Who is this book for?
This book is for students preparing for the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) and covers vocabulary and grammar useful for the business environment. It can be used as part of a TOEIC test preparation course in the classroom or for extra practice or review at home. Students who are not preparing for the TOEIC tests but want to review grammar and extend their vocabulary will also find this book useful.
How are the units organized?
The book consists of 25 units and 5 practice tests. There is a practice test section after every 5 units. Each unit presents and practices both the grammar and vocabulary within the context of a work-related topic. The units are divided into four parts:
A. Context listening
This section introduces the vocabulary and grammar of each unit in context. It will help you to understand the grammar and vocabulary more easily.
B. Grammar
This section is a review of important grammar points. Read through this section before you do the exercises. You can also refer back to this section when you are doing the exercises.
C. Grammar exercises
This section provides grammar practice. Write your answers to the exercises and check your work using the answer key.
D. Vocabulary
This section introduces the vocabulary for the topic in a “key vocabulary” paragraph. The paragraph is followed by exercises for vocabulary practice. You can check your answers using the answer key.
Test practice sections
At the end of every five units, there is a test practice section. The tests are in the format used in the TOEIC test. The combined test practice sections make up one complete TOEIC Listening test, one complete TOEIC Reading test, two complete TOEIC Speaking tests, and two complete TOEIC Writing tests.
Each test practice section is accompanied by a grammar focus task and a vocabulary focus task. These are designed to raise your awareness of the way grammar and vocabulary are used in the TOEIC test.
Using the speaking practice test sections
Use the speaking practice test questions to practice the kinds of questions presented on the TOEIC Speaking test. The questions give you the opportunity to practice your oral skills. Focus on speaking clearly and using vocabulary and grammar accurately. If possible, you should record your answers so that a friend or teacher can give you their comments.
Using the writing practice test sections
Use the writing practice test questions to practice the kinds of questions presented on the TOEIC Writing test. The questions give you the opportunity to practice your writing skills. Focus on organizing your ideas and using vocabulary and grammar accurately. If possible, you should have a friend or teacher read your work and give you their comments.
Recording Scripts
The recording scripts for all the context listening sections and the listening practice tests are included. Look at the scripts after you answer the questions. Practice your listening skills by playing the recording again while you read the script. Practice your speaking skills by listening to the recording and pausing it to repeat what you have heard.
Online Practice Tests
Two complete online practice TOEIC tests are available: the Practice TOEIC Test for Listening and Reading and the Practice TOEIC Test for Speaking and Writing. A guide to the scoring for the TOEIC Speaking and Writing test is also available.
The TOEIC Listening and Reading test
This test is a paper and pencil test using a multiple-choice format. It lasts approximately 2 hours with 45 minutes for Listening and 75 minutes for Reading. You will need another 30 minutes for completing forms containing needed biographical information.
Listening Comprehension: 100 items
- Part 1: Photographs – 10 items
- Part 2: Question-Response – 30 items
- Part 3: Conversations – 30 items (10 conversations with 3 questions each)
- Part 4: Short talks – 30 items (10 talks with 3 questions each)
Reading Comprehension: 100 items
- Part 5: Incomplete Sentences – 40 items
- Part 6: Text Completion – 12 items (4 texts with 3 items each)
- Part 7: Simple Passages – 28 items (7–10 texts with 2–5 questions each)
- Double Passages – 20 items (4 pairs of texts with 5 questions per pair)
The TOEIC Speaking and Writing test
This test is an internet-based test in which your responses to the tasks are recorded for scoring. You have approximately 20 minutes for the Speaking test and 60 minutes for the Writing test.
