TOEIC : Identifying word choice errors
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Identifying Word Choice Errors
Because you have been with the company for one year, your lunch breaks will decrease from half an hour to a full hour starting in August.
Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?
been
decrease
your
starting
decrease
The lunch break time is going from half an hour to a full hour, so the word "decrease" is incorrect. The correct word is "increase."
Example Question #2 : Identifying Word Choice Errors
The entire company is required to attend a meeting in which the CEO will discuss last year's losses and how they will effect the current year.
Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?
entire
discuss
attend
effect
effect
"Effect" is incorrect because it is a noun. The sentence needs a verb. The correct word is "affect."
Example Question #3 : Identifying Word Choice Errors
Although we will not have to let anyone go, the company does not have sufficient resources to fire more employees this year.
Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?
although
fire
sufficient
anyone
fire
The sentence says that the company "will not have to let anyone go," meaning they will not have to fire anyone. Therefore, the word "fire" should actually be the word "hire."
Example Question #4 : Identifying Word Choice Errors
You need to start arriving to work on time because recently you have been arriving late too infrequently.
Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?
arriving
recently
on time
infrequently
infrequently
The problem is that the person is arriving to work late too often. Therefore, the word "infrequently" should actually say "frequently."
Example Question #5 : Identifying Word Choice Errors
Just a reminder that the information discussed in this meeting is confidential, so you must not share it with everyone.
Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?
everyone
reminder
discussed
share
everyone
The information in the meeting is confidential, meaning it should not be shared. Therefore, the incorrect word in the sentence is "everyone." It should say "anyone."
Example Question #6 : Identifying Word Choice Errors
If you are a new employee, you must skip orientation this week. If you have worked for us for longer than two months, you will not be required to attend.
Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?
this
required
skip
attend
skip
It is logical that new employees would be required to attend orientation. Therefore, the incorrect word is "skip." It should say "attend."
Example Question #7 : Identifying Word Choice Errors
In order to ensure that there will be enough money in the account to pay the bills next week, John needs to withdraw the checks at the bank as soon as possible.
Which of the underlined words above is incorrect?
ensure
enough
possible
withdraw
withdraw
Because there is not enough money in the account, John needs to "deposit" the checks in order to add money to the account, not "withdraw" them, which would remove more money from the account.
Example Question #8 : Identifying Word Choice Errors
I like all flavors of ice cream accept strawberry.
How should this sentence be re-written?
I like all flavors of ice cream beside strawberry.
I like all flavors of ice cream except strawberry.
I like all flavors of ice cream with the acception of strawberry.
No error
I like all flavors of ice cream except strawberry.
The correct answer is "I like all flavors of ice cream except strawberry." The error in the original sentence is with the commonly mistaken words accept and except. Accept is a verb that means to agree with or to allow, and except is an a preposition that means "apart from." This sentence requires the word with the latter meaning. Acception is not a word; the correct spelling is exception. Also, "I like all flavors of ice cream beside strawberry" is incorrect because the word beside needs an s ("besides").
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