Texas Civil Service Exam Grammar and Writing Ability 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
- The officer needed: a flashlight, a radio, and a notepad.
- The officer needed the following items: a flashlight, a radio, and a notepad. (Correct answer)
- The officer needed the following: items a flashlight, a radio, and a notepad.
- The officer needed a flashlight, a radio: and a notepad.
Correct answer: The officer needed the following items: a flashlight, a radio, and a notepad.
A colon is correctly placed after a complete independent clause to introduce a list.
Question 2: Identify the correct word to fill in the blank: 'The evidence was _____ to the case.'
- pertanent
- pertinent (Correct answer)
- pertenent
- pertanant
Correct answer: pertinent
'Pertinent' is the correct spelling, meaning relevant or applicable.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly distinguishes 'affect' from 'effect'?
- The new policy will effect how officers file reports.
- The new policy will affect how officers file reports. (Correct answer)
- The new policy will have an affect on report filing.
- The affect of the new policy was immediate.
Correct answer: The new policy will affect how officers file reports.
'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence, while 'effect' is usually a noun meaning a result.
Question 4: Which revision best improves the clarity of this sentence: 'At this point in time, the investigation is ongoing.'
- At this point in time, the investigation remains ongoing.
- Currently, the investigation is ongoing. (Correct answer)
- The investigation is ongoing at this point in time currently.
- The investigation is, at this point in time, ongoing.
Correct answer: Currently, the investigation is ongoing.
'Currently' replaces the wordy phrase 'at this point in time,' making the sentence more concise.
Question 5: Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'its' vs. 'it's.'
- The department updated it's procedures last quarter.
- The department updated its' procedures last quarter.
- The department updated its procedures last quarter. (Correct answer)
- The department updated its procedure's last quarter.
Correct answer: The department updated its procedures last quarter.
'Its' (no apostrophe) is the possessive pronoun; 'it's' is the contraction for 'it is.'
Question 6: Which sentence uses capitalization correctly?
- The Chief of Police addressed the officers.
- The chief of police addressed the officers. (Correct answer)
- The Chief Of Police addressed the officers.
- The chief Of Police addressed the officers.
Correct answer: The chief of police addressed the officers.
Job titles are not capitalized when used generically without a specific name following them.
Question 7: Which sentence avoids a run-on error?
- The suspect fled the scene officers gave chase immediately.
- The suspect fled the scene, officers gave chase immediately.
- The suspect fled the scene; officers gave chase immediately. (Correct answer)
- The suspect fled the scene and officers gave chase immediately without stopping.
Correct answer: The suspect fled the scene; officers gave chase immediately.
A semicolon correctly separates two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
Texas Civil Service Exam Grammar and Writing Ability 4
Which sentence correctly uses a colon?