New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Expression and Grammar 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence avoids redundancy?
- The final conclusion of the report was submitted.
- The end result was a successful outcome.
- The committee reached a consensus. (Correct answer)
- Please revert back to the original policy.
Correct answer: The committee reached a consensus.
'Reached a consensus' is not redundant; the other options repeat meaning ('final conclusion,' 'end result,' 'revert back').
Question 2: Which option correctly uses an apostrophe to show joint ownership?
- The captain's and lieutenant's report was filed.
- The captain and lieutenant's report was filed. (Correct answer)
- The captain's and lieutenant's reports were filed.
- The captains' and lieutenants report was filed.
Correct answer: The captain and lieutenant's report was filed.
For joint ownership by two people, only the last noun takes the apostrophe: 'the captain and lieutenant's report.'
Question 3: Choose the sentence with the correct use of 'who' vs. 'whom.'
- Who did the supervisor assign to the case?
- Whom was responsible for filing the report?
- Whom do you believe filed the complaint?
- To whom should I address this memo? (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To whom should I address this memo?
'Whom' is correct as the object of the preposition 'to'; use 'whom' when 'him/her' would be the answer.
Question 4: Which sentence uses the word 'principal' correctly?
- The principle reason for the delay was funding.
- The principal reason for the delay was funding. (Correct answer)
- The principles of the agency were revised.
- Principle investigators led the audit.
Correct answer: The principal reason for the delay was funding.
'Principal' as an adjective means 'main' or 'primary'; 'principle' is a noun meaning a rule or belief.
Question 5: Which sentence is written in the most appropriate formal register for a government report?
- The guy in charge messed up the filing big time.
- It seems like maybe the filing wasn't done right.
- The responsible party failed to complete the required filing within the designated timeframe. (Correct answer)
- The filing got messed up somehow.
Correct answer: The responsible party failed to complete the required filing within the designated timeframe.
Formal government writing uses precise, professional language without slang, vague terms, or colloquialisms.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a hyphen?
- She is a well known employee.
- She is a well-known employee. (Correct answer)
- The employee is well-known.
- The well known employee was promoted.
Correct answer: She is a well-known employee.
Compound modifiers before a noun are hyphenated ('well-known employee'), but not when they follow the noun ('the employee is well known').
Question 7: Identify the sentence that correctly uses 'amount' vs. 'number.'
- A large amount of officers were present.
- A large number of officers were present. (Correct answer)
- A large number of effort was made.
- A large amount of applications arrived.
Correct answer: A large number of officers were present.
'Number' is used with countable nouns (officers), while 'amount' is used with uncountable quantities.
New Jersey Civil Service Exam Written Expression and Grammar 5
Which sentence avoids redundancy?