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.
