Korean Job Discussion Forums

stuey11 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Location: Seoul

My student approached me today with this question which is apparently from an old Toeic test,

I and our employees heard this morning that you would be transferred to the newly opened branch in Pusan to take on the marketing manager position. Particularly, our immediate supervisor at G & D Wintech company who worked together six years ago _____1______ you and is seeking a qualified person of some candidates like you. However, as you know, we have been related to that area quite ____2_____ on business. I believe that you would be too _____3_____ for my project which will be associated with your department at the end of next month.

Question 1. A) will miss B) misses C) miss D) missing

Question 2. A) affordably B ) evenly C) often D) enough

Question 3. A) strenuous B) determined C) extraneous D) confidential

Question 1 is probably answer A, but the teacher told the students that the correct answer was definitely B.

Questions 2 and 3 just make no sense to me, any ideas?

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

Are TOEIC tests still like this? How could anyone use this kind of question as an assessment of someone's English ability?

stuey11 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Location: Seoul

This was taken from last years test apparently

YTMND · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Location: You're the man now dog!!

1. a
2. c (that sentence doesn't sound natural)
3. a (how poetic)

How did I do?

I agree, 2 and 3 are bizzare.

I gave c for 2 because it makes the most practical sense. Workers move up in a business. They need to be replaced.

I gave a for 3 because it is more interpretive. If you are leaving, you will be under stress. Therefore, it will be "strenuous". Japanese and Koreans like to emphasize workload.

It sounds more like a logical test than an English fluency one. I hope I passed Laughing

transmogrifier · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Location: Seoul, South Korea

That's one of the worst questions I have ever read.

The correct answer to all three is" "What the *beep* is this shit?"

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Correct answer: the question is wrong.

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

have to agree that that question is REALLY messed. perhaps, number 1 can be deciphered, but the rest? probably not. probably not by the most renowned linguist in history either, is all i can say...

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

mnjetter · Joined: 21 Feb 2012 Location: Seoul, S. Korea

Speaking as someone having had a little experience with ETS and their research, I can say with absolute certainty that this was never a TOEIC question. My guess is that it is similar to the style of many TOEIC questions, but the question content itself was written by whoever is selling the book that your student found it in.

transmogrifier · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Location: Seoul, South Korea

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

I just took a TOEIC test (Aug 20) and don't remember questions like that on the test.

The test I took was clear, concise and didn't contain any grammatical errors or ambiguous questions.

FTR, my score on the listening section was 495/495 and on the reading test was 485/495 in a time of 30/75 minutes allowed.

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denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

stuey11 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Location: Seoul

Thanks for the input, yeah I have my doubts about the question. The teacher told the students it was from an old test but there is no way it was written by a native speaker

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Maybe it was written by a native of Russia, Kazakstahn or the Ukraine.

It looks like an electronic translator fail to me.