are all singular, which is why the only answer choice that fits grammatically is "doctors."
The correct answer is "Doctors." This sentence requires a plural noun to agree with the plural pronoun "their" later in the sentence. The other answer choices are all singular, which is why the only answer choice that fits grammatically is "doctors."
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The ___________ had to wash his shirt after spilling coffee all over it.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The ___________ had to wash his shirt after spilling coffee all over it.
The correct answer is "man." We know that we need a singular noun, and also a male because the sentence states "his shirt." The subject of the sentence must agree with the pronoun. Since the other options are plural and/or feminine, they are incorrect.
The correct answer is "man." We know that we need a singular noun, and also a male because the sentence states "his shirt." The subject of the sentence must agree with the pronoun. Since the other options are plural and/or feminine, they are incorrect.
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
His dirty __________ were on the floor by the front door.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
His dirty __________ were on the floor by the front door.
The correct answer is "shoes." This answer is correct because it is plural. We know that we need a plural subject because it has to agree with the plural verb, "were." "Shirt," "shoe," and "backpack" are all singular, so they do not agree with the plural verb "were." That is why the best choice is "shoes."
The correct answer is "shoes." This answer is correct because it is plural. We know that we need a plural subject because it has to agree with the plural verb, "were." "Shirt," "shoe," and "backpack" are all singular, so they do not agree with the plural verb "were." That is why the best choice is "shoes."
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The ________ were in the backyard.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
The ________ were in the backyard.
The correct answer is "cats." This is a plural noun, and we know we need a plural noun because of the plural verb "were." The other options are singular, so they would be incorrect if inserted into this sentence. Therefore, the best choice is "cats."
The correct answer is "cats." This is a plural noun, and we know we need a plural noun because of the plural verb "were." The other options are singular, so they would be incorrect if inserted into this sentence. Therefore, the best choice is "cats."
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Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
___________ have to wear traditional uniforms.
Choose the word that best completes the following sentence.
___________ have to wear traditional uniforms.
The correct answer is "sailors." We know this is the correct answer because it is a plural noun. The subject of the sentence has to be plural because the verb "have to wear" is in plural form. The other options are singular, so they would be grammatically incorrect in this sentence. The best choice is "sailors."
The correct answer is "sailors." We know this is the correct answer because it is a plural noun. The subject of the sentence has to be plural because the verb "have to wear" is in plural form. The other options are singular, so they would be grammatically incorrect in this sentence. The best choice is "sailors."
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Kathy was mad. I had never seen _______________ so mad.
Kathy was mad. I had never seen _______________ so mad.
This question is a simple interrogation of correct pronoun usage. The only possible correct answer is thus "her" since "Kathy" is the object of the second main clause.
This question is a simple interrogation of correct pronoun usage. The only possible correct answer is thus "her" since "Kathy" is the object of the second main clause.
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________________ do you think he'll arrive? Paul's exit interview as scheduled to begin six hours ago, and he has not even called to cancel.
________________ do you think he'll arrive? Paul's exit interview as scheduled to begin six hours ago, and he has not even called to cancel.
This question simply asks you to select the correct interrogative pronoun. Since the question is querying Paul's (suspicious) tardiness with regard to his exit interview, the only possible correct answer is "when."
This question simply asks you to select the correct interrogative pronoun. Since the question is querying Paul's (suspicious) tardiness with regard to his exit interview, the only possible correct answer is "when."
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Shaking ____________ head in disgust, William Gardis, the company's P.R man, explained, once more, that Paul's actions were not reflective of the company's moral fiber.
Shaking ____________ head in disgust, William Gardis, the company's P.R man, explained, once more, that Paul's actions were not reflective of the company's moral fiber.
Here, we are looking for an appropriate pronoun to use in the introductory phrase, one that would avoid a dangling modifier. A dangling modifier occurs when the pronoun used in an introductory clause does not match the subject of the main clause. Since "William Gardis" is the subject of the main clause, the masculine pronoun "his" is the only appropriate choice.
Here, we are looking for an appropriate pronoun to use in the introductory phrase, one that would avoid a dangling modifier. A dangling modifier occurs when the pronoun used in an introductory clause does not match the subject of the main clause. Since "William Gardis" is the subject of the main clause, the masculine pronoun "his" is the only appropriate choice.
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Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
Middle school students are known for being impulsive, and __________ can sometimes be highly disorganized.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
Middle school students are known for being impulsive, and __________ can sometimes be highly disorganized.
"They" is used to refer to the subject of a sentence. This sentence begins with the subject "middle school students," and so we know we need a plural pronoun to fill in the blank. The word "them" is used to refer to objects, not subjects, so it is the wrong choice. "It" and "he" are both singular, so they are incorrect as well.
"They" is used to refer to the subject of a sentence. This sentence begins with the subject "middle school students," and so we know we need a plural pronoun to fill in the blank. The word "them" is used to refer to objects, not subjects, so it is the wrong choice. "It" and "he" are both singular, so they are incorrect as well.
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