Written Communication and Grammar Flashcards
6 cards from real New Jersey Civil Service Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Written Communication and Grammar flashcards as text
Which of the following is the best revision of this wordy sentence: 'Due to the fact that the budget was reduced, we were unable to hire new staff'?
Answer: Because the budget was reduced, we could not hire new staff.
Replacing 'due to the fact that' with 'because' and using active voice produces a cleaner sentence.
In a formal government letter, which salutation is most appropriate when the recipient's name is unknown?
Answer: To Whom It May Concern:
'To Whom It May Concern:' is the standard formal salutation when the recipient's name is not known.
Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe?
Answer: The department's records are confidential.
Use 's after a singular noun to show possession; 'records' is a simple plural with no apostrophe needed.
Which transition word best shows contrast between two ideas in a civil service report?
Answer: However
'However' introduces a contrasting idea, while the others indicate addition, conclusion, or similarity.
A government notice reads: 'Applications that are submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed.' What is the correct interpretation?
Answer: No application submitted after the deadline will be considered.
'Will not be reviewed' is absolute and applies to all applications received after the deadline.
Which version of the sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
Answer: The officer must write reports, interview witnesses, and file documents.
Parallel structure requires all items in a list to use the same grammatical form—here, base verbs.