Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Grammar and Sentence Completion 1

Question 1

Choose the correct sentence:

Accepted Answer

Neither the manager nor the staff were informed.

Answer

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 'Staff' is plural, so 'were' is correct.

Question 2

Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: 'The results were ______ than expected.'

Accepted Answer

better

Answer

'Better' is the comparative form of 'good.' 'More good,' 'gooder,' and 'most good' are all grammatically incorrect.

Question 3

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

Accepted Answer

The committee has reached its decision.

Answer

In British English, collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs, but consistency is required. Option A is internally consistent: singular verb with singular pronoun.

Question 4

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

Accepted Answer

The manager's report was thorough.

Answer

'Manager's' (singular possessive) is correct for one manager's report. The apostrophe before 's' shows possession.

Question 5

Select the correct word: 'The department must ensure ______ procedures are followed.'

Accepted Answer

its

Answer

'Its' is the possessive pronoun (no apostrophe). 'It's' means 'it is.' The department's procedures are referred to with 'its.'

Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Practice Test

Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Practice Test

Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Grammar and Sentence Completion 1