New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Expression and Communication 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An NJ civil service report reads: 'The committee have reached their decision.' Is this sentence correct?
- Yes, because 'committee' is plural.
- No, 'committee' takes a singular verb: 'has reached'. (Correct answer)
- No, 'their' should be 'its'.
- Yes, collective nouns always use plural verbs in American English.
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.'
Question 2: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running to catch the bus, she dropped her files.
- Having reviewed the case, the supervisor approved the request.
- After filing the forms, the clerk submitted them.
- Walking through the office, the report was misplaced. (Correct answer)
Correct 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.
Question 3: What is the correct possessive form for a building belonging to the city?
- city's building (Correct answer)
- cities building
- citys' building
- cities' building
Correct answer: city's building
'City's building' correctly shows singular possessive by adding an apostrophe and 's' to the singular noun.
Question 4: A supervisor's email says: 'Please insure your reports are submitted by Friday.' What word is misused?
- Please
- insure (Correct answer)
- submitted
- Friday
Correct answer: insure
'Ensure' means to make certain; 'insure' relates to financial insurance — the correct word here is 'ensure.'
Question 5: Which sentence demonstrates parallel structure?
- The clerk must file, to sort, and reviewing documents.
- The clerk must file, sort, and review documents. (Correct answer)
- The clerk must filing, sorting, and reviewing documents.
- The clerk must file, sorting, and to review documents.
Correct 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.
Question 6: In formal government writing, which is the preferred way to write numbers?
- Always write numbers as numerals.
- Spell out numbers one through nine; use numerals for 10 and above. (Correct answer)
- Always spell out all numbers.
- Use numerals only for numbers above 100.
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses 'affect' and 'effect'?
- The policy change will effect all employees.
- The new rule will affect daily procedures. (Correct answer)
- Poor morale can affect to productivity.
- The affect of the decision was significant.
Correct answer: The new rule will affect daily procedures.
'Affect' is typically a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is typically a noun meaning the result.
New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Expression and Communication 3
An NJ civil service report reads: 'The committee have reached their decision.' Is this sentence correct?