Free Texas Civil Service Grammar and Writing Ability Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct and most clearly written for an official report?

Accepted Answer

After reviewing all proposals, the committee has made its decision.

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

affect

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

preparing

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

All employees must attend the mandatory meeting on Friday.

Answer

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The collection of historical documents, along with the antique map, ______ displayed in the main lobby of City Hall.

Accepted Answer

is

Answer

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.

Texas Civil Service Exam Practice Test

Texas Civil Service Exam Practice Test

Free Texas Civil Service Grammar and Writing Ability Questions and Answers