Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Grammar and Sentence Completion 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
- The team of analysts has submitted the report. (Correct answer)
- The team of analysts have submitted the report.
- The team of analysts submit the report yesterday.
- The team of analysts were submitting the reports.
Correct answer: The team of analysts has submitted the report.
'Team' is the subject (singular collective noun). 'Has submitted' is grammatically consistent in formal British English for a single team acting as a unit.
Question 2: Select the correct sentence:
- We were given fewer resources than last year. (Correct answer)
- We were given less resources than last year.
- We were given lesser resources than last year.
- We were given a fewer resources than last year.
Correct answer: We were given fewer resources than last year.
'Fewer' is used for countable nouns (resources can be counted). 'Less' is used for uncountable nouns.
Question 3: Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'The policy affects ______ who joined before 2020.'
- those (Correct answer)
- them
- they
- theirs
Correct answer: those
'Those' is the correct pronoun to use as the subject of the relative clause 'who joined before 2020.'
Question 4: Choose the correct sentence:
- If I were in charge, I would change the policy. (Correct answer)
- If I was in charge, I would change the policy.
- If I am in charge, I would change the policy.
- If I be in charge, I would change the policy.
Correct answer: If I were in charge, I would change the policy.
The subjunctive 'were' is required for hypothetical conditions contrary to fact. 'If I were' is the grammatically correct formal form.
Question 5: Select the word that best completes the sentence: 'The new legislation will ______ all public bodies.'
- affect (Correct answer)
- effect
- impact on
- effect on
Correct answer: affect
'Affect' is the verb meaning to have an impact on. 'Effect' is usually a noun. 'Impact on' is less formal. 'Affect' is the clearest correct choice.
Question 6: Choose the grammatically correct sentence:
- She suggested that he submit the report by Friday. (Correct answer)
- She suggested that he submits the report by Friday.
- She suggested that he submitted the report by Friday.
- She suggested that he to submit the report by Friday.
Correct answer: She suggested that he submit the report by Friday.
After 'suggest that', the subjunctive is used in formal English: 'he submit' (not 'submits' or 'submitted').
Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Grammar and Sentence Completion 2
Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement: