This week focuses on formal business vocabulary — verbs that appear repeatedly in TOEIC. Many are formal alternatives to simple words: 'request' instead of 'ask', 'notify' instead of 'tell', 'acquire' instead of 'get'. Learn these pairs and you will gain points in both Part 5 and Part 7.
1
All employees are required to ------- the HR department of any change in personal contact details.
(A) tell(B) say(C) notify(D) speak
2
The company hopes to ------- a new office building in the financial district next year.
(A) get(B) acquire(C) buy(D) take
3
The legal team will ------- the contract terms before the agreement is signed.
(A) look at(B) check(C) review(D) see
4
We would like to ------- your attention to the revised schedule attached to this email.
(A) bring(B) pull(C) give(D) draw
5
The supplier agreed to ------- the price after lengthy negotiations with our purchasing team.
(A) lower(B) reduce(C) cut down(D) decrease
6
The IT department will ------- the new security software on all company computers next week.
(A) put(B) place(C) install(D) set
7
Please ------- the attached form and return it to the administration office by Thursday.
(A) full(B) fill out(C) complete(D) both B and C
8
The company will ------- a new employee assistance programme beginning in January.
(A) start(B) begin(C) launch(D) open
9
The conference organiser asked all presenters to ------- their slide decks by the end of the week.
(A) send(B) submit(C) give(D) bring
10
The manager agreed to ------- the meeting until all key stakeholders were available.
(A) delay(B) push back(C) postpone(D) put off
11
The research team will ------- a study on consumer behaviour in urban markets.
(A) make(B) do(C) undertake(D) take
12
We regret to ------- you that your application was unsuccessful on this occasion.
(A) tell(B) inform(C) say(D) notify
13
The organisation plans to ------- its membership database to improve communication with members.
(A) update(B) upgrade(C) improve(D) revise
14
The board has decided to ------- the annual shareholders' meeting to a larger venue this year.
(A) move(B) transfer(C) relocate(D) shift
15
The company will ------- a financial loss this quarter due to lower than expected revenues.
(A) take(B) make(C) have(D) incur
16
The team leader asked her staff to ------- a progress report by the end of the week.
(A) write(B) prepare(C) make(D) do
17
The chairman will ------- the findings of the annual review at the company's AGM.
(A) show(B) tell(C) present(D) say
18
The facilities team is working to ------- the air quality issue in the main conference room.
(A) fix(B) solve(C) address(D) deal
19
Customers who wish to ------- their subscription may do so at any time without penalty.
(A) stop(B) end(C) cancel(D) finish
20
The company will ------- the services of an external consultant to manage the rebranding project.
(A) use(B) hire(C) retain(D) employ
Q1C
Q2B
Q3C
Q4D
Q5B
Q6C
Q7D
Q8C
Q9B
Q10C
Q11C
Q12B
Q13A
Q14C
Q15D
Q16B
Q17C
Q18C
Q19C
Q20C
Q1 (C) notify — notify someone of something — formal 'tell'. 'Notify the HR department of changes.'
Q2 (B) acquire — acquire — formal business word for obtaining property or assets. More formal than 'buy'.
Q3 (C) review — review — formal examination of a document. Standard TOEIC word.
Q4 (D) draw — draw attention to — fixed formal expression.
Q5 (B) reduce — reduce the price — most formal and neutral. All options are possible but 'reduce' is the most professional.
Q6 (C) install — install software — technical standard term.
Q7 (D) both B and C — Both 'fill out' and 'complete' are correct for forms. TOEIC accepts both.
Q8 (C) launch — launch a programme — formal introduction of a new initiative.
Q9 (B) submit — submit — formal delivery of required materials. Standard TOEIC word.
Q10 (C) postpone — postpone — formal word for rescheduling to a later date. 'Delay' implies an unplanned hold; 'postpone' implies a deliberate decision.
Q11 (C) undertake — undertake a study — most formal option. 'Conduct a study' also correct.
Q12 (B) inform — inform someone that — formal notification. Standard in official letters.
Q13 (A) update — update a database — to add current information. 'Upgrade' = improve the system; 'update' = refresh the content.
Q14 (C) relocate — relocate — to move a person, event, or organisation to a new location. Most formal option.
Q15 (D) incur — incur a loss/cost — formal business term. 'Incur' = to become subject to something negative as a result of actions.
Q16 (B) prepare — prepare a report — more formal than 'write'. 'Write' is also acceptable.
Q17 (C) present — present findings — to formally share research or data with an audience.
Q18 (C) address — address an issue — formal way of saying 'deal with a problem'. Common TOEIC word.
Q19 (C) cancel — cancel a subscription — standard formal term.
Q20 (C) retain — retain the services of — formal legal/business expression for hiring a professional.