Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Vocabulary in Context 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The organisation was described as 'bureaucratic'. What does this suggest?
- Involving excessive official procedures (Correct answer)
- Highly efficient
- Informal and flexible
- Recently restructured
Correct answer: Involving excessive official procedures
'Bureaucratic' describes excessive use of official rules and procedures, often to the point of inefficiency. It implies rigid adherence to process.
Question 2: The manager used the word 'expedite' in her email. What did she mean?
- Speed up (Correct answer)
- Delay
- Investigate
- Reconsider
Correct answer: Speed up
'Expedite' means to make something happen sooner or more quickly. She was asking for the process to be accelerated.
Question 3: The CEO described the merger as 'synergistic'. What did she mean?
- The combined entities would produce a better outcome than separately (Correct answer)
- The merger would be complex
- The two companies are very different
- The merger has been delayed
Correct answer: The combined entities would produce a better outcome than separately
'Synergy' means the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect greater than the sum of their individual effects. Synergistic describes this quality.
Question 4: The policy document used the word 'mitigate'. What does it mean?
- Lessen or reduce the severity of (Correct answer)
- Completely eliminate
- Cause or create
- Investigate further
Correct answer: Lessen or reduce the severity of
'Mitigate' means to make something less severe, serious, or painful. You mitigate risks by reducing their impact.
Question 5: The press release described the development as 'unprecedented'. What does this mean?
- Never having happened before (Correct answer)
- Highly significant
- Widely anticipated
- Recently approved
Correct answer: Never having happened before
'Unprecedented' means never done or known before. An unprecedented event is one with no historical precedent.
Question 6: In a job advertisement, the role is described as requiring 'acumen'. What does this mean?
- Sharpness of mind and good judgement (Correct answer)
- Physical stamina
- Technical qualifications
- Language skills
Correct answer: Sharpness of mind and good judgement
'Acumen' refers to the ability to make good judgements and quick decisions — shrewd business sense or intelligence.
Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Vocabulary in Context 2
The organisation was described as 'bureaucratic'.
What does this suggest?