UNIT 5: COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES

I. ONE SYLLABLE ADJECTIVES

Add -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative. If the adjective has a
consonant + single vowel + consonant spelling, the final consonant must be doubled
before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Tall Taller tallest

Fat Fatter fattest

Big Bigger biggest

Sad Sadder saddest

II. TWO SYLLABLES
Adjectives with two syllables can form the comparative either by adding -er or by
preceeding the adjective with more. These adjectives form the superlative either by
adding -est or by preceeding the adjective with most. In many cases, both forms are
used, although one usage will be more common than the other. If you are not sure
whether a two-syllable adjective can take a comparative or superlative ending, play it
safe and use moreand most instead. For adjectives ending in y, change the y to an i
before adding the ending.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Happy Happier happiest

Simple Simpler simplest

Busy Busier busiest

Tilted more tilted most tilted

Tangled more tangled most tangled

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 III. THREE OR MORE SYLLABLES
Adjectives with three or more syllables form the comparative by putting more in front
of the adjective, and the superlative by putting most in front.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Important more important most important

Expensive more expensive most expensive

IV. IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
These very common adjectives have completely irregular comparative and superlative
forms.

Adjective Comparative Superlative

Good better best

Bad worse worst

Little less least

Much more most

Far further / farther furthest / farthest

EXAMPLES
Today is the worst day I've had in a long time.
You play tennis better than I do.
This is the least expensive sweater in the store.
This sweater is less expensive than that one.
I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even farther today.
1 Meaning & Use
(1) Used to pick out one person or thing as having a unique quality
 She earns the most at her company.
 Mary seems the most successful of all the applicants / of all.
 He is the most intelligent guy I’ve ever met.
(2) Idiomatic expression
 Please submit the survey by next week at the latest.

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 CHECK UP QUIZ

Circle the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. Suburban residents would benefit from (cheaper / more cheap) transportation.

2. The demand for our new vehicle is (much / more) bigger than we had expected.
3. The dinner at the restaurant was (more / most) delicious than anticipated.
4. Questionnaire respondents should mail it as (quicker / quickly) as possible.
5. Sheila is known to be the (more / most) accurate accountant in the entire
company.
6. The (quiet / quieter) the engine is, the more passengers feel comfortable while
traveling.
7. Shea Stadium offers the (more / most) comprehensive exercise facilities of all
the others.
8. Nathan is the (more / most) dedicated emplouee that I have ever met.
9. Peple do not buy as (many / much) kitchen appliances as they did in the past.
10. Date processing has become (much / so) faster than ever before.

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Practice Test
Part 5 Incomplete Sentences
Question 1-10Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
1. As credit card companies compete more, credit card are issued more
_______than in the past.
(A) easy (B) easier (C) ease (D) easily
2. Using the two substances together produces much ______ results than when
either one is used alone.
(A) strong (B) stronger (C) strongest (D) strongly
3. Designing the bridge connecting the two regions was _____ than they had
thought it would be.
(A) difficult (B) difficulty (C) more difficult (D) much difficult
4. It was reported that Top Airlines cancelled more flights ______ any other
airline last month.
(A) as (B) while (C) than (D) of
5. The revised building safety regulations seem as strict ______ the previous ones.
(A) as (B) than (C) than (D) of
6. The longer you own a house,________ taxes you will pay for the profits you
have earned.
(A) few (B) fewest (C) the fewer (D) the fewest
7. The team insisted that their new product design was _______ than their
competitors’ latest release.
(A) so efficiently (B) more efficient (C) most efficiently (A) as efficient
8. Fun Films expects $20 million in ticket sales and _______ more from
licensing to foreign distributors.
(A) all (B) ever (C) very (D) even
9. Despite the bad weather, the concert was ________ attended by the fans of the
singer.
(A) well (B) quite (C) many (D) some
10. Ticket sales increased _________ after the musician’s interview on TV.

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 (A) expressivel (B) accidentall (C) dramaticall (D) eagerl
y y y y

Part 6 Text Completion

Question 1-3refer to the following memorandum.

Chinese Teaching Position Available

The Chinese Cultural Cultural Program (CCP) is ______ qualified instructors

to teach Mandarin Chinese.

1. (A) charging
(B) seeking
(C) expressing
(D) containing

Applicants must be available to teach in the summer and fall of 2008.

