LESSON 4: WEATHER 2 – IN-CLASS

READING: Part 6: Text Completion

FOCUS: Using context to choose the correct verb form and meaning
In the TOEIC test you will be asked to distinguish between different verbs as well as different forms of the
same verb. This unit will help you to find clues in the questions and choose the correct answer choice.

1. Language building: Present/Past tense verb forms

1.1. Present tense verb forms
Read the information about verb forms below. Then complete sentences 1-4 by using
the correct present tense form of the verb.
Present simple Present continuous
he/she/it + S am/is/are + verb + ing
(Happens regularly or always true) (Happening right now and not finished yet)
e.g. e.g.
Our summer interns work very hard. I am waiting to see the doctor.
She works in the main office. He is waiting until her birthday to buy the present.
1. They often ............ (play) golf with their customers on Saturday.
2. I was just informed that the parts ............ (still/sit) on the ship waiting to be unloaded.
3. The customer ............ (sign) his name on the insurance form as we speak.
4. Mary ............ (work) as a cashier in the bank on Wilkins Street.

1.2. Past tense verb forms

Read the information about the verb forms below. Then complete sentences 5- 8 by using the correct past tense
form of the verb.
Past simple Past continuous

(+) V-ed or irregular past (-) did not + V (?) was/were + V + -ing
e.g. e.g. (past action that continued for a
I installed the software. The repair person did not fix the period of time when another action
They brought the package yesterday. problem. interrupted it.)
e.g.
They were working in the office
when the power went off.
5. The workers ............ (stand) around waiting for the manager to arrive for over an hour.
6. I ............ (work) in the back when the customer arrived.
7. I ............ (drop) Sally off at the bus stop more than an hour ago.
8. They ............ ............ (not/go) to the conference.
Follow up: With your partner, compare your answers to questions 1-8, and pick out the word (s) in the sentence
that told you what the verb form should be.
2. Test tactic: Use clues to choose the correct word
2.1. Read the text and decide if the missing verb should be in present or past form.

All first-year engineering students (1) .............. the story of Herbert

Mansfield when they enter university. 1 Present Past

Before his invention of the steam converter in 1903, Herbert (2)

.............. as a design engineer for a manufacturing company. 2 Present Past

He (3) .............. in a small, tidy, very average house outside

Billington. 3 Present Past

He (4) .............. at the National Institute before receiving his degree

in engineering. 4 Present Past

It wasn't until several years later that he (5) .............. the invention
that would change the world. 5 Present Past

Many of the most influential scientists still (6) .............. it to be the

greatest breakthrough of the century. 6 Present Past

Currently the city (7) .............. a monument to this very important

individual. 7 Present Past

2.2. Complete the text using the verbs in the box. Did you guess correctly?
made believe lived studied is building worked learn

2.3. Test tips:

· Choose the correct verb form: Some questions provide four options that feature different tenses of the
same verb. Look at the sentence (and the rest of the passage if necessary), then decide what tense is
required, and then choose the correct option.
· Sometimes the sentence may not give enough information to choose the correct answer: In this case look
at the rest of the text to find the correct option. These questions can test both grammatical and
vocabulary knowledge.
3. Tactic practice
Read the sentences for questions 1-3, decide which tense is needed and think of a word that would fit. Compare
your ideas with a partner. Then quickly choose the correct answer.
Questions 1 – 3 refer to the following letter
Re: Diesel generator - Order No. 890008
Dear Mr. Johnson,
I am writing to complain about the large diesel generator that we _________ from you.
1. (A) receive
(B) received
(C) are receiving
(D) to receive
Upon unpacking the equipment, we found the width of the mounting brackets to be almost 8 inches longer
than we had _________. in our design specifications.
2. (A) noted
(B) informed
(C) talked
(D) spoken
These will have to be replaced immediately as the generator must be installed by the end of the week.
Furthermore, the unit was sent without an instruction manual for the main control unit. Please send this out in
the same shipment as the correct mounting bracket.
It is vital that we receive these parts by Tuesday. Late delivery _________ our own installation schedule.
3. (A) affects
(B) affected
(C) will affect
(D) has affected
Yours sincerely,
Thomas Hardings
Director
 LESSON 4: WEATHER 2 – HOMEWORK

