New Jersey Civil Service Written Expression and Communication Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The project manager told Sarah and (A)I that the new deadlines (B)must be met (C)in order to secure (D)additional funding for the department. Which underlined part of the sentence contains an error?
Correct answer: A
The pronoun is part of the object of the verb 'told.' The objective case 'me' should be used, not the subjective case 'I.' The correct phrasing is 'told Sarah and me.'
Question 2: Choose the best way to combine the following two sentences: 'The township council approved the new zoning ordinance. The ordinance will restrict construction in protected wetland areas.'
- The township council approved the new zoning ordinance, and it will restrict construction in protected wetland areas.
- The new zoning ordinance was approved by the township council, it will restrict construction in protected wetland areas.
- The township council approved the new zoning ordinance, which will restrict construction in protected wetland areas. (Correct answer)
- Restricting construction in protected wetland areas, the township council approved the new zoning ordinance.
Correct answer: The township council approved the new zoning ordinance, which will restrict construction in protected wetland areas.
Choice C correctly uses a non-restrictive clause ('which...') to combine the two ideas smoothly and grammatically. Choice A is grammatically acceptable but less fluid. Choice B is a comma splice, a common grammatical error. Choice D has a misplaced modifier, incorrectly implying the council itself is restricting construction in that moment.
Question 3: A supervisor needs to inform their team that a mandatory training session has been rescheduled. Which of the following is the most professional and clear way to communicate this message in an email?
- Big news - the training we had to do is on a different day now. Make sure you're there.
- Please be advised that the mandatory training session originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th, has been rescheduled to Thursday, April 7th, at the same time and location. Your attendance is required. (Correct answer)
- It has come to my attention that a temporal adjustment has been necessitated for the previously calendared mandatory training event, which will be subsequently held on an alternate date.
- Just a heads up, they moved the mandatory training. I don't know the new date yet but I'll let you know. Don't miss it.
Correct answer: Please be advised that the mandatory training session originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th, has been rescheduled to Thursday, April 7th, at the same time and location. Your attendance is required.
This option is the most professional because it is clear, concise, provides all the necessary information (old date, new date, time, location), and states the expectation (attendance is required) without being overly casual or bureaucratic.
Question 4: A government agency's policy on computer use states: 'Employees are permitted to use agency computers for incidental personal use during non-work time, such as lunch breaks. However, this use must not interfere with official business, involve any unlawful activity, or consume significant resources.' Which of the following can be correctly inferred from this policy?
- Employees are forbidden from ever checking personal email on their work computers.
- Playing online games for an entire lunch break is an acceptable use of the computer.
- All personal use of agency computers is strictly prohibited.
- An employee can briefly check a news website during their lunch break, provided it does not slow down the network. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: An employee can briefly check a news website during their lunch break, provided it does not slow down the network.
The policy allows for 'incidental' personal use during 'non-work time' as long as it doesn't interfere with business or consume 'significant resources.' Checking a news site briefly during lunch fits these criteria. Choices A and C are too absolute and contradict the policy. Choice B is questionable as playing a game for an entire hour might be considered consuming 'significant resources.'
Question 5: Read the paragraph and select the best concluding sentence. 'The county has launched a new online portal for residents to pay their property taxes. Through the portal, residents can view their current bill, see their payment history, and make payments using a credit card or e-check. The system is designed to be more convenient than mailing a check or paying in person at the municipal building.'
- The municipal building is located at 123 Main Street.
- Residents should remember that tax payments are due quarterly.
- This initiative is expected to reduce administrative costs and improve collection efficiency. (Correct answer)
- Many other counties have had similar systems for years.
Correct answer: This initiative is expected to reduce administrative costs and improve collection efficiency.
The paragraph describes the features and purpose (convenience) of a new system. A good concluding sentence should summarize the overall benefit or goal. Choice C effectively does this by stating the expected positive outcomes (reduced costs, improved efficiency), which logically follows from the system's described convenience. The other options introduce unrelated details.
Question 6: Which of the following sentences is the clearest and most concisely written?
- For the purpose of payroll processing, the submission of timesheets must be completed by all employees by Friday's close of business.
- Timesheets, which are utilized for the purpose of weekly payroll, are a required submission from all employees, and they are due at the end of the day on Friday.
- It is the responsibility of each and every employee to make sure they have submitted their timesheets in a timely manner by the end of the day on Friday.
- Employees must submit their timesheets by the end of the day on Friday. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Employees must submit their timesheets by the end of the day on Friday.
This sentence states the requirement directly and simply without unnecessary words or complex sentence structures. The other options are wordy ('for the purpose of,' 'each and every employee,' 'in a timely manner') or use passive voice and complex clauses, which makes them less clear and direct.
