Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Reading Comprehension 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Passage: 'The council will only grant planning permission if the proposed development meets all environmental standards.' A development meets all environmental standards. Which is TRUE?
- The council may grant planning permission (Correct answer)
- The council will definitely grant planning permission
- The council will reject the application
- Environmental standards are irrelevant
Correct answer: The council may grant planning permission
Meeting environmental standards is a necessary but potentially not sufficient condition. The council 'will only' grant if standards are met — but other factors may also apply. Permission may be granted.
Question 2: Passage: 'Employees who have worked for the company for more than two years are entitled to 25 days' annual leave.' An employee has worked there for 18 months. Which is TRUE?
- The employee is not entitled to 25 days' annual leave under this policy (Correct answer)
- The employee receives 25 days' annual leave
- The employee receives no annual leave
- The employee will be entitled to 25 days next month
Correct answer: The employee is not entitled to 25 days' annual leave under this policy
18 months is less than 2 years. The policy only applies to those with more than 2 years' service. This employee does not qualify for 25 days under this policy.
Question 3: Passage: 'A recent survey found that 72% of respondents preferred working from home at least two days per week.' Which is CANNOT SAY?
- 72% of all workers prefer working from home (Correct answer)
- 72% of survey respondents preferred home working at least 2 days a week
- The survey showed most respondents favoured some home working
- Fewer than a third of respondents preferred full office working
Correct answer: 72% of all workers prefer working from home
The survey reflects respondents' views, not all workers. We cannot generalise survey results to the entire workforce.
Question 4: Passage: 'The fire exits must remain unobstructed at all times. Propping fire doors open is strictly prohibited.' Which is TRUE?
- Blocking fire exits is not allowed (Correct answer)
- Fire doors may be propped open during an emergency
- It is acceptable to briefly obstruct a fire exit
- Fire exits can be obstructed if supervised
Correct answer: Blocking fire exits is not allowed
'Must remain unobstructed at all times' clearly prohibits blocking fire exits. Option A directly reflects this rule.
Question 5: Passage: 'The trial period for the new system ends on 30 June. A full review will be conducted in July.' Which is CANNOT SAY?
- The new system will be adopted permanently after July (Correct answer)
- The trial ends before the review
- The review happens after the trial period
- A review is planned for July
Correct answer: The new system will be adopted permanently after July
The passage does not say anything about permanent adoption. Whether the system will be kept cannot be determined from the text.
Question 6: Passage: 'Not all complaints submitted online were acknowledged within the 48-hour target.' Which is TRUE?
- Some online complaints were not acknowledged within 48 hours (Correct answer)
- All online complaints were acknowledged within 48 hours
- No online complaints were acknowledged on time
- The 48-hour target was consistently met
Correct answer: Some online complaints were not acknowledged within 48 hours
'Not all' means some were not acknowledged within 48 hours. Option A is the logical equivalent of the passage statement.
Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Reading Comprehension 4
Passage: 'The council will only grant planning permission if the proposed development meets all environmental standards.' A development meets all environmental standards.
Which is TRUE?