Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Vocabulary in Context 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the sentence 'The minister made an oblique reference to the scandal', what does 'oblique' mean?
- Indirect (Correct answer)
- Obvious
- Critical
- Supportive
Correct answer: Indirect
'Oblique' means not straightforward — indirect or evasive. An oblique reference avoids naming something directly.
Question 2: The report described the company's financial position as 'precarious'. What does this mean?
- Unstable and uncertain (Correct answer)
- Strong and reliable
- Declining rapidly
- Improving steadily
Correct answer: Unstable and uncertain
'Precarious' means not securely held — uncertain and potentially dangerous. A precarious financial position is one that could collapse.
Question 3: The manager was described as 'taciturn' during the meeting. What does this suggest?
- She said very little (Correct answer)
- She spoke frequently
- She was argumentative
- She was enthusiastic
Correct answer: She said very little
'Taciturn' means reserved and uncommunicative — habitually saying little. A taciturn person does not volunteer information or engage freely in conversation.
Question 4: The policy was described as 'contentious'. What does this mean?
- Causing disagreement or controversy (Correct answer)
- Widely accepted
- Legally binding
- Recently introduced
Correct answer: Causing disagreement or controversy
'Contentious' means causing or likely to cause an argument. A contentious policy is one that divides opinion.
Question 5: In the sentence 'The auditors found several discrepancies in the accounts', what does 'discrepancies' mean?
- Inconsistencies or differences (Correct answer)
- Errors caused by fraud
- Positive variances
- Missing documents
Correct answer: Inconsistencies or differences
'Discrepancies' are differences or inconsistencies between things that should match. In accounts, they suggest figures that do not add up.
Question 6: The report was described as 'comprehensive'. What does this mean?
- Covering all aspects thoroughly (Correct answer)
- Brief and to the point
- Difficult to understand
- Highly technical
Correct answer: Covering all aspects thoroughly
'Comprehensive' means covering all elements of something completely. A comprehensive report leaves nothing important out.
Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Vocabulary in Context 1
In the sentence 'The minister made an oblique reference to the scandal', what does 'oblique' mean?