TACTICS FOR TOEIC

Unit 13
Reading Test Part 6 – Text Completion
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
Reading Test
Unit 13
Part 6 Text Completion
FOCUS: Choosing the correct part of speech: adjectives and adverbs
Some questions in the TOEIC test will ask you to choose the correct part of speech. Learning to identify appropriate uses of
adjectives and adverbs can help improve your score. This unit helps raise your awareness of how these words are formed
and used.
1 Language building: Adjective and adverb endings
Test Tip The sentence below use some common adjective and adverb endings found in the TOEIC test.
Learn suffixes to Choose the correct adjective and adverb to complete each sentence.
help you identify 1. We selected this hotel because the rooms are …….…… (comfortable/ comfortably)
adjectives and 2. We have …….……problems in our Tokyo office. (seriously/seriously)
adverbs.
Some questions on the 3. New recruits are expected to listen …….……during training. (attentive/attentively)
TOEIC test require you 4. Our sales have been …….……good in the last three months. (consistent/consistently)
to select an appropriate
adjective or adverb. 5. The response to the new commercial has been …….……. (wonderful/wonderfully)
Learning common 6. The contract …….……stated that delivery would be free. (specific/specifically)
suffixes will help you to
identify these types of
words. Follow up: With a partner think of two three other words for each of the adjective and adverb
endings below.
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
Adjectives
-able (-ible)
Grammar
Notes -ous
Adjectives often -ive
follow the verb to
be or other verbs -ent (ant)
related to senses -ful
(look, smell, etc).
The food is -ic
terrible.|
It tastes delicious. Adverbs
-ly

Now choose two of the words from the chart above and make sentences (either true or false)
about someone or something in the room. Read your sentence to your partner and see if they
agree or not..

Example:
A. Min Joon always studies English very carefully.
B. I don’t really think so.
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
2 Test Tactic: Be aware of correct comparative and superlative forms.
Test Tip A. Look at some examples of common comparative and superlative forms.

Understand the use … as high as the market will support.

of comparative and
superlative forms of
… more difficult than we first expected.
adjectives. … the cheapest product.\
Knowing how these are … his/their/my greatest problem.\
formed can help you
choose the right … the most important thing.
answer.
Use the examples above to help you choose the best word to complete the sentences.
1. The ………….(good/better/best) thing about the offer is the price.
2. This system uses the ………….(advanced/more advanced/most advanced) technology on the
market.
3. This department may not be as ………….(big/bigger/biggest) as some of the others, but its
budget is much ………….(large/larger/the largest).
4. They are our ………….(important/more important/most important) customers by far.
5. The old distributor’s delivery was very much ………….(fast/faster/fastest) than the new one.
6. Most attendees felt the first presenter was ………….(informative/most informative/more
informative) than the second one.
Follow up: Compare your answers with a partner. If you have any different answers, tell your
partner why you choose you answer.
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
B. With your partner, make comparative and superlative sentences about the means of
transportation below.

Example:
A. train isn’t as fast as an airplane.
Buses are cheaper than trains.

car train ship airplane motorcycle

(fast, cheap/expensive, convenient, etc.)
Tactics
Checklist
 Identify adjectives 3 Test Tactic:
and adverbs by
looking at their Use the tactics you have practiced to answer the following questions.
suffixes.
 Become familiar Questions 1 – 3 refer to the following article.
with how
comparatives and
superlatives are
formed.
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion

Highly are among the many triumphs of man’s courage and spirit is Walter Drake’s and Olivier Vogel’s ………………..
1. (A) amazement
(B) amazing
(C) amazingly
(D) amazed
Climb to the summit of Mount Everest without oxygen tanks in 1967.

Although several attempts to climb Everest without additional oxygen had been made in the past, non had been
successful. Drake and Vogel began moving cautiously up the south ridge towards the summit, which they reached
after grueling climb at 10:30. They lingered ……………….. on the summit and then began the tiring climb down the
2. (A) highly
(B) shortly
(C) briefly
(D) quickly

Mountain. They said it was the ……………….. test of endurance they had ever experienced.
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
Mini Test
Now apply the Test tactics at the actual test speed with questions 1 – 12.
Recommended Time: 9 minutes (or less)
Try using the 2-pass method to help you make the most of the time available. Try to spend no more
than about 30 – 45 seconds on each item. If you don’t know the answer, guess and move on.
Questions 1 – 3 refer to the following letter.

Classic Film Archive Coming Soon

National Pictures has recently announced the re-release of some of the most famous films of the 1930s
and 1940s, including Corsini’s Roma Viva Roma, the original 1937 version of The Angry Man, and the
classic Drums Along The Zambezi. These are some of the most respected and talked-about films of the
……………………days of talking pictures.
1. (A) early
(B) final
(C) happy
(D) long
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion

National Pictures reported that the original prints have been re-mastered and ………………..restored to
2. (A) care
(B) careful
(C) carefully
(D) caring
modern digital standards by experienced film technicians to maintain the charm and flavor of the
original prints. More information on these, and other films from National Pictures can be found on their
Web site, along with screen shots and ordering details. To access the complete ………………..of restored
3. (A) cost
(B) sample
(C) movie
(D) catalog

films, and order your own set, log on to www.nationalclassics.com today.

Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
Questions 4 – 6 refer to the following letter.

