New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Expression and Communication 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A public notice reads: 'Applications are due no later than August 15th, 2026.' What formatting element is incorrectly used?
- The comma after '15th'
- The ordinal 'th' in '15th' (Correct answer)
- The year format
- No error; the sentence is correct.
Correct answer: The ordinal 'th' in '15th'
When writing dates in formal documents, ordinal suffixes (st, nd, rd, th) are unnecessary — write 'August 15, 2026.'
Question 2: Which sentence best demonstrates active voice in a civil service context?
- The application was processed by the clerk.
- Errors were found in the file by the auditor.
- The supervisor approved the budget revision. (Correct answer)
- Approval of the budget was given by the supervisor.
Correct answer: The supervisor approved the budget revision.
'The supervisor approved the budget revision' places the doer (supervisor) as the subject performing the action, which is active voice.
Question 3: What is the purpose of an executive summary in a government report?
- To provide all raw data collected.
- To give a brief overview of the report's key points and conclusions. (Correct answer)
- To list all references and citations.
- To describe the methodology in full detail.
Correct answer: To give a brief overview of the report's key points and conclusions.
An executive summary briefly presents the main findings and conclusions so decision-makers can quickly grasp the report's purpose.
Question 4: Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?
- Each of the officers submits a daily log.
- Neither the manager nor the staff members were notified.
- The data shows a clear trend.
- The number of violations have increased this year. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The number of violations have increased this year.
'The number' is a singular subject and requires the singular verb 'has,' not 'have.'
Question 5: In a business letter, where should the date be placed?
- After the salutation
- Below the closing
- Above the inside address, near the top (Correct answer)
- At the very bottom of the letter
Correct answer: Above the inside address, near the top
In standard letter format, the date appears at the top, above the recipient's inside address.
Question 6: Which word correctly completes this sentence: 'The officer _____ to respond to the complaint within 30 days.'
- is required (Correct answer)
- are required
- were required
- be required
Correct answer: is required
'The officer' is singular, so the singular verb 'is required' correctly agrees with the subject.
Question 7: What does 'jargon' mean in the context of professional writing?
- Grammatically incorrect sentences
- Specialized terminology that may confuse general readers (Correct answer)
- Overly long paragraphs
- Sentences written in passive voice
Correct answer: Specialized terminology that may confuse general readers
Jargon is field-specific terminology that insiders understand but may confuse the general public; it should be avoided or explained in public-facing documents.
New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Expression and Communication 4
A public notice reads: 'Applications are due no later than August 15th, 2026.' What formatting element is incorrectly used?