TOEIC : TOEIC

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for TOEIC

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Choose the correct revision for the following sentence.

I will go on a cruise, if I win the lottery

Possible Answers:

I will go on a cruise if I have won the lottery. 

I will, go on a cruise, if I win the lottery. 

Ill go on a cruise if I win the lottery. 

I will go on a cruise if I win the lottery. 

Correct answer:

I will go on a cruise if I win the lottery. 

Explanation:

The correct answer is, "I will go on a cruise if I win the lottery." There should not be commas in this sentence since the clause, "if I win the lottery" is essential to the meaning of the sentence. Without this clause, the sentence has a different meaning. The contraction for "I will" must have an apostrophe ("I'll"). We also need to be consistent with verb tense, which is why "I will go on a cruise if I have won the lottery " is incorrect. 

Example Question #4 : Error Recognition

James White has two dogs. One is a Newfoundland dog, and the other is a Scotch terrier. The Newfoundland is a large noble fellow. He is black, with a white spot, and with long, shaggy hair. His name is Sport.

Adapted from McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader William Holmes McGuffey (1879)

Which of the following sentences from the passage contains a punctuation error?

Possible Answers:

One is a Newfoundland dog, and the other is a Scotch terrier

James White has two dogs

The Newfoundland is a large noble fellow

His name is Sport

Correct answer:

The Newfoundland is a large noble fellow

Explanation:

The correct answer is "The Newfoundland is a large noble fellow." This sentence is punctuated incorrectly because when there are two adjectives in a list, they should be separated with a comma. This sentence should read, "The Newfoundland is a large, noble fellow." All of the other choices are punctuated correctly. 

Example Question #5 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Which of the following sentences contains an error in punctuation?

 

Possible Answers:

"Harry please come look at this immediately!"

"Please come look at this immediately, Harry!"

"Harry, please come look at this immediately!"

(no error)

Correct answer:

"Harry please come look at this immediately!"

Explanation:

The correct answer is "Harry please come look at this immediately!" This sentence is incorrect because it lacks a comma after the name, Harry. Since the speaker is addressing him, his name needs to be set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

Example Question #1 : Error Recognition

Which of the following sentences contains an error in punctuation?

Possible Answers:

When I was in second grade I broke my arm. 

I fell on the playground, and I broke my arm. 

When I was in second grade, I broke my arm. 

I broke my arm when I was in second grade. 

Correct answer:

When I was in second grade I broke my arm. 

Explanation:

The correct answer is, "When I was in second grade I broke my arm." This sentence is incorrectly punctuated because it lacks a comma after the word grade. When a sentence begins with a dependent clause, such as "when I was in second grade," it requires a comma to set it apart from the independent clause. If the dependent clause comes second in the sentence, it does not require a comma. The other choices are correctly punctuated. 

Example Question #6 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Which of the following sentences contains an error in punctuation?

Possible Answers:

Elephants, my favorite animals, are in danger of extinction.

Elephants are my favorite animals, but the are in danger of extinction. 

Elephants are in danger of extinction. 

Elephants my favorite animals are in danger of extinction. 

Correct answer:

Elephants my favorite animals are in danger of extinction. 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "Elephants my favorite animals are in danger of extinction." This sentence is incorrectly punctuated because the phrase "my favorite animals" is a non-essential clause that appears in the middle of the sentence, so it needs to be set off with two commas. Since there are no commas in the sentence, it is incorrect. The other sentences are all punctuated correctly. 

Example Question #1 : Error Recognition

Which of the following sentences contains an error in punctuation?

Possible Answers:

Mary, please stop hitting your brother. 

Please stop hitting your brother. 

Please stop hitting your brother, Mary. 

Mary please stop hitting your brother. 

Correct answer:

Mary please stop hitting your brother. 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "Mary stop hitting your brother." This sentence is contains an error in punctuation because the name Mary needs to be followed by a comma. Whenever someone is being directly addressed, and their name is used, the writer needs to separate the name with a comma. The other answer choices are correctly punctuated. 

Example Question #11 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?

Possible Answers:

William, my oldest cousin, is getting married in October.

William my oldest cousin is getting married in October.

William, my oldest cousin is getting married in October.

William my oldest cousin, is getting married in October.

Correct answer:

William, my oldest cousin, is getting married in October.

Explanation:

The correct answer is "William, my oldest cousin, is getting married in October." This sentence correctly punctuates the phrase "my oldest cousin," setting it apart with two commas, as is required when placing non-essential clauses in the middle of a sentence. One or no commas is incorrect, which is why "William, my oldest cousin, is getting married in October" is the only correct answer. 

Example Question #12 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Which of the following sentences contain an error in punctuation?

Possible Answers:

My best friends are Sarah Katie and Mike. 

I went to the mall, tried on a dress, and bought a pair of shoes. 

She eats chicken and turkey, but not beef. 

The best months are April, May, and June. 

Correct answer:

My best friends are Sarah Katie and Mike. 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "My best friends are Sarah Katie and Mike." This is the correct choice because it contains an error in punctuation: when writing a list, each item needs to be separated by a comma, so there should be commas after the names Sarah and Katie. Each of the other sentences is correctly punctuated. 

Example Question #13 : Identifying Punctuation Errors

Which of the following sentences contain an error in punctuation?

Possible Answers:

Whenever Greg goes walking, he wears his athletic shoes. 

Unless there is an emergency please do not get out of your seat. 

Before you leave, can I ask you a question?

Because it was sunny, I needed my sunglasses. 

Correct answer:

Unless there is an emergency please do not get out of your seat. 

Explanation:

The correct answer is "Unless there is an emergency please do not get out of your seat." This is the only sentence that contains an error in punctuation--there should be a comma after the word emergency. The phrase "unless there is an emergency" is a dependent clause beginning with a subordinating conjunction (unless), and since it comes at the beginning of the sentence, there must be a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence. The rest of the sentences are correctly punctuated. 

Example Question #151 : Toeic

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?

Possible Answers:

your

starting

decrease

been 

Correct answer:

decrease

Explanation:

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."

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