1. Look at the sentences below. Look for clues in the sentences around each blank to help you decide
which word is correct.
1. In the winter the mountain trails are icy and dangerous. Travellers are encouraged to move ..............
along the marked paths.
(A) rapidly (B) cheerfully (C) carefully (D) perilously
2. The reports weren't distributed .............. the first part of the presentation. They were made available at
the end.
(A) after (B) while (C) during (D) until
3. After several hours of discussion, the deal was still not signed. The main problem was the ............... Due
to the budget, the purchase would need to be postponed.
(A) quality (B) price (C) size (D) weight
4. It wasn't the largest company. It was .............. one of the most highly respected in the field.
(A) furthermore (B) therefore (C) additionally (D) however

2. Questions 1 – 3 refer to the following letter.

Mr. Robert Cheung
Sea Dragon Shipping
SINGAPORE
120356
March 23
Dear Mr. Cheung,
We have been _________ by one of our clients, Mikra Electronics, Jakarta, of a possible shipping problem.
1. (A) written
(B) reported
(C) informed
(D) said
Specifically, the SS Liberty Star, due to arrive in Jakarta on March 22, _________ to arrive as scheduled.
2. (A) failed
(B) fails
(C) failing
(D) fail
This vessel was carrying a consignment (B/L 8974) for our client; we would like to know why the vessel has
been _________ and when it is expected to arrive.
 3. (A) delayed
(B) replaced
(C) done
(D) repaired
A prompt reply would be appreciated in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Emerson Filho

3. Questions 4 – 6 refer to the following memo.

Memorandum
To: Alvin Kurosawa, Vancouver Branch Manager
From: Melville Bromwich, Accounting Section
Alvin,
I am just _________ to confirm that my colleague Tom Brooks and I will be
4. (A) write
(B) writing
(C) written
(D) to write
in Vancouver at the end of next week for the annual expenses audit. Could you please ask one of your
employees to arrange our accommodation? We are planning to arrive on the 14th and _________ on the 19th.
5. (A) left
(B) leaving
(C) had left
(D) leave
With the changes in deadlines, we are likely to be extremely busy. So _________ I don't think we will be able
6. (A) whereas
(B) therefore
(C) however
(D) moreover
to find time to take in a hockey game as you had previously suggested.
Thanks in advance for any assistance with the hotels. We are looking forward to
seeing you next week.
Yours truly,
Mel
4. Questions 7 – 10 refer to the following email.
Creek and Chung, Accountants
1040 Stone Way
Seattle, Washington 93108-2662
July 12, 20-
Mr. Hugh Ferrer
Unity Health Care
400 East Pine Street
Seattle, Washington 93129-2665
Dear Mr. Ferrer:
We are a mid-sized accounting firm. Our staff members have expressed dissatisfaction
with our current insurance plan, so we are looking into other _________. The
7. (A) employees
(B) positions
(C) activities
(D) options
insurance company we use now has recently raised its rates, while at the same time the quality of service has
gotten worse. Naturally, we are not happy about paying more and more money for poor service.
____________, we are interested in learning more
8. (A) Therefore
(B) However
(C) Moreover
(D) Nevertheless
about Unity Health Care (UHC). Could you please mail a packet of information to me?
____________________________________________________________
9. (A) Most insurance plans offer a variety of options to their clients
(B) I would also appreciate it if you could answer the following questions
C) We have several reasons for changing our insurance
(D) I have outlined the most important points here
First, our employees want to choose their own doctors. Does your program allow this? Second, do your
doctors have weekend and evening hours? Our employees have busy work schedules, and it is not always
____________ for them to go to appointments during regular business hours.
 10. (A) enjoyable
(B) difficult
(C) convenient
(D) interesting
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Human Resources Manager
5. Questions 11 – 14 refer to the following email.
From: Simon Yan
To: Mingmei Lee
Subject: Monday Meeting
Dear Mingmei,
I have to leave town for a business trip_________ there is an emergency in our Singapore office.
11. (A) so
(B) if
(C) as
(D) by
I am sorry that I will have to miss our Monday morning meeting, especially because I am eager to see your
progress on my company's new financial center. This is an important project for National Bank. My
coworker, Hugh Harrison, will _________ me. Hugh plans to look for you
12. (A) escort
(B) replace
(C) assist
(D) accompany
at the construction site at 9:00 A.M. ________________________
13. (A) Please be sure to arrive on time
(B) This is a convenient time and place for both of us
(C) Construction has been going on for quite a while now
(D) You told me that you have some concerns about the project‟s budget
Please talk with Hugh about this. While we don't want to spend a lot of extra money on this building, it is
going to be our company's headquarters and needs to look good. You have an excellent reputation as a
Construction Project Manager, so I'm_______ that you can manage the budget and build a fantastic center for
us at the same time.
14. (A) doubtful
(B) positive
(C) wondering
(D) concerned
I will return one week from today. You can e-mail me until I return. Thank you.