Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Grammar and Sentence Completion 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct sentence:
- Neither the manager nor the staff were informed. (Correct answer)
- Neither the manager nor the staff was informed.
- Neither the manager nor the staff are informed.
- Neither the manager nor the staff have been informed.
Correct answer: Neither the manager nor the staff were informed.
With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 'Staff' is plural, so 'were' is correct.
Question 2: Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: 'The results were ______ than expected.'
- better (Correct answer)
- more good
- gooder
- most good
Correct answer: better
'Better' is the comparative form of 'good.' 'More good,' 'gooder,' and 'most good' are all grammatically incorrect.
Question 3: Choose the grammatically correct sentence:
- The committee has reached its decision. (Correct answer)
- The committee have reached their decision.
- The committee has reached their decision.
- The committee have reached its decision.
Correct answer: The committee has reached its decision.
In British English, collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs, but consistency is required. Option A is internally consistent: singular verb with singular pronoun.
Question 4: Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
- The manager's report was thorough. (Correct answer)
- The managers report was thorough.
- The manager's report' was thorough.
- The managers' report was thorough for one manager.
Correct answer: The manager's report was thorough.
'Manager's' (singular possessive) is correct for one manager's report. The apostrophe before 's' shows possession.
Question 5: Select the correct word: 'The department must ensure ______ procedures are followed.'
- its (Correct answer)
- it's
- their
- there
Correct answer: its
'Its' is the possessive pronoun (no apostrophe). 'It's' means 'it is.' The department's procedures are referred to with 'its.'
Question 6: Choose the correct form: 'Each of the employees ______ required to sign the form.'
- is (Correct answer)
- are
- were
- have been
Correct answer: is
'Each' is singular and takes a singular verb. 'Each of the employees is' is grammatically correct.
Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Grammar and Sentence Completion 1
Choose the correct sentence: