Ohio Civil Service Exam Grammar and Written Expression 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- Everyone must submit their report by Friday.
- Everyone must submit his or her report by Friday. (Correct answer)
- Everyone must submit its report by Friday.
- Everyone must submit our report by Friday.
Correct answer: Everyone must submit his or her report by Friday.
The indefinite pronoun 'everyone' is singular; in formal writing, 'his or her' is the traditionally correct reference.
Question 2: Select the sentence that correctly uses a comma after an introductory element.
- After reviewing the file the clerk closed it.
- After reviewing the file, the clerk closed it. (Correct answer)
- After reviewing, the file the clerk closed it.
- After reviewing the file the, clerk closed it.
Correct answer: After reviewing the file, the clerk closed it.
A comma follows an introductory prepositional or participial phrase to separate it from the main clause.
Question 3: Which sentence avoids wordiness?
- Due to the fact that it was raining, we postponed the event.
- Because it was raining, we postponed the event. (Correct answer)
- In light of the fact that rain occurred, the event was postponed by us.
- The event was postponed on account of the fact that there was rain.
Correct answer: Because it was raining, we postponed the event.
'Because' is a concise substitute for wordy phrases like 'due to the fact that.'
Question 4: Identify the sentence with a misplaced modifier.
- The director only approved two requests. (Correct answer)
- Only the director approved two requests.
- The director approved only two requests.
- The director approved two requests only.
Correct answer: The director only approved two requests.
Placing 'only' before 'approved' modifies the verb, but the intended meaning is that only two requests were approved.
Question 5: Choose the word that best fits: 'The new policy will ______ the old procedures.'
- supersede (Correct answer)
- supercede
- superceed
- superseed
Correct answer: supersede
'Supersede' means to replace or take the place of something; it is commonly misspelled with 'cede.'
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
- The report included: a summary, data, and conclusions.
- The report included the following: a summary, data, and conclusions. (Correct answer)
- The report: included a summary, data, and conclusions.
- The report included a summary: data: and conclusions.
Correct answer: The report included the following: a summary, data, and conclusions.
A colon should follow a complete independent clause before introducing a list; 'the following' signals the list properly.
Question 7: Select the correctly written sentence regarding number usage.
- The office processed 5 applications yesterday.
- The office processed five applications yesterday. (Correct answer)
- The office processed Five applications yesterday.
- The office processed 5th applications yesterday.
Correct answer: The office processed five applications yesterday.
Standard style guides recommend spelling out numbers one through nine in formal writing.
Ohio Civil Service Exam Grammar and Written Expression 4
Which sentence uses the correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?