Texas Civil Service Grammar and Writing Skills Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct and most clearly written?
- Speeding down the highway, the police officer saw the motorcycle.
- The police officer saw the motorcycle speeding down the highway. (Correct answer)
- The motorcycle was seen by the police officer it was speeding down the highway.
- Having been seen by the police officer, the highway was sped down by the motorcycle.
Correct answer: The police officer saw the motorcycle speeding down the highway.
This sentence is the most clear and grammatically correct. Answer A contains a misplaced modifier, suggesting the police officer was speeding. Answer C is a run-on sentence. Answer D uses awkward passive voice and is less clear.
Question 2: An employee is drafting a report and needs to connect two related, complete sentences. Which sentence correctly uses punctuation to join the two ideas?
- The project deadline is Friday, we must submit all paperwork by then.
- The project deadline is Friday; we must submit all paperwork by then. (Correct answer)
- The project deadline is Friday: we must submit all paperwork by then.
- The project deadline is Friday and, we must submit all paperwork by then.
Correct answer: The project deadline is Friday; we must submit all paperwork by then.
A semicolon is used to connect two closely related independent clauses (complete sentences). Answer A creates a comma splice, which is a grammatical error. Answer C incorrectly uses a colon, which is typically used to introduce a list or explanation. Answer D incorrectly places a comma after the conjunction 'and'.
Question 3: Read the following sentences. Which sentence contains a grammatical error in subject-verb agreement?
- The list of approved vendors are posted on the intranet. (Correct answer)
- Each of the proposals was reviewed carefully.
- The mayor, along with her staff, is attending the event.
- Neither the fire chief nor the police chief was available.
Correct answer: The list of approved vendors are posted on the intranet.
The subject of this sentence is 'list,' which is a singular noun. Therefore, the verb should be singular ('is') to agree with it. The phrase 'of approved vendors' is a prepositional phrase that does not affect the subject.
Question 4: A city manager is writing a memo about a new policy. Which sentence correctly uses the word 'affect' or 'effect'?
- The primary affect of the new policy will be improved efficiency.
- We need to determine how the new policy will effect the employees' morale.
- The new policy will go into effect on Monday and will affect all departments. (Correct answer)
- The policy's affect on the budget is not yet known.
Correct answer: The new policy will go into effect on Monday and will affect all departments.
This sentence correctly uses 'effect' as a noun (the result or outcome) in the phrase 'go into effect' and 'affect' as a verb meaning 'to influence'. The other options incorrectly swap these common uses.
Question 5: Which of the following sentences uses apostrophes correctly?
- Its important to review the citys' new zoning laws.
- The departments' goals are outlined in their mission statements'.
- All employee's must complete their timesheets by 5 o'clock.
- The public works department's responsibilities include maintaining the city's streets. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The public works department's responsibilities include maintaining the city's streets.
This sentence correctly uses 'department's' as a singular possessive noun and 'city's' as a singular possessive noun. Answer A confuses 'Its' (possessive) with 'It's' (contraction for 'it is') and incorrectly forms the possessive of 'city'. Answer B incorrectly uses a plural possessive for 'department' and adds an unnecessary apostrophe to 'statements'. Answer C incorrectly uses a possessive 'employee's' instead of the plural 'employees'.
Question 6: A supervisor is writing an employee evaluation. To maintain parallel structure, which of the following is the best-written sentence?
- The employee completes tasks efficiently, demonstrates strong teamwork, and is always punctual. (Correct answer)
- The employee completes tasks efficiently, demonstrates strong teamwork, and her punctuality is good.
- The employee is efficient in completing tasks, a good team player, and is always on time.
- The employee's tasks are completed efficiently, teamwork is demonstrated, and she is always punctual.
Correct answer: The employee completes tasks efficiently, demonstrates strong teamwork, and is always punctual.
This sentence maintains parallel structure by using three verb phrases in the same form (verb + object/adverb). The other options mix different grammatical constructions (verb phrases, noun clauses, passive voice), which makes them awkward and less clear.
Texas Civil Service Grammar and Writing Skills Questions and Answers
Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct and most clearly written?