Free Texas Civil Service Grammar and Writing Ability Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct and most clearly written for an official report?
- The committee, after reviewing all the proposals, has made their decision.
- A decision was made by the committee, they reviewed all of the proposals.
- After reviewing all proposals, the committee has made its decision. (Correct answer)
- The committees decision, made after reviewing all proposals, were announced.
Correct answer: After reviewing all proposals, the committee has made its decision.
This sentence is the most clear and grammatically sound. The introductory phrase 'After reviewing all proposals' correctly modifies 'the committee.' The subject 'committee' (a singular entity) correctly agrees with the possessive pronoun 'its'. Answer A has a pronoun agreement error ('committee' is singular, 'their' is plural). Answer B is a run-on sentence. Answer D incorrectly uses 'committees' as a possessive, and the verb 'were' does not agree with the singular subject 'decision'.
Question 2: Select the word that correctly completes the following sentence: The new city ordinance will _______ the process for obtaining a construction permit.
- affect (Correct answer)
- effect
- acsept
- except
Correct answer: affect
The correct word is 'affect,' which is a verb meaning 'to influence or produce a change in.' The word 'effect' is typically a noun meaning 'a result.' 'Acsept' is a misspelling of 'accept,' and 'except' is a preposition meaning 'not including.'
Question 3: The new hire's primary duties include managing correspondence, scheduling appointments, and ______ reports for the department head.
- to prepare
- will be preparing
- prepares
- preparing (Correct answer)
Correct answer: preparing
This question tests parallel structure. The list of duties uses the '-ing' form (gerund) for the first two items ('managing,' 'scheduling'). To maintain parallel structure, the third item must also be in the '-ing' form, which is 'preparing'. The other options break the grammatical pattern of the list.
Question 4: Which sentence expresses the idea most concisely and professionally?
- It is absolutely essential that all employees make a point to be in attendance at the mandatory meeting that is scheduled for Friday.
- All employees must attend the mandatory meeting on Friday. (Correct answer)
- The meeting scheduled for Friday is mandatory, and as such, attendance by all employees is required and expected.
- Regarding the meeting on Friday, it is mandatory, so all employees have to be there without exception.
Correct answer: All employees must attend the mandatory meeting on Friday.
This sentence is the most direct and concise, conveying all necessary information without unnecessary words or redundancy. Professional writing values clarity and brevity. The other options are wordy and use filler phrases ('absolutely essential,' 'make a point to be,' 'as such,' 'without exception') that do not add meaning.
Question 5: The collection of historical documents, along with the antique map, ______ displayed in the main lobby of City Hall.
- is (Correct answer)
- are
- were
- have been
Correct answer: is
The subject of the sentence is 'collection,' which is a singular noun. The verb must agree with the subject, not with the object of the prepositional phrase ('documents' or 'map'). Therefore, the singular verb 'is' is correct. The phrase 'along with the antique map' is an intervening phrase that does not affect subject-verb agreement.
Question 6: Which of the following sentences uses punctuation correctly?
- The parks department is responsible for three main areas; maintenance, programming, and public safety.
- The parks department is responsible for three main areas: maintenance, programming, and public safety. (Correct answer)
- The parks department, is responsible for three main areas, maintenance, programming, and public safety.
- The parks department is responsible for three main areas, maintenance programming and public safety.
Correct answer: The parks department is responsible for three main areas: maintenance, programming, and public safety.
A colon is used correctly here to introduce a list that follows an independent clause. Answer A incorrectly uses a semicolon, which is typically used to connect two related independent clauses. Answer C uses commas incorrectly, separating the subject from its verb. Answer D is missing a comma after 'programming' in the series.
