The unexpected, sharp drop in profits during the second quarter was a big _______ to the members of the corporation's executive committee.

(a) disappoints     (b) disappointing       (c) disappointed       (d) disappointment

After a thorough review of the _______, Mr. Turner and I both believe we're going to have to think about hiring outside the company.

(a) postings    (b) resumes    (c) job listings    (d) seminar

The problem is that either the copying machine is out of toner, or we need to call the service number for _______ assistance again.

(a) cartridge    (b) scheduled    (c) technical    (d) automatic

Last month, we hired a new freelance web designer to _______ the site; however he hasn't been able to give much time to our project so far.

(a) outline    (b) close down    (c) update    (d) uplift

Since our billing cycle ends on the 22nd, the statement you received yesterday does not _______ payments made on your account after July 31st.

(a) demonstrate    (b) reflect    (c) prove    (d) examine

If new employees have questions about their medical benefits or _______ plans, please refer them to Lindsay in Human Resources.

(a) penchant    (b) pensive    (c) pension    (d) penance

Although record sales were experienced last year, the company was _______ to downsize employees following an unexpected decrease in orders this year.

(a) enforced    (b) forceful    (c) forcible    (d) forced

You should _______ to the client with a polite letter thanking him for raising these concerns with us and also assure him the problem will be addressed.

(a) acknowledge      (b) return      (c) reply      (d) reciprocate

All candidates considering a position within our Computer Services Department should have experience in database management _______ computer maintenance.

(a) yet    (b) and    (c) but    (d) because

If we can _______ a larger office space, without a doubt, I think we will see a noticeable increase in employee satisfaction and productivity.

(a) borrow    (b) donate    (c) lease    (d) receive

If we don't _______ the invoice by the end of the week, please call the company's hotline and ask if there's a problem with our order.

(a) receive    (b) receipt    (c) receivable    (d) receptive

Could you look into renting a _______ hall with at least a two hundred person seating capacity for the annual awards ceremony.

(a) banquet    (b) bouquet    (c) buffet    (d) bankrupt

I don't think Mr. Pederson was _______ by the casual explanation Joe offered for the disastrous mistakes he made in the training manual.

(a) amusing    (b) amusement    (c) amused    (d) amuse

As sales manager, Ms. Argento _______ employee productivity, improved staff morale, and created motivating sales team goals.

(a) has increased    (b) increased    (c) increasing    (d) increase

The supervisor says you can research new software packages, but that does not _______ mean that she will approve new expenditures.

(a) necessity    (b) necessary    (c) necessities    (d) necessarily

Many don't realize that RTC is one of the twenty-two subdivisions of Adaptek United, one of the nation's leading _______ companies.

(a) transit    (b) transient    (c) transitive    (d) transitory

One new industry development is the use of micro-financing institutions that _______ lenders to issue loans through online payment websites.

(a) tolerate    (b) stop    (c) enable    (d) disable

There won't be any way to compare the figures in the market analysis until the information is _______ in a spreadsheet and we can review it.

(a) checked in    (b) laid out    (c) jotted down    (d) run by

The evaluation forms that you requested should have been _______ to all the production employees in your division several weeks ago.

(a) noticed    (b) accepted    (c) included    (d) distributed

The owners relied on grassroots marketing to reach the community and _______ more customers to the local restaurant.

(a) charm    (b) tempt    (c) attract    (d) persuade