Responsiblitities will include participation in all curriculum planning and testing

activities (e.g., interviewing and scoring placement tests). The schedule for Chinese
classes may include morning, evening, and weekend classes. Please indicate your
availability in your cover letter. Classes will be offered _________ student demand.
2. (A) due to
(B) in spite of
(C) on behalf of
(D) according to

The starting salary will be $2,000 per month plus health insurance. The contract
may be renewed for subsequent sessions _______ on students’ needs and a
performance evaluation.

3. (A) depend
(B) depended
(C) depending

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 (D) dependant

If you are interested, please e-mail a cover letter and C.V. to Phil Zhang at
zp2001@teach.edu by February 29, 2008.

Part 7 Reading comprehension

Question 1-2refer to the following advertisement.

For a limited time only!

Take a friend or family to Kensington Resort FREE OF CHARGE

Ticket purchasers of a trip to Kensington Resort are eligible to be accpmpanied by one

person for free. The ticket purchaser must be over 21 and is required to pay in full at the
time of purchase. Come out and enjoy the beautiful summer breeze at this fabulous
resort.

This specially designed event also includes a luxurious lunch buffet at the Sunlife
Restaurant, which is located on the first floor of the Kensington Resort Suites. As this
special offer is valid only until the end of August 2007, purchasing your tickets early is
encouraged. Excursions on Saturdays and Sundays are not offered, and the offer cannot
be used in conjunction with any other offer.

1. What is being advertised?

(A) A hotel suite
(B) A family dinner
(C) A buffet lunch
(D) A trip to a resort
2. According to the advertisement, what is true about the advertised product?
(A) Trips on weekends are also offered.

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 (B) The ticket doeas not include a meal.
(C) Two people can go on the trip with on ticket.
(D) The offer is valid until the end of the year.

UNIT 6: PREPOSITIONS

I. Prepositions – Time

English Preposition Usage Example

On  days of the week  on Monday

In  months / seasons  in August / in winter

 time of day  in the morning
 year  in 2006
 after a certain period of  in an hour
time (when?)

At  for night  at night

 for weekend  at the weekend
 a certain point of  at half past nine
time (when?)

Since  from a certain point of  since 1980

time (past till now)

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 For  over a certain period of  for 2 years
time (past till now)

Ago  a certain time in the past  2 years ago

Before  earlier than a certain  before 2004

point of time

To  telling the time  ten to six (5:50)

Past  telling the time ten past six (6:10)

To/till/until  marking the beginning  from Monday to/till

and end of a period of Friday
time

Till/ until  in the sense of how long  He is on holiday until

something is going to Friday.
last

II. Prepositions – Place (Position and Direction)

Prepositions Usage Example

In  room, building, street,  in the kitchen, in

town, country London
 book, paper etc.  in the book

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  car, taxi
 picture, world
At  meaning next to, by an
object
 for table
 for events
 place where you are to
do something typical
(watch a film, study,
work)
On  attached
 for a place with a river
 being on a surface
 for a certain side (left,
right)
 for a floor in a house
 for public transport
 for television, radio
By,next to, beside  left or right of somebody 
or something
Under  on the ground, lower
than (or covered by)
something else
 in the car, in a taxi
 in the picture, in the
world
 at the door, at the station
 at the table
 at a concert, at the party
 at the cinema, at school,
at work
 the picture on the wall
 London lies on the
Thames.
 on the table
 on the left
 on the first floor
 on the bus, on a plane
 on TV, on the radio
Jane is standing by /
next to / beside the car.
 the bag is under the
table
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 Below  lower than something
else but above ground
Over  covered by something
else
 meaning more than
 getting to the other side
(also across)
 overcoming an obstacle
Above  higher than something
else, but not directly
over it
10
The fish are below the
surface
 Hey, please put a jacket
over your shirt
 over 16 years of age
 walk over the bridge
 climb over the wall
 a path above the lake
11
 …………...October 31

got …. the bus.

good …… playing it

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13
 ……………….Your health

……………….money

face
my desk

window.

The cat while you are gone .

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15
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 Unit 7: Subject- Verb agreement

1. Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is the cornerstone rule that forms the
background of the concept.
The dog growls when he is angry. The dogs growl when they are angry.
2. Don’t get confused by the words that come between the subject and verb; they do not
affect agreement.
The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good.
3. Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect agreement.
The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.
4. When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the subject will always be placed after
the verb, so care needs to be taken to identify it correctly.
There is a problem with the balance sheet. Here are the papers you requested.
5. Subjects don't always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately
identify the subject before deciding on the proper verb form to use.
Does Lefty usually eat grass? Where are the pieces of this puzzle.
6. If two subjects are joined by and, they typically require a plural verb form.
The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.
7. The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by and refer to the same person or
thing.
Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.
8. If one of the words each, every, or no comes before the subject, the verb is singular.
No smoking or drinking is allowed. Every man and woman is required to check in.

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9. If the subjects are both singular and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor,
either/or, and not only/but also the verb is singular.
Jessica or Christian is to blame for the accident.
10. The only time when the object of the preposition factors into the decision of plural or
singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like some, half, none, more, all,
etc. are followed by a prepositional phrase. In these sentences, the object of the
preposition determines the form of the verb.
All of the chicken is gone. All of the chickens are gone.
11. The singular verb form is usually used for units of measurement or time.
Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.
12. If the subjects are both plural and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor,
either/or, and not only/but also, the verb is plural.
Dogs and cats are both available at the pound.
13. If one subject is singular and one plural and the words are connected by the
words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, you use the verb form of the
subject that is nearest the verb.
Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the zoo. Neither the lion nor the bears
have escaped from the zoo.
14.Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs. *
Everybody wants to be loved.
15. * Except for the pronouns (few, many, several, both, all, some) that always take the
plural form.
Few were left alive after the flood.
16. If two infinitives are separated by and they take the plural form of the verb.
To walk and to chew gum require great skill.
17. When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, they take the singular verb
form of the verb; but, when they are linked by and, they take the plural form.
Standing in the water was a bad idea. Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my
hobbies.

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18. Collective nouns like herd, senate, class, crowd, etc. usually take a singular verb
form.
The herd is stampeding.
19.Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take a singular verb.
The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
20. Final Rule – Remember, only the subject affects the verb!

CHECK UP QUIZ

Circle the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. The bank (offer / offers) loans only to people with full-time jobs.
2. A wide variety of physical fitness (program / programs) are available.
3. A repair shop specializing in sports cars (has / have) recently contacted us.
4. Every (athelete / atheletes) in the tournament (is / are) required to take a drug test.
5. Many (response / responses) revealed positive feedback on the education
program.
6. (Few / Little) information was provided on our safety regulations.
7. Most (employee / employees) must get regular check-ups.
8. The (change / changes) proposed by the accounting team are effective.
9. The directors (regulate / regulates) the use of company vehicles.
10. This booklet contains (a / more) reliable information on energy saving.

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Practice Test
Part 5 Incomplete Sentences
Question 1-10Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
1. Monthly rents for the apartments ______ due by the 20th of each month.
(A) Is (B) Was (C) are (D) has
2. The sales manager has recently made various ______ for financial aid.
(A) Request (B) Requested (C) requesting (D) requests
3. Many recent ______ revealed parents’ attitudes toward violence on TV.
(A) survey (B) surveys (C) surveying (D) surveyed
4. The manager asked Naoko to teach the team when she _____ the software techniques.
(A) master (B) mastered (C) mastering (D) are mastering
5. The small ________ made by the accountant have brought about significant
consequences.
(A) change (B) changes (C) changed (D) changing
6. _______ to the time management workshop were sent to employees by mail
(A) Invite (B) Inviting (C) Invitation (D) Invitations
7. The government has signed an ________ for the funding of the research.
(A) agree (B) agreed (C) agreement (D) agreements
8. The company _______ a significant increase in sales in the next year
(A) anticipates (B) anticipating (C) anticipation (D) to anticipate
9. Best Garden Hotel provides meeting and banquet ________ and services.
(A) facilities (B) qualities (C) categories (D) conventions

10. Plan Bus Lines offers a 40-percent ________ on all fares for kids under the
age of 12.
(A) economy (B) retail (C) marked (D) discount

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Exercise:
1. Many people ……….. this city every year.
A. Visits B. Visit
C. is visiting D. was visiting
2. Learning foreign languages …………. important.
A. Is B. Are
C. have D. are having
3. The music that they listen to …………them to relax.
A. Help B. Are helping
C. helps D. helping
4. The articles that John has written ……….. difficult to understand.
A. Has been B. Was
C. are D. is
5. Taking a trip to the mountains ………….more fun than going to the beach.
A. Are B. Were
C. is D. have been
6. The water in this swimming pool ………… too cold.
A. Are feeling B. Feel
C. feels D. was feeling
7. Exercising every day ............. good for your health.
A. Are B. Be
C. were D. is
8. Going to the movies last night ............. a lot of fun.
A. Were B. Was
C. are D. being
9. The clothes in those boxes …………to my sister.
A. Belong B. Was belonging
C .is belonging D. belongs

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 10. Some children ............. too many toys.
A. Has B. Has had
C. have D. is having
11. Mark ............. at the party last night.
A. Were happy B. Happy was
C. was happy D. was he happy
12. ............ a lot in the mountains.
A. Snows it B. Is snowing
C. it snows D. snowing is
13. Sarah and her husband ……………. the movies last Saturday.
A. Was going B. Went to
C. they went D. went they to
14. Chicago ……………..city in the Midwest.
A. Is an important B. An important is
C. important is D. is it important
15. The price of oil ………… last month.
A. Fell B. It fell
C. fell it D. felt
16. …………… important to have a good job.
A. Is it B. It’s
C. it D. is
17. ……………. a good concert.
A. People enjoys B. Enjoy them
C. people they enjoy D. people enjoy
18. ………………… us with the vocabulary exercises.
A. Our teacher helps B. Always helps
C. our teacher D. helps to
19 ……………… a lot of food at Jim's house last weekend
A. Ate we B. We ate

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 C. ate D. we
20. Every morning …………….. coffee with her breakfast.
A. Jane she drink B. She drinks
C. drinks D. Jane drinks

Unit 8: Gerund – Infinitive

A Gerunds

Gerunds are derived from verb forms which end in –ing. They are called verbal
nouns because they act like nouns.

1 Form
Base verb + -ing hope – hoping die – dying play – playing

(V-ing) study – studying stop – stopping prefer – preferring

2 Meaning & Use

(1) As subjects and complements
 Studying English is fun.
 Seeing is believing.
(2) As objects of certain verbs.
 They finished eating.
*Gerunds are often associated with situations that are already established.

Verbs with only V-ing objects

admit avoid consider delay discontinue

discuss enjoy finish mention mind

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 postpone quit recommend stop* suggest

*We stopped talking. (= We didn’t talk anymore.)

We stopped to talk to him. (= We stopped the thing we were doing to talk to him.)

(3) As objects of preposotions

 When a verb is used after a preposition
 Our company is interested in entering the European market.
 Preposition to + V-ing

 Some foreigners are used to using chopsticks.

 I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Major structures followed by V-ing

be accustomed to be/become used to be committed to be dedicated to

be devoted to look forward to object to

 Preposition + either a noun or a gerund

 Please call us for orders.

 Please call us for ordering items. (V-ing + object)

B Infinitives

Infinitives are verb forms that show no person or tense. They usually refer to
actions and events in a more general way. Basically, infinitives are used with the
marker to. Without to, they are called “bare infinitives”.

1 Form

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 to + Base verb work – to
go – to go eat – to eat get – to get
(to-V) work

2 Meaning & Use

(1) As subjects or complements
 To study English is fun.  It is fun to study English.
 My goal is to get a job in engineering.
(2) As objects of certain verbs.
 Mr. Tang wants to attend the conference.
 He expects to leave tomorrow.
*Infinitives are used to express future possibilities. They often refer to something
that has not yet taken place.

Verbs with only to-V objects

afford agree attempt decide expect need

plan fefuse hope want wish

(3) As object complements

 Verb + Object + to-V
 The boss wants Mr.Tang to attend the conference.
 We expect him to leave tomorrow. (avtive)cf. He is expected to leave tomorrow.
(passive)

Verbs with to-V complements

advise ask allow cause enable encourage expect

tell permit persuade remind request require

Frequent passive structures with to-V complements on the TOEIC

be advised to-V be asked to-V be allowed to-V be encouraged to-V

25
 be expected to-V be permitted to-V be persuaded to-V be prepared to-V

be requested to-V be required to-V

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  Verb + Object + Bare infinitive

 All the staff listented to the boss announce that he would resign. (sensory
perception)
 Our new CEO’s tactics made the company grow and become more efficient.
(causative verb)
 If you have any other ideas, please let me know. (causative verb)
cf. Helen asked me to help her (to) move her desk.

Verbs with bare infinitive complements

see observe watch look at hear

listen to make let help

(4) Phrasal modals + to-V

 My secretary is albe to type 800 words a minute.
 She used to work at a bank. cf. She is used to working at night.

Phrsal modals followed by to-V

be able to-V be about to-V be going to-V be likely to-V be supposed to-
V
be willing to-V have to-V used to-V would like to-V

(5) Idiomatic expressions

 In order to pay for the repairs, they need $5,000. (= To pay for the repairs)
 In an effort to increase profits, we are looking for cheaper supplies.
 In an attempt to lose weight, Miranda has started to go on a diet.

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Check-up Quiz

Circle the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. We expect (to have / having) higher profits in the upcoming season.

2. The company discontinued (to produce / producing) the all-terrain vehicle.
3. We encourage our employees (to study / studying) foreign languages.
4. You are not permitted (to take / taking) pictures in the gallery.
5. Students are expected (to arrive / arriving) at least 30 minutes before the
ceremony.
6. Applicants (require / are required) to possess at least s30 minutes before the
ceremony.
7. The designers are fully (prepare / prepared) to develop a new product line.
8. The new cooling system performs a better job of (regulation / regulating)
temperatures.
9. We are able (to pay / paying) you a substantial bonus in the coming month.
10. It is extremely urgent (to solve / solving) traffic congestion problems in the city
area.

Practice Test

Part 5 Incomplete Sentences

Question 1-10Choose the word that best completes each sentence.

1. We are looking forward to _______ the possibility of working collaboratively.

(A) discuss (B) discussing (C) discussed (D) discussion

2. They agreed to have another meeting tomorrow morning to _______ the ongoing
project.

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 (A) expedite (B) expediting (C) expedited (D) expedition
3. The Japanese restaurant is considering ______ a new series of recipes for local
residents.
(A) introduce (B) to introduce (C) introducing (D) introduced
4. The firm reserves the right ________ for services and change fees without prior
notice.
(A) charge (B) charging (C) to charge (D) for charging
5. While attending the seminar, we really enjoyed _______ with representatives from
other branches.
(A) talk (B) talked (C) to talk (D) talking
6. In an effort _________ our labor costs, we are determined to hire more part-timers.
(A) reduce (B) reducing (C) has reduced (D) to reduce
7. The marketing director is in charge of ________ the firm’s image through
continuous publicity.
(A) promoting (B) promotes (C) promote (D) promotion
8. All factory workers are required _______ to the safety regulations stated in the
manual.
(A) adhere (B) adhering (C) to adhere (D) have adhered
9. New employees should ________ at least two training sessions.
(A) decide (B) regard (C) continue (D) attend
10. The executive will ________ the changes to overtime work policies at the next
weekly meeting.
(A) announce (B) maintain (C) involve (D) agree

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Exercise: Choose the correct answer
1. Kim dislikes……… to rock convert because the music is too loud
A.Togo C. going
B. Goes D. gone
2. I’m afraid of………. Alone at night
A. To walk C. walked
B. walk D. walking
3. My parents would like……. Us next month
A.To visits C. Visits
B. Visit D. will visit
4…….. is fun when the weather is hot
A. Swam C. Swimming
B. Swim D. Swims
5. We were so glad…. You last week
A. to see c. have seen
B.saw D. seen
6. Jone agreed……. Us at 8:00
A. meets C. seeing
B. To meet D.met
7. my brother quit………. Five years ago
A. smokes C. Smoked
B.Smoke D.smoking
8. You should learn…….. the piano
A. To play C. will play
B.playing D. played
9. Sometimes Harry thinks about……… to another city
A.to move C.moves

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 B. moving D. move
10.My daughter wil begin ……….. Chineses next semester
A Will study C.studies
B. To study D.study
11. The SM companny needs…… more people
A. To hire C. to hiring
B. hire D. hired
12.The purpose of the meeting is………. The issue
A. Discussion C.to discuss
B. discuss D. Discussed
13.Mr.Kim work hard ……… a promotion
A. to get C. Got
B. Getting D. get
14. All the staff members were surprised………. The bad news
A. Heard C. Hearing
B. Hear D to hear
15. It’s dangerous for workers……. Safety gear
A. Not wear C. not to wear
B. to not wear D. to wear not
16.It was difficult…….. to explain the reason for the decision
A.him C. As him
B.of him D. for him
17. We are eager……. You and to talk about the issue
A. To meet
B. Meeting
C. Meet
D. Met
18. I don’t think many people will have a chance ……… for the job
A. For applying

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 B. Applying
C. To applying
D. To apply
19. This plane is quite enough for the staff…….on the project
A. Work
B. Works
C. Worked
D. To work
20. This year’s sales target was too high for us …..
A. Achieve
B. Achieving
C. To achieve
D. To be achieved

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