New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Expression and Grammar 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which punctuation mark should replace the blank: 'The director made one thing clear _____ tardiness would not be tolerated.'
- ,
- ;
- : (Correct answer)
- —
Correct answer: :
A colon is used after a complete clause to introduce an explanation or elaboration of what precedes it.
Question 2: Which sentence avoids using a dangling modifier?
- After reviewing the file, the decision was made.
- After reviewing the file, the officer made the decision. (Correct answer)
- Reviewing the file, a decision was reached.
- Having been reviewed, the officer made a decision.
Correct answer: After reviewing the file, the officer made the decision.
The participial phrase 'After reviewing the file' must be immediately followed by 'the officer,' who performed the reviewing.
Question 3: Select the correct spelling of the word meaning 'happening at the same time.'
- simultanious
- simultaneous (Correct answer)
- simultaneus
- simaltaneous
Correct answer: simultaneous
The correct spelling is 'simultaneous,' meaning occurring at the same time.
Question 4: Which sentence uses active voice?
- The report was submitted by the analyst.
- The policy had been revised by management.
- The analyst submitted the report. (Correct answer)
- Mistakes were made.
Correct answer: The analyst submitted the report.
Active voice puts the subject ('analyst') as the doer of the action, making the sentence direct and clear.
Question 5: Which word is spelled correctly?
- accomodation
- acommodation
- accommodation (Correct answer)
- acomodation
Correct answer: accommodation
The correct spelling is 'accommodation,' with double 'c' and double 'm.'
Question 6: Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?
- Each of the officers submits a weekly report.
- Neither the captain nor the lieutenants were present.
- The list of requirements was updated.
- The team have decided to proceed. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The team have decided to proceed.
In American English, collective nouns like 'team' are treated as singular, so it should be 'has decided,' not 'have decided.'
Question 7: Which version of the sentence is most concise without losing meaning?
- Due to the fact that it was raining, the event was cancelled.
- On account of the rain, the event was cancelled. (Correct answer)
- Because of the fact that rain occurred, the cancellation of the event took place.
- It was raining and so therefore the event was cancelled.
Correct answer: On account of the rain, the event was cancelled.
'On account of the rain' is direct and concise, eliminating the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that.'
New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Expression and Grammar 3
Which punctuation mark should replace the blank: 'The director made one thing clear _____ tardiness would not be tolerated.'