New Jersey Civil Service Exam Reading Comprehension Analysis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A directive states: 'Supervisors shall not assign overtime to employees who have worked more than 50 hours in the current workweek unless the employee voluntarily agrees in writing.' An employee at 52 hours is assigned overtime without any written agreement. This is:
- Permissible if the supervisor documents the need.
- A violation of the directive. (Correct answer)
- Permissible because the threshold is 60 hours.
- A violation only if the employee files a complaint.
Correct answer: A violation of the directive.
The employee has exceeded 50 hours and there is no written voluntary agreement, so the assignment violates the directive.
Question 2: A passage reads: 'The author argues that public transit investment reduces urban congestion. However, the data cited covers only three cities over two years.' A reader concludes the argument is fully convincing. This conclusion is:
- Well-supported because the author cites real data.
- Questionable because the data sample is limited. (Correct answer)
- Incorrect because public transit never reduces congestion.
- Fully supported because three cities is a large sample.
Correct answer: Questionable because the data sample is limited.
A small sample of three cities over two years limits the generalizability of the findings, making a 'fully convincing' conclusion premature.
Question 3: A regulation states: 'An appeal must be filed within 30 calendar days of the decision date. Appeals filed after this deadline will be dismissed as untimely.' A decision is issued on March 1. What is the last acceptable day to file an appeal?
- March 29
- March 30
- March 31 (Correct answer)
- April 1
Correct answer: March 31
Counting 30 calendar days from March 1 (inclusive) brings the deadline to March 31.
Question 4: A paragraph states: 'Employees who transfer between departments retain their accrued vacation time but must re-establish eligibility for departmental bonuses.' An employee transfers and expects to receive last quarter's departmental bonus. Based on the passage, this expectation is:
- Reasonable, because accrued benefits transfer with the employee.
- Unreasonable, because bonus eligibility must be re-established. (Correct answer)
- Reasonable, because bonuses are based on past performance.
- Unreasonable, because vacation time also resets upon transfer.
Correct answer: Unreasonable, because bonus eligibility must be re-established.
The passage states bonus eligibility must be re-established after transfer, so expecting a previous quarter's bonus is not supported.
Question 5: A memo reads: 'If a public office is closed due to inclement weather, deadlines falling on that day are automatically extended to the next business day the office is open.' A filing deadline falls on a snow closure day. The office reopens two days later (skipping a weekend). When is the new deadline?
- The day of the closure
- The day after the closure
- The next business day the office is open (Correct answer)
- One week after the original deadline
Correct answer: The next business day the office is open
The memo states the deadline extends to the next business day the office is open, which is two days later after the weekend.
Question 6: A passage reads: 'The committee reviewed 12 proposals and funded 3. Funded proposals averaged a projected ROI of 250%, while unfunded proposals averaged 180%.' Which conclusion is most directly supported?
- Funded proposals were guaranteed to achieve 250% ROI.
- Funded proposals had higher projected returns than unfunded ones. (Correct answer)
- The committee only considered ROI when selecting proposals.
- Unfunded proposals were poorly designed.
Correct answer: Funded proposals had higher projected returns than unfunded ones.
The data shows funded proposals had a higher average projected ROI (250%) than unfunded ones (180%), directly supporting this conclusion.
Question 7: A policy states: 'Personal use of government vehicles is strictly prohibited. Commuting to and from work does not constitute personal use for employees assigned a take-home vehicle.' An assigned take-home vehicle employee drives the vehicle to their child's school event. This is:
- Permitted, because they are an assigned take-home employee.
- Prohibited, because this is personal use beyond commuting. (Correct answer)
- Permitted, because commuting exceptions cover all travel.
- Prohibited only if reported by another employee.
Correct answer: Prohibited, because this is personal use beyond commuting.
The commuting exception covers only commuting; driving to a school event is personal use, which is strictly prohibited.
New Jersey Civil Service Exam Reading Comprehension Analysis 4
A directive states: 'Supervisors shall not assign overtime to employees who have worked more than 50 hours in the current workweek unless the employee voluntarily agrees in writing.' An employee at 52 hours is assigned overtime without any written agreement.
This is: