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Course 2: Conversational Situations.
1. Office and corporate property
In the TOEIC test, you may find questions about the location, setting, or context
involving office or corporate property. You should familiarize yourself with
vocabulary and structures related to these topic areas.
Common situations 1. Office
Procedures, board meetings, presentations, letters,
memoranda, telephone/fax/e-mail messages, etc.
2. Corporate property
Office equipment, furniture, construction,
specifications, buying and renting, electric and gas
services, etc.
Typical questions Overview questions
1. The topic/purpose of a conversation
Ex) What are the speakers discussing?
→ Plans for a meeting.
2. The speaker’s or speakers’ occupation/position
Ex) Who most likely is the man?
→ A maintenance employee
3. The location of a conversation
Ex) Where does the conversation probably take place?
→ In an office
Detail questions
1. The main problem/concern
Ex) What problem does the man mention?
→ The printer is broken.
2. A specific suggestion
Ex1) What does the man offer to do?
→ Deliver some contracts
Ex2) What does the woman ask the man to do?
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→ Provide a cost estimate.
3. A specific piece of information
Ex) What do the speakers say about the product?
→ It’s not selling well.
4. A particular department/company
Ex) What kind of company does the woman work for?
→ A manufacturing company
2. Human resources
Questions related to human resources or personnel involve recruiting, hiring, job
advertisements, job applications, training, promotion, etc.
Common situations
1. Recruiting/Hiring
Job advertisements, job applications, salaries, pensions,
awards, etc.
2. Training and promotion
Professional development, conferences, welcoming
parties, farewell parties, etc.
Typical questions Overview questions
1. The topic/ purpose of a conversation
Ex) What are the speakers discussing?
→ Hiring new employees/A job interview
2. The speaker’s or speakers’ occupation/position
Ex) Who most likely are the speakers?
→ New managers
3. The setting of a conversation
Ex) Where does this conversation probably take place?
→ In a job interview
Detail questions
1. What is being mentioned
Ex) What does the man say about Ms. Harris?
→ She has been promoted
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2. What will take place
Ex) What will take place next week?
→ A training seminar
3. What position is applied for
Ex) What position is the woman applying for?
→ Sales representative
4. When something will take place
Ex) When will the interview probably take place?
→ Next Thursday
5. How documents are submitted
Ex) How will the man submit his résumé?
→By mail
3. General business, finance and budgeting, and corporate development
The TOEIC test is generally a business-oriented test. You should familiarize
yourself with vocabulary and structures related to these topic areas.
Common situations
1. General business
Contracts, negotiations, mergers, marketing sales,
warranties, business planning, conferences, labor
relations, etc.
2. Finance and budgeting
Banking, investments, taxes, accounting, billing, etc.
3. Corporate development
Research, product development, etc.
Typical questions Overview questions
1. The topic/ purpose of a conversation
Ex1) What are the speakers mainly discussing?
→ A proposed budget
Ex2) What is the purpose of telephone call?
→ To check on a delivery
2. The speaker’s or speakers’ occupation/position
Ex) Who most likely is the man?
→ A salesperson
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3. The location of a conversation
Ex) Where does this conversation probably take place?
→ At a manufacturing plant
Detail questions
1. A specific problem
Ex1) What is the woman’s problem?
→She did not know a deadline was changed.
Ex2) What are the speakers concerned about?
→ The price of a product
2. What to do next
Ex) What will the woman probably do next?
→ Contact the supply company
3. A specific suggestion
Ex1) What does the woman suggest?
→ Finding a new supplier
Ex2) What does the woman ask the man to do?
→ Hold a team meeting/Provide a cost estimate.
4. A specific piece of information
Ex) What does the man say about Tokyo expense?
→ The cost seems high.
4. Everyday situations
In Part 3, the questions also involve everyday situations such as traffic, shopping,
housing, restaurants, hospitals, etc. You should increase your stock of vocabulary and
structures that may be found in these topic areas.
Common situations
1. Traffic, shopping, housing
Traffic, buying and renting, moving out, moving in, etc.
2. Public facilities
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Restaurants, hospitals, dry-cleaner’s, post offices,
libraries, banks, parking lots, etc.
Typical questions Overview questions
1. The topic/ purpose of a conversation
Ex) What are the speakers mainly discussing?
→ What they’ll do this weekend
2. The speaker’s or speakers’ occupation/position
Ex) Who most likely is the man?
→ A parking attendant
3. The location of a conversation
Ex) Where does this conversation probably take place?
→ At a post office/in a supermarket/ At a restaurant
Detail questions
1. A specific problem
Ex) What is the problem?
→ Tables are not available for the requested date.
2. What to do next
Ex) What will the man probably do next?
→ Help the woman locate a product
3. A specific suggestion
Ex) What does the woman ask the man to do?
→ Recommend some food/Complete a form
4. A specific piece of information
Ex) What does the man say about his apartment?
→ It is near his workplace.
5. A specific desire
Ex) What does the man want to do?
→ Open a bank account.
6. A specific time.
Ex) When does the business close?
→
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5. Travel and free time
In Part 3, some questions also involve such topic as travel and activities in the free
time. You should be careful in listening to specific pieces of information related to dates,
locations, or plans.
Common situations
1. Travel
Airplanes, taxis, buses, ships, ferries, tickets, schedules, station
and airport announcements, car rentals, hotels, reservations,
delays and cancellations, etc.
2. Activities in the free time
Business and informal lunches, banquets, receptions, restaurants
reservations, cinema, theatre, music, art, exhibitions, museums,
media, etc.
Typical questions Overview questions
1. The topic/ purpose of a conversation
Ex) What are the speakers discussing?
→ A room reservation/The man’s vacation plan/ A play
2. The speaker’s or speakers’ occupation/position
Ex) Who is the woman probably talking to?
→ A tour guide.
3. The location of a conversation
Ex) Where does this conversation probably take place?
→ In a hotels/At a airport/In a museum.
Detail questions
1. A specific problem
Ex1) What is the woman’s problem?
→ She missed a flight.
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Ex2) What is the man concerned about?
→ The cost of the tickets
2. What to do next
Ex) What will the man do next?
→ Make a reservation.
3. A specific suggestion
Ex) What does the woman suggest?
→ Making the flight reservation sooner.
4. A specific time
Ex) When does the woman’s flight leave?
→ Tuesday morning.
5. A specific location.
Ex) Where is the woman’s final destination?
→ New York.
. that may be found in these topic areas.
Common situations
1. Traffic, shopping, housing
Traffic, buying and renting, moving out, moving in, etc.
2. Public. conferences, labor
relations, etc.
2. Finance and budgeting
Banking, investments, taxes, accounting, billing, etc.
3. Corporate development
Research, product