Dear Mr. Phanom,

Thank you very much for your interest in becoming a dealer for our “Iron Duke” mountain bike. As you
are probably aware, this is our latest model, and is by far the …………………..we have ever built.
4. (A) strong
(B) stronger
(C) strongest
(D) strongly

We believe it is this proven durability, along with its stylish design, that has allowed it to quickly gain
such popularity ………………the cycling community.
5.(A) within
(B) into
(C) about
(D) of

In answer to your question regarding how the Iron Duke has done in Asia, I can tell you that all of our
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
retail partners there have reported that this year’s sales of the model have been …………………… In fact,
6. (A) impressive
(B) worrying
(C) disappointing
(D) encouraged

Some of our dealers managed to sell their entire stock in the first month after delivery.

I am including a full dealer reference package. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any
further questions or would like to place an order.

Yours sincerely,

Wallace Minkly
Asia Sales Representative
Avenger Cycle
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
Questions 7 – 9 refer to the following letter.

Dear Oleg,

I am writing to let you know that on July 17 we are going be having a party to celebrate the launch of our new
GX99 line of mobile phones. This …………………….held in the Ambassador Room in the Dolton Grand hotel.
7. (A) is
(B) had even
(C) was
(D) will be

If you are free on this evening I would be very happy if you could join us. Your help in promoting the GX50
series was invaluable and we expect that with your input, the new line will be even ………………successful than
last year. 8. (A) extra
(B) very
(C) more
(D) most
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion

I really hope you will be able to make the party as I expect that it will be an impressive one. In
………………….. case, I will give you a call next week to set up a meeting to finalize the designs for the
9. (A) no
(B) any
(C) every
(D) some

January campaign.

Best regards and talk to you soon,

Miles
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
Questions 10 – 12 refer to the following letter.

Dear Bamaby,
I have just returned from my visit to the Taiwan office and I must say I am impressed with the local
marketing team. They are all very motivated and …………………..about the new line of evening
10. (A) enthusiasm
(B) enthusiast
(C) enthusiastic
(D) enthusiastically
wear from our Paris collection.

One issue did arise regarding the details of sales plan. I think we may want to move more ……………on the
11. (A) quick
(B) quickly
(C) quicker
(D) quickness

introduction than we had originally planned.

Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion

We have information that our largest competitor has als gone with darker and more conservative
pattern this year. I am worried that this will make both product lines seem very …………………..
12. (A) modern
(B) expensive
(C) innovative
(D) similar

We know they generally debut their line in May. As our image is based upon setting trends and being
unique, I think we should push our release date up to March. Please consider this option and let’s
discuss it more fully when we meet on Monday.

Mikako
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
Grammar Practice
Adjectives and adverbs
A. Look at the gaps in the sentences below and decide whether they require an adjective or adverb. Then select
the best word of the correct type from the list on the right.
1. John has ……………..had the best sales record for the
last 5 years. a. Specifically
2. The print shop downwards is quite expensive, but
it is certainly …………………... . b. Precise
3. Swiss watches are famous for their …………………….
Timekeeping. a. Consistently
4. The manager……………………. Displayed the trophy his
branch had won for having the best sales record. d. Proudly
5. That company is famous for finding …………………..
Solutions to difficult problems. e. innovative
6. All new staff are ………………told not to make personal
phone calls using the company line. f. Convenient

B. Choose four adjectives or adverbs from the list in Activity A and use them to write new sentences.
Then test your classmates to see if they can choose the right words.
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
A. Change the words to the correct form (if necessary) in order to complete the sentences.

1. Diamonds are much ……………………… than rubies. (expensive)

2. Many countries would like to have the ……………………… building in the world. (tall)
3. The new apartment wasn’t as ……………………… as the advertisement had claimed. (big)
4. The summit of Mt. Everest is the ……………………… place on earth. (high)
5. That company was ………………………for its low prices than for the quality of its products. (famous)
6. Many people believe that a pound of leads is ……………………… than a pound of feathers. (heavy)

B. Write four more sentences about yourself, your family, or your country. Compare your sentences with
your classmates.
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
Quiz 12
1. Compare the sentences with the following words.
comfortable consistently convenient
gruelling highly invaluable
restored serious

1. It’s not ………………..for me to travel tomorrow. I have a lot of meetings

2. Paul’s ………………… motivated. He started work at 6 o’ clock this morning.
3. We couldn’t have done it without you. Your help has been …………………..
4. Rising prices are a ……………….. Problem at the moment.
5. The beds in the hotel are very ………………..
6. Ms. Howard’s work performance has ………………..improved.
7. It was a ………………….three-day journey.
8. The dameae piano has finally been …………………….
Tactics for TOEIC – Text Completion
2.Choose the correct word..

1. The difficult climb tested the men’s ………………………

(A) triumph (B) struggle (C) endurance
2. The successful takeover was a ..................for the company.
(A) harshness (B) triumph (C) comfortable
3. The manager thanked his team for their invaluable ...................
(A) durability (B) input (C) rival
4. The project is difficult, so we’ll continue .................. .
(A) cautiously (B) highly (C) eagerly
5. I listed .................. To what my colleague said.
(A) attentively (B) strictly (C) wonderfully
6. A new air conditioning system is being .................. today.
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Tactics for TOEIC

Reading Test
Unit 14
Part 7 Reading Comprehension