TOEIC : Context-based completions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for TOEIC

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

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:

re-hired to

given a number of options within

promoted 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 #2 : Context Based Completions

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

Possible Answers:

have been

have not been

was not

was

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 #3 : Context Based Completions

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

Possible Answers:

decreased

vanished

risen

fallen

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:

amplify

encourage

counteract

increase

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:

also

unfortunately

therefore

however

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. 

Example Question #7 : Context Based Completions

Choose the word that best completes this sentence.

Although Mary was sociable and talkative, her daughter was rather _________________

Possible Answers:

fun-loving

disobedient

unhappy

shy

Correct answer:

shy

Explanation:

The correct answer is "shy." We know that the blank space should be a word with the opposite meaning as "sociable and talkative" because of the word "although," which suggests a contrast, or opposite. The words "fun-loving," "disobedient," and "unhappy" do not have the opposite meaning of "sociable and talkative," so they are incorrect choices.

Example Question #8 : Context Based Completions

Choose the word that correctly completes this sentence.

The _______________ was situated on a large plot of land in a rural county. From it, the sound of roosters crowing could be heard. 

Possible Answers:

shop

school 

farm 

factory

Correct answer:

farm 

Explanation:

The best choice is the word "farm." The context clues that help us with this question include the words  "rural", "roosters", and "large plot of land". These clues, when placed together, lend themselves most closely to a farm--not a factory, school, or shop. 

Example Question #9 : Context Based Completions

Choose the word that best completes this sentence

Despite his stylish clothing and __________ car, in reality, Stephen was actually struggling to pay his bills and was deeply in debt.

Possible Answers:

luxury

practical

casual

dilapidated 

Correct answer:

luxury

Explanation:

The correct answer is "luxury." This question presents a contrast, as we can tell from the words "despite" and "actually," and so we need to find a word that suggests an opposite. Stephen's clothes and car are at odds with his lack of finances, and so the best choice is "luxury" because having a luxurious car means that it is expensive. Practical, and dilapidated would all mean that his car was either a responsible choice or very cheap, whereas casual is not a good descriptive word for a car. 

Example Question #5 : Context Based Completions

Choose the word that best completes this sentence

Puppies are very needy when they are first born; similarly, kittens are quite _____________ as well. 

Possible Answers:

independent

clever

dependent

fierce

Correct answer:

dependent

Explanation:

The correct answer is "dependent." We know we are looking for a word similar in meaning to "quite needy" because the sentence has signaled that we are reading a comparison with the word, "similarly." "Dependent" means requiring the help of something or someone else, which makes sense in this context. "Independent" has the opposite meaning of "quite needy", and "fierce" or "clever" would imply that the kittens are more independent as well, while also not being good synonyms with the phrase "quite needy."

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors