TOEIC Reading Part 5（短文穴埋め問題）：品詞・時制・代名詞・コロケーションの正しい選び方

TOEIC Reading Part 5（短文穴埋め問題）では、各文に空所が一つと選択肢が四つあり、すべての問題が文法か語彙を問います。品詞の問題は空所の前後の語で決まります。“a”や“the”の後なら名詞、“be”の後なら形容詞、動作のしかたを表すなら副詞です。時制・代名詞・語彙の問題では文全体を読みましょう。手がかりは“already”や“since”のような語かもしれません。この記事は中級（B1）以上の受験者に向けて書きました。

この記事が向いている人

文法のルールは知っているのに、Part 5で時間に追われて易しい問題を落としてしまうTOEIC受験者。
“describe”、“description”、“descriptive”や、“efficient”と“efficiently”のような形を混同しがちな方。
試験の解答と同じくらい、自分のメールやメモも正確に書きたい社会人の方。
まだ早い：過去形や基本の語順にまだ自信がない場合（A2程度）は、まず日常の文法を固めましょう。Part 5の練習はB1程度から効果が出ます。
簡単すぎる：1文単位ではもう安定していて、間違いが文と文のつながりから生まれているなら、Part 6の長文穴埋め問題に進みましょう。

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単語カード

Personal · your first days

Think about your first day in a job, a course or a club. How were you trained, and what do you remember?

Useful: ‘On my first day, I…’ · ‘By the end of the week, I had…’ · ‘What I remember most clearly is…’

Work and society · compulsory training

Which workplace training should be compulsory, and which should be optional?

Useful: ‘… should definitely be compulsory, because…’ · ‘It makes sense to make … optional.’ · ‘I’m not sure that…’

会話の例

In the sentence “The trainer explained the rule clearly”, why is “clearly” used?

Clearly is an adverb describing how the trainer explained the rule.

Clear is an adjective and clarity is a noun. The verb phrase needs a word describing the manner of explaining here.

文の形

1
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
“By lunchtime I ______ almost everything,” she remembers.
答えと解説を見る
had forgotten
The forgetting happened before a past point (lunchtime), so we use the past perfect: had + past participle (forgotten).
2
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
“The only thing I could recall ______ was where the coffee was.”
答えと解説を見る
clearly
An adverb (clearly) describes how she could recall. Clear is an adjective and clarity is a noun.
3
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
When Farah was made responsible ______ the program, she decided to find out what new staff actually needed.
答えと解説を見る
for
The fixed combination is responsible for + noun or -ing: responsible for the program.
4
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
One receptionist had confirmed guest bookings for three months before anyone noticed that she ______ a required payment check.
答えと解説を見る
had skipped
She skipped the check before anyone noticed, so the earlier past action uses had + past participle.
5
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
Attendance at the first safety session is ______; the others can be moved to fit the work schedule.
答えと解説を見る
compulsory
After be, an adjective describes the requirement: compulsory means required.
6
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
The hotels have used the new system ______ last April, and the early results are encouraging.
答えと解説を見る
since
Since + a starting point (last April) goes with the present perfect. For needs a period, and ago goes after a period.
7
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
She is currently ______ a decision about whether to shorten the program for roles with fewer procedures, and she has asked the company to recognize the trainers’ contribution in their annual reviews.
答えと解説を見る
making
The natural combination is make a decision; we do not say do a decision or give a decision.

追加の練習

Let the sentence frame help

In the sentence “The trainer explained the rule clearly”, why is “clearly” used?

Clearly is an adverb describing how the trainer explained the rule.

Clear is an adjective and clarity is a noun. The verb phrase needs a word describing the manner of explaining here.

Choose the word that fits

1
Please send us a brief ____ of the delivery problem.
答えと解説を見る
description
After a brief, the sentence needs a noun. Description names the account of the problem; describe is a verb, descriptive an adjective and described a past form.
2
The volunteers worked ____ to finish the display before noon.
答えと解説を見る
efficiently
The adverb efficiently describes how the volunteers worked. The noun and adjective forms cannot describe the verb worked.
3
The ground-floor studio is ____ for wheelchair users.
答えと解説を見る
suitable
After is, an adjective describes the studio. Suitable means right for that purpose; the adverb, noun and verb forms do not fit this frame.

Write a clear training note

Choose your workshop

Bicycle maintenance, photo scanning, or community cooking.
Choose one explanation or instruction participants need.
Choose how an action should be performed and one genuine requirement.

Writing task

Write in your own notes.
Use a noun for the information, an adverb for manner, and an adjective for the requirement.
Explain the sentence clue for one choice; alternatives are welcome if grammar and meaning fit.

Follow time and participants

In the first model, why is “had checked” used?

The check was complete before the visitors arrived.

Both actions are in the past; the earlier completed action uses the past perfect to make their order clear.

Strategy

A completed action before another past action can use had + past participle.
Since plus a starting point links an ongoing situation to when it began.
Choose the pronoun form for its role: subject, object or possession.
Make the person or group referred to clear.

Time models

Before the visitors arrived, the team had checked the emergency exit.
The centre has offered evening workshops since April.

Reference model

The trainer welcomed the assistants and asked them to prepare the tables.
Them is the object of asked and refers to the assistants.

Keep the timeline and reference clear

1
When the manager called the supplier, the parcel ____ already left the warehouse.
答えと解説を見る
had
The parcel left before the past phone call, so the earlier completed action uses the past perfect: had already left.
2
The interns forgot ____ badges, so reception printed new ones.
答えと解説を見る
their
Their is the possessive form before a noun (their badges). Them is an object, they a subject, and theirs stands alone without a noun.
3
The café has been closed on Mondays ____ the new manager arrived.
答えと解説を見る
since
Since introduces the starting point (when the new manager arrived) of a situation that continues now. For needs a length of time, during needs a noun, and until gives an end point that does not fit the present perfect here.

Explain a project timeline

Project choices

An exhibition, a staff induction, or a weekend course.
Choose two completed past actions and decide which happened first.
Choose an activity that began in a month you select and still continues.
Choose two people or groups with clear responsibilities.

Your update

Write three or four connected sentences in your own notes.
Use had + past participle where it clarifies the earlier action.
Use since with the starting point and a pronoun whose reference is clear.

Learn useful combinations in context

Why is “confirm the booking” useful after receiving payment?

It tells the customer that the reservation is agreed and in place.

Confirm fits the intended communication action; a similar-looking verb is not enough.

Strategy

Some words commonly work together: make a decision, confirm a booking.
Check the relationship after an adjective: responsible for a task.
Use the whole situation to distinguish similar-looking verbs.
A natural combination must also express the intended action.

Complete contextual models

We must make a decision before we order the tables.
The host is responsible for checking the room.
Please confirm the booking after you receive the payment.

Meanings

Make a decision: choose what to do.
Responsible for: having the duty to do a task.
Confirm a booking: state that the reservation is agreed and in place.

Choose a natural combination

1
We must ____ the deadline for the grant application.
答えと解説を見る
meet
Meet a deadline is the natural combination for finishing something in time.
2
All visitors must comply ____ the safety rules in the workshop.
答えと解説を見る
with
Comply with introduces the rules that must be followed.
3
Please ____ an order for twenty folding chairs before Friday.
答えと解説を見る
place
Place an order means ask a supplier to provide goods. The other verbs do not combine with order in this meaning.

Agree duties and confirm a plan

Choose your event

A workshop, guest talk, or equipment demonstration.
Make one decision about the venue or date.
Assign a preparation task to each person.
Decide what must happen before the booking is confirmed.

Confirmation message

Write three or four sentences of your own.
Use make a decision, responsible for, and confirm in relevant contexts.
Check that the message clearly explains the agreed plan.

Word forms, time and collocations in the report

1
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
“By lunchtime I ______ almost everything,” she remembers.
答えと解説を見る
had forgotten
The forgetting happened before a past point (lunchtime), so we use the past perfect: had + past participle (forgotten).
2
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
“The only thing I could recall ______ was where the coffee was.”
答えと解説を見る
clearly
An adverb (clearly) describes how she could recall. Clear is an adjective and clarity is a noun.
3
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
When Farah was made responsible ______ the program, she decided to find out what new staff actually needed.
答えと解説を見る
for
The fixed combination is responsible for + noun or -ing: responsible for the program.
4
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
One receptionist had confirmed guest bookings for three months before anyone noticed that she ______ a required payment check.
答えと解説を見る
had skipped
She skipped the check before anyone noticed, so the earlier past action uses had + past participle.
5
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
Attendance at the first safety session is ______; the others can be moved to fit the work schedule.
答えと解説を見る
compulsory
After be, an adjective describes the requirement: compulsory means required.
6
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
The hotels have used the new system ______ last April, and the early results are encouraging.
答えと解説を見る
since
Since + a starting point (last April) goes with the present perfect. For needs a period, and ago goes after a period.
7
Choose the words that complete the sentence from the text.
She is currently ______ a decision about whether to shorten the program for roles with fewer procedures, and she has asked the company to recognize the trainers’ contribution in their annual reviews.
答えと解説を見る
making
The natural combination is make a decision; we do not say do a decision or give a decision.

この単元を学ぶ

どの方法で学びますか？

アカウントをお持ちですか？

無料アカウントで1つの単元をずっと開いておけます。

Part 5はどんな問題？

Part 5では仕事の場面の文が30問出題され、それぞれに空所が一つと選択肢が四つあります。Part 5だけの制限時間はありません。75分のReadingの時間でPart 5、6、7を解き、最も時間がかかるのはPart 7です。先に選択肢を読みましょう。問題の種類がわかります。

同じ語の四つの形（“describe”、“description”、“descriptive”、“described”）：品詞の問題。
同じ動詞の異なる時制、または“since”、“for”、“ago”：時制の問題。
異なる代名詞（“they”、“them”、“their”、“theirs”）：何を指すかの問題。
同じ品詞の異なる四つの語（“do”、“run”、“meet”、“hold”）：語彙の問題。

品詞：文の形が答えを決める

まず空所に必要な品詞を決め、それから意味を確かめます。語尾は手がかりになります。“-tion”や“-ment”は名詞、“-ive”や“-able”は形容詞、“-ly”は副詞に多い語尾です。ただし“friendly”と“timely”は形容詞です。ほとんどの問題は次の四つの形のどれかです。

“a”、“the”、“our”の後（間に形容詞があっても）は名詞：“Please send us a brief description of the delivery problem.”
名詞の前は形容詞：“The trainer gave a clear explanation.”
“be”、“seem”、“become”の後は多くの場合形容詞：“The ground-floor studio is suitable for wheelchair users.”
動作のしかたを表すなら副詞：“The volunteers worked efficiently to finish the display before noon.”

時制：過去完了、since、for、ago

過去の二つの動作があるとき、“had + 過去分詞”は先に終わっていたほうを表します。“already”や“by + 過去の時点”があれば、これが最も安全な選択です。“When the manager called the supplier, the parcel had already left the warehouse.” “before”や“after”があれば順序ははっきりしているので、単純過去でもかまいません。

過去に始まり今も続いている状況には現在完了を使います。“since”の後には始まりの時点、“for”の後には期間が来て、“ago”は単純過去と使います。「4月からここで働いています」をそのまま訳すと“I am working here from April”になりがちです。正しくは“I have worked here since April”です。

“The centre has offered evening workshops since April.”
“The hotels have used the new system for six months.”
“The new system started six months ago.”

代名詞：役割と指すもの

文の中での役割に合った形を選び、指している人やグループがはっきりしているか確かめましょう。

目的語：“The trainer welcomed the assistants and asked them to prepare the tables.”
名詞の前：“The interns forgot their badges, so reception printed new ones.”
名詞なしで単独で：“The blue folders are ours; the red ones are theirs.”

コロケーション：意図した動作を表す語

語彙の問題では選択肢の品詞が同じなので、文法だけでは決められません。組み合わせる語と自然につながり、意図した動作を表す語を選びましょう。支払いを受けたら“confirm the booking”と言います。予約が確定したことをお客様に伝える表現だからです。「決定をする」の「する」につられて“do a decision”としがちですが、正しくは“make a decision”です。

“make a decision”：“We must make a decision before we order the tables.”
“meet a deadline”、“place an order”：“Please place an order for twenty folding chairs before Friday.”
“comply with”、“responsible for” + 名詞または動名詞：“The host is responsible for checking the room.”
“attend a meeting”（“to”は不要）、“discuss a plan”（“about”は不要）。「会議に参加する」の「に」につられて“to”を付けがちです。

自分に合った方法でこの単元を学ぶ

書くときと話すときにも使う

同じ選び方で自分のメッセージもはっきりし、TOEIC Writingのメール問題でも役立ちます。下のような確認のメッセージを自分の行事に合わせて書き、名詞、時の表現、代名詞を一つずつ確かめましょう。

そのあと1分間、声に出して答えてみましょう。職場の研修のうち、どれを必須にし、どれを任意にすべきでしょうか？使えるフレーズ：“… should definitely be compulsory, because…”、“It makes sense to make … optional.”

“We have made a decision about the venue. Priya is responsible for booking the room, and I will confirm the booking once the deposit has been paid.”

Part 5でよくある間違い

易しい問題を落とす原因になる五つの癖です。

空所の手前までしか読まないこと。手がかりは空所の後にあることが多いです。
副詞が必要なところに形容詞を使うこと：“worked efficient”。
“since”を期間と使ったり（“since three months”）、終わった時点と現在完了を使ったりすること（“has left yesterday”）。
“responsible of”、“comply to”、“discuss about”と書くこと。
“their”、“them”、“theirs”を役割ではなく音で選ぶこと。

20分のPart 5ルーティン

一度に長く勉強するより、毎日短く続けるほうが身につきます。

8分：辞書を使わず、時間を計ってPart 5を15問。
5分：間違いごとに、品詞、時制、代名詞、語彙のどれかを書く。
5分：直した文を間違いノートに書き写し、同じパターンで新しい文を一つ作る。
2分：前日のノートを声に出して読む。数日に一度、前に間違えた問題を解き直す。

次のステップ

1文単位で安定してきたら、手がかりが前後の文にあることもあるPart 6へ、そしてPart 7へ進みましょう。間違いノートは続けてください。同じ癖はどのパートでもまた出てきます。

よくある質問

TOEIC Reading Part 5は何問ですか？

30問です。どれも空所が一つと選択肢が四つある1文で、Part 5は75分のReadingの時間をPart 6、7と分け合います。

TOEICのPart 5では文全体を読むべきですか？

はい、解答をマークする前に読みましょう。品詞の問題は空所の前後で決まることが多いものの、時制・代名詞・語彙の問題では手がかりが文のどこにあってもおかしくありません。

sinceとforはどう違いますか？

“since”は始まりの時点（“since April”）、“for”は期間（“for three months”）と使います。今も続いている状況なら、どちらも現在完了と使います。

次の練習を探す

FlalingoはTOEICを運営する団体と提携しておらず、これらの団体から推奨を受けていません。