New Jersey Civil Service Exam Reading Comprehension and Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A policy memo states: 'All departmental requests for overtime must be submitted no later than 48 hours before the overtime is to occur, except in cases of declared emergencies.' An employee needs overtime for a project starting Friday at 9 AM. What is the latest she can submit the request under normal circumstances?
- Wednesday at 9 AM (Correct answer)
- Thursday at 9 AM
- Wednesday at 5 PM
- Thursday at 5 PM
Correct answer: Wednesday at 9 AM
48 hours before Friday 9 AM is Wednesday 9 AM.
Question 2: Read the sentence: 'The committee neither endorsed nor rejected the proposal, choosing instead to table the matter indefinitely.' What did the committee do?
- Approved the proposal with conditions
- Postponed the decision without a set timeframe (Correct answer)
- Rejected the proposal outright
- Forwarded the proposal to a subcommittee
Correct answer: Postponed the decision without a set timeframe
'Table the matter indefinitely' means to postpone without setting a future date.
Question 3: A passage reads: 'While employee performance reviews are typically conducted annually, supervisors retain the discretion to initiate an interim review when warranted by significant changes in job duties or conduct.' Which situation would MOST justify an interim review?
- An employee completes a training course
- An employee is promoted to a new role mid-year (Correct answer)
- An employee takes a two-week vacation
- An employee requests a schedule change
Correct answer: An employee is promoted to a new role mid-year
A promotion represents a significant change in job duties, which the passage identifies as grounds for an interim review.
Question 4: A notice states: 'Applicants who fail to appear for their scheduled examination will be removed from the eligible list unless they notify the department in writing within five business days of the missed examination.' What must an absent applicant do to avoid removal?
- Call the department within five days
- Submit a written notice within five business days (Correct answer)
- Reschedule within the same week
- Provide a doctor's note within 48 hours
Correct answer: Submit a written notice within five business days
The passage requires written notification within five business days to avoid removal from the eligible list.
Question 5: A passage describes a government agency: 'Its mandate encompasses regulatory oversight, public education, and enforcement authority, though its enforcement powers are limited to civil penalties and do not extend to criminal prosecution.' Which action is OUTSIDE the agency's authority?
- Publishing consumer safety guides
- Imposing fines on violating businesses
- Arresting individuals who break regulations (Correct answer)
- Inspecting facilities for compliance
Correct answer: Arresting individuals who break regulations
Arresting individuals is a criminal prosecution power, which the passage explicitly excludes from the agency's authority.
Question 6: The following sentence appears in a procedure manual: 'Forms submitted after the deadline will not be processed in the current cycle but may be held for the subsequent cycle at the discretion of the reviewing officer.' What is CERTAIN about a late form?
- It will be processed in the next cycle
- It will be returned to the sender
- It will not be processed in the current cycle (Correct answer)
- It will require resubmission
Correct answer: It will not be processed in the current cycle
The only certainty stated is that late forms will not be processed in the current cycle; inclusion in the next cycle is discretionary.
Question 7: A regulation reads: 'No employee shall engage in outside employment that conflicts with official duties, impairs job performance, or creates an appearance of impropriety.' An employee moonlights as a weekend fitness instructor. Which factor would MOST likely make this a violation?
- The job pays more than the civil service position
- The employee's supervisor is unaware of it
- The employee is visibly fatigued and missing deadlines at work (Correct answer)
- The fitness center is located near the government office
Correct answer: The employee is visibly fatigued and missing deadlines at work
Visible fatigue and missed deadlines directly indicate impaired job performance, which is explicitly prohibited.
New Jersey Civil Service Exam Reading Comprehension and Analysis 2
A policy memo states: 'All departmental requests for overtime must be submitted no later than 48 hours before the overtime is to occur, except in cases of declared emergencies.' An employee needs overtime for a project starting Friday at 9 AM.
What is the latest she can submit the request under normal circumstances?