TOEIC® Reading Practice Test 02

To: All Staff From: Human Resources Re: New Flexible Start-Time Policy We are pleased to announce that, beginning October 1, employees (1)____ to choose their own start time between 7:30 and 9:30 A.M. Core hours, when everyone is expected to be present, will run from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. (2)____ Your total number of working hours each day will remain unchanged; whatever start time you select, you will simply finish eight hours later. To help managers plan coverage, please inform your team leader of your preferred schedule (3)____ September 24. If your role requires you to be available at specific times, your manager will discuss this with you (4)____. We believe this change will improve work-life balance across the company.

NOTICE: Lunchtime Language Classes Beginning next month, Hartwell Corporation will offer free Spanish classes for employees during the lunch hour. The classes (1)____ by a certified instructor from the Riverton Language School. Sessions will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:15 to 12:55 in Meeting Room C. Because space is limited, employees must sign up (2)____ the front desk before the first session. (3)____ Anyone who registers after that will be added to a waiting list. Beginners are welcome, and no prior experience is (4)____. We hope many of you will take this chance to learn a new skill.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Volta Motors Unveils Compact Electric Van Volta Motors today introduced the Volta Mini-E, a compact electric delivery van aimed at small businesses. (1)____ The vehicle can travel up to 180 miles on a single charge and recharges fully in under four hours. The company says the van (2)____ growing demand from urban couriers seeking cleaner, cheaper alternatives to diesel vehicles. "City deliveries are exactly where electric vans make the most sense," said product manager Leah Song. Volta expects the Mini-E to be (3)____ available in early spring, with pre-orders opening next week. Analysts have praised the company (4)____ its focus on the fast-growing small-business market.

Dear Ms. Harlow, Thank you for contacting us about the standing desk you purchased last month. We are sorry to hear that the height adjustment (1)____ properly. Based on your description, it is likely that the control panel simply needs to be reset. We have attached a short guide that (2)____ you through the steps. Most customers find that this resolves the issue within a few minutes. If the problem continues after you have tried the reset, we would be happy to send a replacement panel at no additional (3)____ to you. Simply reply to this message and we will arrange shipment right away. (4)____ Sincerely, Customer Care Team

NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES Maple Street Parking Lot Please be aware that the main employee parking lot on Maple Street will be closed for resurfacing from Thursday, June 11, through Saturday, June 13. During this period the lot will be completely inaccessible, and any vehicles left overnight on Wednesday must be removed by 6:00 P.M. While the work is underway, employees may park free of charge in the municipal garage on Third Avenue. Please bring your parking receipt to the reception desk for reimbursement. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation. — Facilities Department

CORE & CALM STUDIO Move better. Feel better. Now enrolling for our summer session! Core & Calm offers small-group classes in yoga, pilates, and strength training, all led by certified instructors in our bright, newly renovated studio on Lyndon Avenue. Sign up before June 1 and your first month is half price. New members also receive a free fitness assessment to help set personal goals. Not sure yet? Drop-in classes are available for $18 each. Classes run seven days a week, morning and evening. View the full schedule and reserve your spot at www.coreandcalm.com.

Olivia Grant (2:05 P.M.): Hey, did the projector for the 3:00 client pitch get delivered? Derek Malone (2:07 P.M.): It came, but it's the wrong model — no HDMI port. Olivia Grant (2:08 P.M.): Oh no. My laptop only has HDMI. Can we borrow one from the design team? Derek Malone (2:10 P.M.): Already on it. Priya says we can use theirs, but someone needs to grab it from the fourth floor. Olivia Grant (2:11 P.M.): I'll go now. Can you set up the room while I'm gone? Derek Malone (2:12 P.M.): Consider it done.

To: Priya Ramesh From: Owen Blackwood, Events Coordinator Subject: Your booth at the Harvest Trade Fair Date: August 5 Dear Ms. Ramesh, Thank you for registering Ramesh Organics for this year's Harvest Trade Fair on September 10. I am writing to confirm your booth assignment and to request a few details. Your booth, number 42, is located in the main hall near the north entrance, an area that typically sees heavy foot traffic. Setup begins at 7:00 A.M., and the fair opens to the public at 9:00. Could you please send the name of your on-site contact and a list of any electrical equipment you plan to use by August 25? We will provide a table, two chairs, and a signboard with your company name. If you need additional furniture, it can be rented through our supplier at a modest cost. We look forward to a successful event. Best regards, Owen Blackwood

OAKDALE — Sunrise Bakery, a neighborhood fixture on Chestnut Street for over twenty years, will begin offering cooking and baking classes next month, owner Marco Ferreira announced this week. The classes grew out of frequent customer requests. "People kept asking how we make our sourdough," Mr. Ferreira said. "Eventually I realized there was real interest in learning, not just buying." Held in the bakery's expanded back kitchen, the evening classes will cover breads, pastries, and cakes, with no more than eight students per session so that everyone gets hands-on time. Mr. Ferreira said the bakery's regular retail hours will not change. The first session, on bread basics, is already fully booked, and a waiting list has opened for future dates.

MEMORANDUM To: All Warehouse Staff From: Grace Okonkwo, Operations Manager Date: February 2 Re: Updated end-of-shift procedure Effective Monday, February 9, all staff must follow a new end-of-shift checklist before leaving the floor. This change is intended to improve safety and reduce equipment damage overnight. At the end of each shift, please do the following: return all handheld scanners to the charging rack, switch off and unplug the shrink-wrap machines, and confirm that the loading-bay doors are fully closed. Team leads will complete a short sign-off sheet posted by the exit. Please note that forklifts should be parked in the marked bay but left plugged in to charge overnight. If you have questions, see me or your team lead before Friday.

www.pinehillpark.org/plan Plan Your Visit — Pine Hill Nature Park Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk, year-round. The visitor center is open 9 A.M.–4 P.M. Admission: Entry to the park is free. A small fee of $5 per vehicle applies at the main parking area; walkers and cyclists enter at no charge. Guided nature walks, offered every Saturday at 10 A.M., are free but require advance booking, as group sizes are capped. Trails: The park has twelve miles of marked trails, ranging from easy to challenging. Trail maps are available at the visitor center or can be downloaded from this site. Please help us protect the park: keep dogs on a leash, carry out all litter, and do not pick the wildflowers.

Reviewed by Amara D. ★★★★☆ Dinner at Solstice Bistro Solstice Bistro was a pleasant surprise for a Tuesday night out. The dining room is small but warmly lit, and our table by the window had a lovely view of the harbor. The seasonal menu changes weekly, and our server was genuinely knowledgeable, recommending a grilled-fish special that turned out to be the highlight of the meal. Service was attentive without being intrusive. My only quibble is that the restaurant does not take reservations, so we waited about twenty-five minutes for a table, even on a quiet evening. Arriving early would be my advice. The prices are fair for the quality, and I'll certainly be back — next time, a little earlier.

Brightwater Utilities 100 Cedar Lane, Kelston November 8 Dear Mr. Feldman, We are writing to let you know about scheduled maintenance that will temporarily affect water service to your neighborhood. On Tuesday, November 18, between 9:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., crews will replace an aging section of the main pipe on Cedar Lane. During these hours, your water supply will be shut off. We recommend storing enough water for drinking and basic needs beforehand. When service resumes, you may notice that the water appears slightly cloudy for a short time; this is harmless and will clear if you run the cold tap for a few minutes. No action is required on your part, and there will be no charge for this work. We have chosen a midweek daytime window to minimize disruption to households. We appreciate your patience as we work to keep your water system reliable. Sincerely, Brightwater Utilities

Cyprus Textiles Adds Night Shift to Meet Demand BRADLEY (March 3) — Cyprus Textiles, a manufacturer of upholstery fabric, announced it will add a full night shift at its Bradley plant beginning next month. — [1] —. The move is expected to create about 60 new jobs in the area. Managing director Nadia Petrou said orders had risen sharply over the past year, particularly from furniture makers. — [2] —. "We simply cannot keep up with demand on a single daytime shift," she said. The company plans to recruit and train new workers over the coming weeks, with priority given to local applicants. — [3] —. Existing employees will not be required to change their hours. Community leaders welcomed the announcement. — [4] —. A local college has offered to run a short training course for those hoping to apply.

To: rentals@stagecraftav.com From: t.okoro@fairwindconf.org Subject: AV equipment for annual gala Date: April 10 Hello, I am coordinating the Fairwind Foundation's annual gala and would like a quote for audiovisual equipment. The event is on Saturday, May 16, at the Lakeview Ballroom, running from 6:00 to 10:00 P.M. We will need two wireless microphones for speeches, a projector and screen for a short slideshow, and background sound for about 250 guests. Setup must be finished by 5:00 P.M., as guests begin arriving at 5:30. Our budget for equipment and an on-site technician is around $900. Could you tell me what you can offer within that range, and whether a technician can remain for the whole evening in case of any issues? Thank you, Tobias Okoro

To: t.okoro@fairwindconf.org From: rentals@stagecraftav.com Subject: RE: AV equipment for annual gala Date: April 11 Dear Mr. Okoro, Thank you for considering Stagecraft AV. We can certainly meet your needs for May 16 and stay within your budget. Our Event Package at $850 includes two wireless microphones, a high-brightness projector with a 12-foot screen, and a speaker system suitable for a room of your size. Importantly, the package includes an on-site technician who will arrive for setup and stay until the equipment is packed away at the end of the night. We can have everything installed and tested by 4:30 P.M., leaving a comfortable margin before your guests arrive. To secure the date, we ask for a signed rental agreement and a 30 percent deposit. Please let me know if you would like to proceed. Kind regards, Dana Whitlock Stagecraft AV

www.riverkeepers.org/join Riverkeepers — Volunteer Program Coordinator (Part-Time) Riverkeepers is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Marrow River watershed. We are seeking a part-time Volunteer Program Coordinator to organize our growing community of volunteers. Responsibilities: • Recruit, schedule, and support volunteers for cleanup and monitoring events • Maintain the volunteer database and send weekly updates • Represent Riverkeepers at community fairs Requirements: • At least two years of experience coordinating volunteers or events • Excellent organizational and communication skills • Comfortable working some weekends, as many events are held on Saturdays • Experience with database software is an asset but not essential This is a 20-hour-per-week position with a flexible weekday schedule. To apply, email your résumé and a brief statement of interest to jobs@riverkeepers.org by April 30.

To: jobs@riverkeepers.org From: h.nakamura@mail.com Subject: Application — Volunteer Program Coordinator Date: April 18 Dear Hiring Committee, I am writing to apply for the Volunteer Program Coordinator position. My résumé and statement of interest are attached. For the past three years, I have coordinated volunteers for a city food bank, where I scheduled more than fifty people each month and ran two large fundraising fairs. I am highly organized and enjoy keeping teams motivated and informed. I am also confident with database tools, having managed our food bank's donor system. I understand that many of your events fall on weekends, and I want to note that I am fully available on Saturdays. I am excited about the chance to support the Marrow River watershed and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application. Sincerely, Hana Nakamura

www.willowbrookretreat.com/meetings Willowbrook Retreat Center — Meeting Space Rates Set in quiet countryside, Willowbrook offers meeting rooms for corporate retreats, workshops, and training days. Rooms: • The Fern Room — seats up to 25 — $200 per day • The Cedar Room — seats up to 60 — $400 per day • The Grand Lodge — seats up to 150 — $750 per day Catering (per person): • Morning Package: coffee, tea, and pastries — $10 • Lunch Package: two-course buffet — $20 • Day Package: morning refreshments plus lunch — $26 (save $4) Every room includes a projector, whiteboard, and free parking. Bookings must be confirmed at least ten days in advance. A 10 percent discount applies to bookings of two or more days. To reserve, e-mail events@willowbrookretreat.com.

To: events@willowbrookretreat.com From: k.abara@nexuslogistics.com Subject: Booking for staff training day Date: July 1 Hello, I would like to book a room for a one-day staff training on Thursday, July 24. We expect 48 people, so we will need a room that comfortably seats everyone. Please include the Day Package for all attendees, as the session runs from 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. and we would like to keep everyone on-site for meals. We will also need a flip chart in addition to the whiteboard, if that can be arranged. Could you send an invoice once the booking is confirmed? Our accounts team needs it before they can release payment. Thank you, Kwame Abara Nexus Logistics

WILLOWBROOK RETREAT CENTER INVOICE #WB-3390 Bill to: Nexus Logistics Event date: July 24 Description ............................... Amount Cedar Room (1 day) ...................... $400.00 Day Package — 48 attendees × $26 ....... $1,248.00 Flip chart rental ....................... $25.00 ------------------------------------------------------ Subtotal ............................... $1,673.00 Deposit received (25%) ................. –$418.25 ------------------------------------------------------ Balance due ............................ $1,254.75 Payment due by July 17. Thank you for choosing Willowbrook.

WESTON ADULT EDUCATION CENTER Winter Evening Courses Learn something new this winter! Our evening courses are taught by experienced instructors and meet once a week for six weeks. Class sizes are small, so early registration is encouraged. This term's courses: • Beginning Watercolor Painting • Home Bookkeeping • Intermediate French • Creative Writing Fees: $90 per course, or $160 for any two. All materials are included except for Watercolor Painting, for which students must bring their own brushes. Center members receive a 20 percent discount. Register online at www.westonadulted.org or by phone by January 5.

Winter Evening Course Schedule — Weston Adult Education Center All classes run 6:00–7:30 P.M. Course ............................ Day ......... Room Beginning Watercolor Painting .... Monday ...... Studio 1 Home Bookkeeping ................. Tuesday ..... Room 4 Intermediate French .............. Wednesday ... Room 2 Creative Writing ................. Thursday .... Room 2 Classes begin the week of January 12. Please arrive a few minutes early to the first class to collect any handouts.

To: info@westonadulted.org From: d.moreau@mail.com Subject: Question about my registration Date: January 3 Hello, I signed up last week for two courses — Home Bookkeeping and Creative Writing — and I'm looking forward to starting. I just want to double-check the schedule. Could you confirm that the two courses meet on different evenings? I have a standing commitment on Tuesday nights, so if there is a conflict I may need to switch. If Home Bookkeeping is on a night I can't attend, could I move into Intermediate French instead? Also, I am a center member, so I believe the member discount should apply to my total. Thank you, Denise Moreau

Chapters & Co. Opens Flagship Store With Café Chapters & Co., the independent bookseller, opened its largest store yet on Halden Square last weekend. The new location is the first to include a full café and the first to stay open until 9 P.M. on weeknights. To mark the opening, the store is offering a free coffee with any book purchase through the end of the month. It has also launched a mobile app that lets customers reserve books online and earn a store credit for every ten purchases. "Our customers told us they wanted a place to linger, not just shop," said owner Beatrice Lund. Reader feedback, she added, shapes the store's events calendar, which now includes weekly author readings.

★★★☆☆ Reviewed by Sanjay P. I stopped by the new Chapters & Co. on a Thursday evening, mainly because I'd heard it stays open late — perfect after work. The café was cozy, the staff were welcoming, and I loved the free-coffee promotion. My one frustration was the app. I tried to reserve a book online, but it kept freezing at the checkout screen and never recorded my purchase for store credit. I ended up reserving at the counter instead. The staff were apologetic and sorted it out quickly. I'll be back for the atmosphere and the late hours, but I hope the app gets fixed.

To: sanjay.p@mail.com From: b.lund@chaptersandco.com Subject: Thank you for your feedback Date: October 5 Dear Sanjay, Thank you for visiting our new Halden Square store and for taking the time to review it. I'm so glad you enjoyed the café and our extended weeknight hours, but I'm sorry the app gave you trouble. Our technical team has since fixed the checkout problem you described, and the store-credit feature is now working correctly. As an apology, I've added a $15 store credit to your account, which you'll see the next time you log in. Feedback like yours is invaluable, and it helps us improve. I hope to welcome you back soon. Warm regards, Beatrice Lund Owner, Chapters & Co.