Your taskFill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.sponsorshipoutreachupgradedsoftwarehardwareserverdatabaseback uppasswordlog infirewallvirustroubleshootingtechnicianengineering0 / 15 answeredYour score0 / 150%Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.1The company signed a three-year deal with the city's football club to increase brand visibility. (SPONSOR)Correct answer: sponsorship▸ Why?Add -ship to "sponsor" to form "sponsorship" — the noun for the act or arrangement of financially supporting an event, team, or cause; "sponsor" alone is a noun (the person who sponsors) or verb; "sponsoring" is the gerund — "a ___ deal" requires the noun form.2The company's community programme runs coding workshops for underprivileged students every Saturday. (OUTREACH)Correct answer: outreach▸ Why?"Outreach" is the compound noun for efforts to connect with and provide services to a wider community; it combines "out" + "reach"; "outreach programme" is a fixed TOEIC compound — "outreach" should be written as one word.3The system handles twice the transaction volume of the previous version with no performance issues. (UPGRADE)Correct answer: upgraded▸ Why?"Upgrade" + -d → "upgraded" — the adjective meaning improved to a newer, more capable version; "upgrade" alone is a noun or verb; "upgrading" is a gerund — "The ___ system" requires an adjective modifier before the noun.4All employees must install the latest version of the antivirus before connecting to the corporate network. (SOFTWARE)Correct answer: software▸ Why?"Software" is the uncountable compound noun for computer programs and operating information; it combines "soft" + "ware"; contrast with "hardware" (physical components); "softwares" is never correct — "software" is always uncountable in standard English.5The IT department ordered new — including laptops, monitors, and docking stations — for all new hires. (HARDWARE)Correct answer: hardware▸ Why?"Hardware" is the uncountable compound noun for physical computing equipment; contrast with "software" (programs); "hardwares" is never correct — "hardware" is always uncountable; "hard" as a standalone adjective does not mean computing equipment.6The web went offline for two hours after a power surge in the data centre, affecting all hosted sites. (SERVE)Correct answer: server▸ Why?Add -r to "serve" to form "server" — the agent noun for a computer that manages access to resources or services on a network; "serve" is a verb; "service" is a different word — "server" specifically refers to the machine in an IT context.7The customer must be updated with accurate contact details before the next mailing campaign begins. (DATABASE)Correct answer: database▸ Why?"Database" is the compound noun for an organised collection of structured information stored electronically; it combines "data" + "base"; "data base" (two words) is an outdated variant; "dataset" refers to a specific set of data, not the full system.8IT policy requires all staff to their files to the cloud storage system at least once per week. (BACKUP)Correct answer: back up▸ Why?"Backup" (noun/adjective) → "back up" (phrasal verb, two words); after "to ___," the infinitive phrasal verb is required; "backup" (one word) is the noun ("create a backup") — when used as a verb, it must be written as two words: "back up."9Employees are required to change their every 90 days and must not share it with colleagues. (PASSWORD)Correct answer: password▸ Why?"Password" is the compound noun for a secret string of characters used to gain access; it combines "pass" + "word"; "passcode" is a synonym when referring to numeric codes; "passphrase" is used for longer strings — TOEIC uses "password" as the standard term.10Users must with their corporate credentials before accessing any files on the shared drive. (LOGIN)Correct answer: log in▸ Why?"Login" (noun/adjective, one word) → "log in" (phrasal verb, two words); after "must ___," the infinitive phrasal verb is required; "login credentials" uses the one-word noun form — the spelling rule mirrors "backup/back up" and "check-in/check in."11The company's blocked the attempted intrusion and generated an automatic security alert to the IT team. (FIREWALL)Correct answer: firewall▸ Why?"Firewall" is the compound noun for a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic; it combines "fire" + "wall" (a barrier against fire); in IT, it acts as a security barrier — "fire wall" (two words) is not standard in computing contexts.12The antivirus software detected a in the downloaded file and quarantined it before any damage occurred. (VIRUS)Correct answer: virus▸ Why?"Virus" in computing is the noun for malicious software that replicates itself and damages files or systems; "viruses" is the plural; "malware" is a broader term covering all malicious software — "a ___" in the singular requires the base noun "virus."13The IT helpdesk guide includes a step-by-step section for the most common connectivity issues. (TROUBLESHOOT)Correct answer: troubleshooting▸ Why?"Troubleshoot" + -ing → "troubleshooting" — the noun for the process of diagnosing and resolving technical problems; "troubleshoot" is the verb (irregular past: troubleshot); "troubleshooting guide" and "troubleshooting section" are standard TOEIC tech compound nouns.14A certified was dispatched to repair the faulty network switch within two hours of the fault report. (TECHNICIAN)Correct answer: technician▸ Why?"Technician" is the noun for a person skilled in the practical aspects of a technical subject; it derives from "technic" + -ian (a person suffix); contrast with "engineer" (higher-level design and system work) — "A certified ___" dispatched for repairs points to a hands-on technical specialist.15She holds a master's degree in software and has led development teams for over a decade. (ENGINEER)Correct answer: engineering▸ Why?"Engineer" + -ing → "engineering" — the noun for the discipline of designing and building systems; "software engineering" is a fixed TOEIC academic and professional compound; "engineering" as a noun refers to the field, while "engineer" is the person or verb.Check AnswersPlease answer at least one question first.Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.