New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Communication and Grammar 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- The supervisor and me attended the meeting.
- The supervisor and I attended the meeting. (Correct answer)
- The supervisor and myself attended the meeting.
- Me and the supervisor attended the meeting.
Correct answer: The supervisor and I attended the meeting.
Use 'I' as a subject pronoun when it is part of a compound subject.
Question 2: Which word is spelled correctly?
- accomodate
- acommodate
- accommodate (Correct answer)
- acomodate
Correct answer: accommodate
'Accommodate' is the correct spelling, with double 'c' and double 'm'.
Question 3: Which sentence uses the correct punctuation?
- The report is due on Friday however I need more time.
- The report is due on Friday, however I need more time.
- The report is due on Friday; however, I need more time. (Correct answer)
- The report is due on Friday; however I need more time.
Correct answer: The report is due on Friday; however, I need more time.
A semicolon precedes a conjunctive adverb like 'however,' and a comma follows it.
Question 4: A civil service memo states: 'Each employee must submit their timesheet by 5 PM on Friday.' What does this sentence require?
- Only managers must submit timesheets.
- Timesheets are due sometime on Friday.
- Every individual employee must submit a timesheet no later than 5 PM on Friday. (Correct answer)
- Employees may submit timesheets on the following Monday.
Correct answer: Every individual employee must submit a timesheet no later than 5 PM on Friday.
The word 'each' indicates every individual, and 'by 5 PM' sets the deadline as no later than that time.
Question 5: Which word best completes the sentence: 'The department's new policy will ______ employee efficiency'?
- effect
- affect (Correct answer)
- infect
- reflect
Correct answer: affect
'Affect' is a verb meaning to have an influence on, while 'effect' is typically a noun.
Question 6: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running to the office, John dropped his files.
- Running to the office, the files were dropped. (Correct answer)
- John dropped his files while running to the office.
- The files fell when John ran to the office.
Correct answer: Running to the office, the files were dropped.
A dangling modifier occurs when the phrase 'Running to the office' has no logical subject—files cannot run.
New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Communication and Grammar 1
Which sentence is grammatically correct?