PREPARATION FOR THE TOEIC TEST (9)

PREPARATION FOR THE TOEIC TEST (9)

TEST 1 PART 7 (2)

Part 6 Directions: In this part you will read a selection of texts, such as magazine and newspaper articles, letters, and advertisements. Each text is followed by several questions. Select the best answer to complete the sentence. Then mark the letter (A), (B), (C), or (D) on your answer sheet

Questions 158-160 refer to the following table.

 

158.	What does this table compare? A.    Daily schedules B.    Means of transportation C.    Monthly ridership D.    Riders with drivers	160.	In which month were the buses used least? A.   February B.   May C.   August D.   December
159.	Which month had the highest number of commuters? A.       June B.       July C.       September D.       October

 

Questions 161-164 refer to the following report

The Postal System has announced that postal rates are going up yet again. On the first of the year, the price of a first-class stamp will rise by 8 cents. Express mail and priority mail rates will increase by 20 percent. The rates for third-class mail will also go up, while the special book rate will be entirely eliminated. Special services such as Delivery Confirmation, Return Receipt, and Overnight Delivery will also cost more, and it has even been announced that rental rates on post office mail boxes will increase. Everybody everywhere will be paying more for postal services next year, but one sector will be particularly hard hit. Direct-marketing companies rely on the postal system to carry out their business. These companies include catalog houses as well as sellers of mailing lists. Postal services account for a significant percentage of their costs. Direct-marketing companies say the proposed increases in postal rates will hurt their industry and will likely even drive some into bankruptcy. “Our business is carried out almost entirely through the mail,” says Esther Bergen, president of Mega marketers, Inc., one of the largest direct-marketing companies in the country. “Of course these increases will hurt us. They will have a huge effect on the way we do business.” Direct-marketing companies rely mostly on third-class mail, which is expected to have rate increases as high as 30 percent. Will this mean less junk mail arriving at your doorstep? “Possibly,” says Bergen. “But the more likely outcome is that the smaller companies, which will have more difficulty absorbing the costs of the rate increases, will go under, while the larger companies will stay in business and take over the markets now covered by the smaller companies. There will probably be some increases in prices of mail-order products, but not enough to drive the average consumer away.”

161.	The word “drive” in paragraph 3, line 2, is closest in meaning to A.    force B.    operate C.    transport D.    remove	163.	According to the passage, what rate do most direct-marketing companies use? A.    Book rate B.    First class C.    Third class D.    Proposed rate
162.	According to the passage, who will be most affected by this change? A.        Direct-marketing companies B.        Greeting and manufacturers C.        Postal employees D.        Stamp collectors	164.	What are the catalog houses in this report? A.       Preferred postal clients B.       Direct-marketing companies C.       Financially stable companies D.       First-class mail users

  

ANSWER KEY

158.                      C This table compares the number of commuters and students who ride the bus. Choice (A) is not mentioned. Choice (B) confuses means of transportation with bus. Choice (D) confuses the similar sounds drivers and riders. 159.                      B July had the most commuters. Choice (A) has the highest number of student riders. Choice (C) and (D) have lower numbers of riders. 160.                      D The buses were used least in December. Choices (A), (B), and (C) have higher numbers of riders. 161.                      A The rise on postal rates will force some companies to go into bankruptcy. Choices (B) and (C) are confused with another meaning of drive – to operate a vehicle. Choices (D) does not fit the context. 162.                      A The direct-marketing companies say the proposal postal rate increase will hurt industry and drive some of them into bankruptcy. Choices (B) is not mentioned. Choice (C) associates postal employees with postal rates; postal employees might be slightly affected by complaining customers. Choice (D) is not mentioned. 163.                      C Most direct-marketing companies use third class. Choice (A) confuses book rate and catalog. Choice (B) confuses first class with the rise in first-class postage rates. Choice (D) is the possible rise of third-class postage. 164.                      B A catalog house is a direct-marketing company, meaning that it markets products directly to the consumer by mail instead of advertising with a third party. Choice (A) confuses postal clients with postal rate. Choice (C) associates financially stable company with bankruptcy. Choice 9D) is incorrect because catalog houses use third-class mail