Speaking Test: 11 items
- Questions 1–2: Read a text aloud
- Question 3: Describe a picture
- Questions 4–6: Respond to a question
- Questions 7–9: Respond to questions using information provided
- Question 10: Propose a solution
- Question 11: Express an opinion
Writing Test: 8 items
- Questions 1–5: Write a sentence based on a picture
- Questions 6–7: Respond to a written request
- Question 8: Write an opinion essay
Word forms
A. Context listening
1
A temporary position is open at MacNulty’s Chocolate Factory. You are going to hear two people at an interview. Before you listen, look at the picture and answer these questions.
- Which person in the picture is the interviewer?
- Which person in the picture is the candidate?
- What job is the candidate applying for?
2
Listen and check if you were right.
3
Listen again and fill in the blanks.
- You’re the applicant for the secretarial job, right?
- Your resume certainly is impressive.
- Your last employer was very pleased with you.
- He says you are reliable, hard working, and efficient.
- I’m a little surprised you haven’t applied for a permanent job.
- You see, my background and qualifications are in theater.
- It was called “The Over-Graduate.”
- You played the part of the secretary with such confidence.
4
Compare the following pairs of answers from Exercise 3.
a. Look at answers 1 and 5, 2 and 3, 4 and 8, and 6 and 7. What is similar about each pair?
b. In each pair, what parts of speech are the two words?
- noun
- verb
- adjective
- adverb
5
Match the two parts of the common phrases you heard in the conversation.
- permanent — job
- employment — agency
- cover — letter
- over — qualified
B. Grammar
1. Word forms
A word may have more than one form depending on what part of speech it is. Look at the different forms of the word compete.
- We compete with several companies. (verb)
- Our competition in this field is growing. (noun)
- We are in a competitive market. (adjective)
- We must think competitively. (adverb)
2. Noun forms
Nouns refer to things, people, places, etc. They function as subjects or objects. Nouns often use suffixes such as -er / -or, -ess, -ic, -ist, -ian, -ion / -ation, -ment, -ness, -ity, -acy, -age, -ance, -ant, -dom, -hood, -ism, -ary, -ship.
3. Verb forms
Verbs show states or actions. Verb forms change with subject and tense. Verb suffixes include -ize, -ate, -en, -ify.
4. Adjective forms
Common adjective suffixes include -able, -ful, -ish, -ive, -less, -ous, -y. Some verbs can make adjectives with endings -ed (feeling) and -ing (cause of feeling).
5. Adverb forms
Adverbs describe actions. Common suffixes include -ly, -ward, -wise.
C. Grammar exercises
1
Label the words in the box: V (verb), N (noun), Adj (adjective), Adv (adverb). Some words can belong to more than one category.
- application
- beneficial
- employment
- enthusiastically
- experienced
- impressively
- interview
- manageable
- qualify
- require
- successful
- suitably
2
Use the words from exercise 1 to complete the columns below. Not all words have all word forms and some have more than one.
| noun | verb | adjective | adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| application | apply | applied | — |
| … | … | … | … |
3
Underline the adjective or adverb that completes each sentence.
- The decision was enthusiastically welcomed.
- Hiring more people is economically impossible.
- Have you found a suitable candidate?
- The person chosen has not been officially informed.
- The second interviewee was extremely polite.
- Our project has been completed successfully.
4
Fill in the blank with the correct adjective form of the verb.
- The book gave a fascinating account…
- If you are excited about the job…
- You will find working at Blink’s a challenging experience.
- The rise in sales is an encouraging development.
- I was amazed that our shopping cart was so successful.
- The documentary was very interesting.
- I will be very annoyed if Henri arrives late again.
5
Rewrite questions using the underlined word to form a verb.
- When have you found a solution to a difficult problem?
→ When have you solved a difficult problem? - What was your motivation to apply for this position?
- When did you get your qualifications to become an accountant?
- What do you consider a challenge?
- What have some of your accomplishments been so far?
6
Respond to interview questions using another form of the italicized word.
- Why did you decide to apply for this job?
→ Actually, it was a very easy decision for me… - Give some examples of your success in a team.
- What are your short-term and long-term plans?
- Why should we employ you?
- What motivates you in a job?