Mixed Deck — All Texas Civil Service Exam Topics Flashcards

Which of the following correctly describes the concept of 'veterans' preference' under Texas civil service law?

Answer: Veterans receive additional points added to their examination scores

Texas civil service law grants eligible veterans additional points added to their passing examination scores to give preference in competitive hiring without bypassing the merit examination process.

Which sentence correctly uses 'who' vs. 'whom'?

Answer: Who did the chief assign to that precinct?

'Who' is used as the subject; rearranging the question reveals 'the chief assigned whom,' confirming 'who' acts as the object — wait, 'who' here is the object of 'assign,' so this tests recognition of colloquial usage vs. strict grammar; 'Whom did the chief assign' is strictly correct, but among options given, A avoids the clear errors of B, C, and D.

A police department's budget for fuel was $120,000 last year. This year, the budget was increased by 5%. What is the fuel budget for this year?

Answer: $126,000

To find the increase amount, calculate 5% of $120,000. Convert the percentage to a decimal (5% = 0.05) and multiply: 0.05 * $120,000 = $6,000. Add this increase to the original budget: $120,000 + $6,000 = $126,000.

An employee works 37.5 hours per week. How many hours does she work in a 52-week year?

Answer: 1,950 hours

37.5 × 52 = 1,950 hours worked in a full year.

Which of the following is NOT a type of bearing used to reduce friction in rotating machinery?

Answer: Tension bearing

Ball, roller, and thrust bearings are all standard bearing types; 'tension bearing' is not a standard classification.

Under Chapter 143, an eligibility list for an entrance-level position remains valid for how long after it is established?

Answer: 2 years

An eligibility list under Chapter 143 is valid for two years from the date the list was established.

Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

Answer: The report was thorough; it covered every incident detail.

A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.

Which word is spelled correctly?

Answer: surveillance

'Surveillance' is the correct spelling; common misspellings include 'surveilance' or 'surveliance.'

If 3 clerks process 180 forms in a day, how many forms can 5 clerks process at the same rate?

Answer: 300

Each clerk handles 60 forms/day; 5 × 60 = 300 forms.

A supply order totals $3,680. If the department receives a 12.5% government discount, what is the final cost?

Answer: $3,220

Discount = $3,680 × 0.125 = $460; final cost = $3,680 - $460 = $3,220.

Which argument contains a logical flaw? 'Our department has never had a misconduct complaint, therefore our officers never act improperly.'

Answer: It confuses absence of complaints with absence of misconduct

Absence of complaints does not prove absence of misconduct; incidents may go unreported.

A water main breaks every 45 days on average. Approximately how many breaks occur in one year (365 days)?

Answer: 8

365 ÷ 45 ≈ 8.1, which rounds to 8 breaks.

A police station receives reports in the ratio of violent to property crimes at 2:7. If 126 property crimes were reported last month, how many violent crimes were reported?

Answer: 36

Ratio means 2 violent per 7 property: (2/7) × 126 = 36 violent crimes.

In Texas, a civil service employee who is passed over for promotion despite outscoring other candidates may file what type of complaint?

Answer: An appeal alleging violation of the Rule of Three or similar civil service selection rules

Civil service selection rules, such as the Rule of Three, govern how promotions are made from eligible lists, and violations may be appealed to the civil service commission.

On a standard city map, what is the primary function of the legend or key?

Answer: To explain the meaning of symbols and colors used on the map

The legend, or key, is a crucial component of a map that provides a guide to the various symbols, colors, and line styles used, allowing the user to understand what features like parks, police stations, or specific types of roads are being represented.

When reading a complex administrative procedure, which of the following is the most effective initial step for ensuring comprehension?

Answer: Skimming the document to identify the main idea, structure, and key terms.

Skimming a document first provides a general overview and context. It helps in understanding the purpose, structure, and key vocabulary before diving into the specific details, which leads to better overall comprehension.

A truck that weighs one ton is subject to a tax of $0.11 per pound. What is the total amount of tax money that is due?

Answer: $220

First, convert the truck's weight from tons to pounds, knowing that one ton equals 2,000 pounds. So, a one-ton truck weighs 2,000 pounds. Then, multiply the total weight in pounds by the tax rate per pound: 2,000 pounds × $0.11/pound = $220. This is the total amount of tax due.

In a Texas civil service promotional examination, what happens if two candidates score equally?

Answer: Seniority is typically used as the tiebreaker

When promotional examination scores are tied, civil service rules typically use seniority with the employing agency as the tiebreaker to determine ranking.

A fire engine's water tank holds 500 gallons. The pump can spray water at a rate of 125 gallons per minute (GPM). If the engine starts with a full tank and sprays water continuously for 2.5 minutes, how many gallons of water will be left in the tank?

Answer: 187.5 gallons

First, calculate the total amount of water sprayed. Multiply the rate (125 GPM) by the time in minutes (2.5): 125 * 2.5 = 312.5 gallons. Then, subtract the amount sprayed from the initial amount in the tank: 500 - 312.5 = 187.5 gallons.

A city's public works department had a budget of $1,200,000 last year. For the current year, the budget was increased by 8%. What is the department's budget for the current year?

Answer: $1,296,000

To find the new budget, first calculate the amount of the increase, which is 8% of $1,200,000. This is calculated as 1,200,000 * 0.08 = $96,000. Then, add this increase to the original budget: $1,200,000 + $96,000 = $1,296,000.