Ohio Civil Service Exam Grammar and Written Expression 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses 'affect' and 'effect' correctly?
- The new rule will effect how we work.
- The new rule will affect how we work. (Correct answer)
- The new rule will have an affect on our work.
- The new rule will effect an change in our work.
Correct answer: The new rule will affect how we work.
'Affect' is typically a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is typically a noun meaning a result.
Question 2: Which option is an example of an active voice sentence?
- Complaints are handled by the supervisor.
- The policy is being revised.
- The supervisor handles all complaints. (Correct answer)
- Approval was given by the committee.
Correct answer: The supervisor handles all complaints.
In active voice, the subject ('supervisor') performs the action ('handles'), making the sentence direct and clear.
Question 3: Choose the sentence with correct verb tense consistency.
- She reviewed the file and submits her findings.
- She reviewed the file and submitted her findings. (Correct answer)
- She reviews the file and submitted her findings.
- She will review the file and submitted her findings.
Correct answer: She reviewed the file and submitted her findings.
Both verbs must be in the same tense; 'reviewed' and 'submitted' are both past tense.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses a hyphen?
- She is a well known employee.
- She is a well-known employee. (Correct answer)
- She is a well known-employee.
- She is a wellknown employee.
Correct answer: She is a well-known employee.
Compound modifiers used before a noun ('well-known employee') are hyphenated to clarify they modify together.
Question 5: Which sentence contains a spelling error?
- The official received the correspondence.
- The official recieved the correspondence. (Correct answer)
- The official's correspondence was received.
- The correspondence was received officially.
Correct answer: The official recieved the correspondence.
'Received' follows the 'i before e except after c' rule; 'recieved' reverses the vowels incorrectly.
Question 6: Identify the sentence that uses transitional words most effectively.
- The budget was cut. The staff was reduced.
- The budget was cut; however, staff was not reduced. (Correct answer)
- The budget was cut. But the staff was not reduced.
- The budget was cut and but the staff was not reduced.
Correct answer: The budget was cut; however, staff was not reduced.
Using 'however' with a semicolon properly signals contrast between two independent clauses.
Question 7: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- Neither the director nor the clerks was available.
- Neither the director nor the clerks were available. (Correct answer)
- Neither the director nor the clerks is available.
- Neither the director nor the clerks are was available.
Correct answer: Neither the director nor the clerks were available.
With 'neither/nor,' the verb agrees with the noun closest to it; 'clerks' (plural) requires 'were.'
Ohio Civil Service Exam Grammar and Written Expression 5
Which sentence uses 'affect' and 'effect' correctly?