Written Expression and Communication Flashcards
7 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 7 Written Expression and Communication flashcards as text
An NJ civil service report reads: 'The committee have reached their decision.' Is this sentence correct?
Answer: No, 'committee' takes a singular verb: 'has reached'.
In American English, collective nouns like 'committee' typically take singular verbs: 'the committee has reached its decision.'
Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
Answer: Walking through the office, the report was misplaced.
'Walking through the office' dangles because the report cannot walk — the sentence needs a human subject performing the action.
What is the correct possessive form for a building belonging to the city?
Answer: city's building
'City's building' correctly shows singular possessive by adding an apostrophe and 's' to the singular noun.
A supervisor's email says: 'Please insure your reports are submitted by Friday.' What word is misused?
Answer: insure
'Ensure' means to make certain; 'insure' relates to financial insurance — the correct word here is 'ensure.'
Which sentence demonstrates parallel structure?
Answer: The clerk must file, sort, and review documents.
Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms; 'file, sort, and review' are all base-form verbs in the same series.
In formal government writing, which is the preferred way to write numbers?
Answer: Spell out numbers one through nine; use numerals for 10 and above.
Standard style in government writing is to spell out numbers one through nine and use numerals for 10 and above.
Which sentence correctly uses 'affect' and 'effect'?
Answer: The new rule will affect daily procedures.
'Affect' is typically a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is typically a noun meaning the result.