101. The country’s two leading technology firms have ______ a new partnership that could become the world’s biggest supplier of computer parts. (A) caused (B) merged (C) forged (D) reformed

102. Many of those who were at the jazz festival last Saturday had never seen Jeffrey Calloway ______ live before. (A) perform (B) performs (C) performed (D) had performed

103. Those ______ next month’s real estate seminar will find details about the event on the organizer’s home page. (A) enrolling (B) attending (C) registering (D) participating

104. Dressler Auto’s latest sport utility vehicle can ______ get 15 kilometers per liter, though independent tests have not confirmed this. (A) patiently (B) forcefully (C) supposedly (D) mechanically

105. While interior design ______ at the new office is due to end tomorrow, management decided to schedule the relocation for next week. (A) work (B) works (C) worked (D) working

106. The fire drill, which is ______ of the city’s annual fire prevention drive, will take place from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. on July 19. (A) part (B) parts (C) partial (D) parting

107. The proportion of people ______ to work from home rather than an office has gone up considerably in recent years. (A) chose (B) choose (C) choice (D) choosing

108. Interior designer Marian Vega ______ a number of celebrities’ homes over the years and is known for having a unique sense of style. (A) decorates (B) is decorating (C) will decorate (D) has decorated

109. Marvelstone Finance has managed to earn an average annual ______ of 10 percent on its investments since the company’s foundation. (A) return (B) interest (C) pension (D) asset

110. Each year, the Mellman Foundation awards college scholarships to the ______ from around the country. (A) gift (B) gifts (C) gifted (D) gifting

111. Students must ensure they have enrolled in all of their preferred classes ______ it will not be possible to make changes after tomorrow. (A) why (B) once (C) unless (D) since

112. Poorly conducted salary negotiations may result in a firm’s failure to ______ its best employees during a financial crisis. (A) obtain (B) persist (C) distinguish (D) retain

113. ______ money from her local bank, Ms. Shermer was able to buy all of the equipment she needed to start her laundry business. (A) Borrow (B) To borrow (C) Borrowed (D) Borrowing

114. The restaurant manager apologized ______ for the delay in serving the diners their food, and offered them a discount on their next meal there. (A) curiously (B) silently (C) favorably (D) profusely

115. The company’s newest plant in Mexico is expected to go into operation at the end of the month and will be working at full ______ by December. (A) figure (B) position (C) capacity (D) balance

116. Economic ministers concerned about the risks of inflation are debating ______ to continue encouraging consumer spending or to start raising interest rates. (A) after (B) whether (C) provided (D) until

117. Researchers have observed that some patrons, when ______ with many options, do not request assistants to extend support. (A) face (B) faces (C) faced (D) facing

118. For business owner Susan Umbert, the most ______ traits of a successful entrepreneur are adaptability, perseverance, and self-confidence. (A) audible (B) attentive (C) integral (D) transparent

119. Cost-effective food preservation can be achieved ______ traditional methods, which do not require the introduction of expensive chemical procedures. (A) in place of (B) as opposed to (C) by means of (D) with regard to

120. Had the government intervened in the financial markets sooner, by introducing appropriate regulation, the crisis might ______ much differently than it did. (A) unfolding (B) unfolded (C) have unfolded (D) be unfolding