Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Spelling and Punctuation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?
- The dog's bone was buried in the garden. (Correct answer)
- The dogs' bones' were buried in the garden.
- The dog's were in the garden.
- The dogs bone was buried in the garden.
Correct answer: The dog's bone was buried in the garden.
'The dog's bone' correctly places the apostrophe before the 's' to show singular possession.
Question 2: Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- Its' a lovely day today.
- It's a lovely day today. (Correct answer)
- Its a lovely day today.
- It is' a lovely day today.
Correct answer: It's a lovely day today.
'It's' is the contraction of 'it is', and an apostrophe replacing the missing letter is required here.
Question 3: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
- The report which was submitted late, caused delays.
- The report, which was submitted late caused delays.
- The report, which was submitted late, caused delays. (Correct answer)
- The report which was submitted late caused, delays.
Correct answer: The report, which was submitted late, caused delays.
The non-restrictive clause 'which was submitted late' adds extra information and must be enclosed by commas on both sides.
Question 4: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- She loves reading; and writing poetry.
- He was tired; however, he continued working. (Correct answer)
- The meeting ended; at five o'clock.
- They arrived early; but left late.
Correct answer: He was tired; however, he continued working.
A semicolon is correctly used before a conjunctive adverb such as 'however' to connect two independent clauses.
Question 5: Select the sentence with correct punctuation.
- Please bring the following: pens, paper and a calculator. (Correct answer)
- Please bring the following, pens, paper and a calculator.
- Please bring the following pens; paper; and a calculator.
- Please bring the following pens paper and a calculator.
Correct answer: Please bring the following: pens, paper and a calculator.
A colon is the correct punctuation after 'following' to introduce an explicit list of items.
Question 6: Which sentence is correctly punctuated? (One manager made the decision.)
- The managers' decision was final.
- The manager's decision was final. (Correct answer)
- The managers decision was final.
- The manager' decision was final.
Correct answer: The manager's decision was final.
For singular possession, the apostrophe precedes the 's': 'manager's' shows that one manager owns the decision.
Question 7: Choose the sentence with correct comma usage.
- Although it was raining, the match continued. (Correct answer)
- Although, it was raining the match continued.
- Although it was raining the match, continued.
- Although it was, raining the match continued.
Correct answer: Although it was raining, the match continued.
When a subordinate clause beginning with 'although' precedes the main clause, a comma should follow it.
Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Spelling and Punctuation 2
Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?