Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Vocabulary in Context 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A report says the findings are 'inconclusive'. What does this mean?
- They do not lead to a definite conclusion (Correct answer)
- They strongly support one conclusion
- They are highly accurate
- They confirm the original hypothesis
Correct answer: They do not lead to a definite conclusion
'Inconclusive' means not leading to a clear or definitive conclusion. Inconclusive findings leave questions unanswered.
Question 2: The new manager was described as 'proactive'. What does this mean?
- Acting in anticipation of future problems rather than reacting to them (Correct answer)
- Reacting quickly to problems
- Following procedures closely
- Being cautious and methodical
Correct answer: Acting in anticipation of future problems rather than reacting to them
'Proactive' means taking action in advance to deal with expected difficulties, rather than waiting for problems to arise and reacting.
Question 3: A witness was described as 'credible'. What does this mean in a legal context?
- Believable and trustworthy (Correct answer)
- Highly educated
- Well-known
- Legally qualified
Correct answer: Believable and trustworthy
'Credible' means able to be believed — convincing and trustworthy. A credible witness is one whose account is plausible and reliable.
Question 4: The document described the government's position as 'unequivocal'. What does this mean?
- Leaving no doubt — completely clear (Correct answer)
- Open to interpretation
- Likely to change
- Formally stated
Correct answer: Leaving no doubt — completely clear
'Unequivocal' means leaving no doubt — expressed clearly and without ambiguity. An unequivocal statement means exactly what it says.
Question 5: The survey results were described as 'statistically significant'. What does this mean?
- The results are unlikely to be due to chance (Correct answer)
- The results are very large in scale
- The statistics were complex
- The survey was professionally conducted
Correct answer: The results are unlikely to be due to chance
'Statistically significant' means there is a low probability the result occurred by chance — it likely reflects a real pattern or effect.
Question 6: The committee 'deferred' its decision. What does this mean?
- Postponed it to a later time (Correct answer)
- Cancelled it permanently
- Changed its position
- Announced it publicly
Correct answer: Postponed it to a later time
'Deferred' means put off or delayed to a later time. The committee did not make a decision — it postponed doing so.
Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Vocabulary in Context 3
A report says the findings are 'inconclusive'.
What does this mean?