TOEIC : Sentence Completion

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for TOEIC

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Example Questions

Example Question #6 : Logic Based Sentence Completions

I should have gone to cooking school. I ____________ have been a great cook.

Possible Answers:

should 

could

make

would

Correct answer:

would

Explanation:

This sentence talks about an imaginary situation. When talking about imaginary situations, would is the correct verb to use. "Could" is used when talking about past abilities, and "should" is used when giving advice. "Make" means to form something.

Example Question #7 : Logic Based Sentence Completions

After deciding the time, date, and location of the meeting, I was tired of _______________ all the decisions.

Possible Answers:

taking

writing

making

doing 

Correct answer:

making

Explanation:

The verb "make" is used when speaking about decisions. "Take" means to accept or receive. "Do" is used with non-specific activities. "Writing" means to put something on paper. Since this question talks about the decisions made, "make" is the only correct answer. 

Example Question #1 : Logic Based Sentence Completions

I had a long weekend. I don't plan to _____________ anything this weekend.

Possible Answers:

make

do

write

eat

Correct answer:

do

Explanation:

Since the sentence speaks of any activity and is not specific, the only correct answer is "do." "Do" is used when speaking about non-specific activities. 

Example Question #41 : Sentence Completion

I wanted to go to the movies with my friends, _________________ I couldn't afford it.

Possible Answers:

and

but

None of these

so

Correct answer:

but

Explanation:

But is correct because it is used to state contradictions. So means "in a way that is stated or suggested." And is used when joining groups of words. But is the correct answer in this sentence because the sentence talks about how the speaker wants to go with friends but there is a contradiction because the speaker can not afford to go to the movies. 

Example Question #1 : Context Based Completions

We regret to inform you that, after only a single day of employment, Paul Williamsonbergfriend has been _________________  his position with the company.

Possible Answers:

given a number of options within

promoted to

re-hired to

terminated from

Correct answer:

terminated from

Explanation:

The best answer here both correctly uses the idiomatic construction "terminated from" (not "to" or "for"), while aligning with the tone of the sentence. Since the speaker "regrets to inform" about the news, we know that the news is bad.

Example Question #44 : Sentence Completion

All of the packages _______________ shipped out successfully, so our clients will receive them tomorrow. 

Possible Answers:

was not

was

have not been

have been

Correct answer:

have been

Explanation:

"Have been" is correct because the fact that the clients will receive the packages tomorrow implies that the packages were shipped successfully. Furthermore, "have been" is grammatically correct with the subject (the packages).

Example Question #1 : Context Based Completions

Fortunately, over the past 12 months, the popularity of our product has __________ steadily. 

Possible Answers:

decreased

risen

fallen

vanished

Correct answer:

risen

Explanation:

"Risen" is the correct choice, because the sentence says that the events are fortunate, which means that they are good. In this case, the only good outcome is for the popularity of the product to rise. 

Example Question #2 : Context Based Completions

Our goal is to come up with a new advertising campaign that will help _________ some of the damage done by the lawsuit. Hopefully it will help our product to regain popularity. 

Possible Answers:

counteract

increase

encourage

amplify

Correct answer:

counteract

Explanation:

If the lawsuit did damage to the product's popularity, and the goal of the new advertising campaign is to increase the product's popularity again, the lawsuit aims to "counteract" the damage done by the lawsuit. 

Example Question #3 : Context Based Completions

The seminars that our employees are required to attend present the newest advances in our field. We require attendance because we like our employees to stay ____________ the latest ideas. 

Possible Answers:

opposed to 

ignorant of

on top to

up to date on

Correct answer:

up to date on

Explanation:

Employees are required to attend these seminars because the company wants them to know about the latest ideas. In other words, the company wants them to stay "up to date on" the latest ideas. 

"On top to" is almost correct. The phrase "on top of" would be correct in this sentence, but because "on top to" is not the proper phrase, the only correct answer is "up to date on."

Example Question #4 : Context Based Completions

Many companies discourage working from home; ________, we encourage it if you feel it will make you more productive. 

Possible Answers:

unfortunately

however

therefore

also

Correct answer:

however

Explanation:

"However" is the missing word that links the two parts of the sentence. It is correct because the idea of the first clause (most companies discourage working from home) is the opposite of the idea of the second clause (we encourage it if you feel it will make you more productive). In other words, "however" implies that even though most companies discourage working from home, this company still encourages it. 

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