NYC FREE NYC Civil Service Written Expression and Grammar Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb?
- The supervisor and the clerk was present at the meeting.
- The supervisor and the clerk were present at the meeting. (Correct answer)
- The supervisor and the clerk is present at the meeting.
- The supervisor and the clerk be present at the meeting.
Correct answer: The supervisor and the clerk were present at the meeting.
When two subjects are joined by 'and,' the plural verb 'were' must be used.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a correctly placed modifier?
- Walking down the hall, the report was found by the officer.
- Walking down the hall, the officer found the report. (Correct answer)
- The report was found walking down the hall by the officer.
- Found walking down the hall, the officer had the report.
Correct answer: Walking down the hall, the officer found the report.
The participial phrase 'Walking down the hall' must immediately precede the noun it modifies, which is 'the officer.'
Question 3: Select the sentence that uses punctuation correctly.
- The employee, who transferred last month works in Brooklyn.
- The employee who transferred last month, works in Brooklyn.
- The employee, who transferred last month, works in Brooklyn. (Correct answer)
- The employee who transferred last month works, in Brooklyn.
Correct answer: The employee, who transferred last month, works in Brooklyn.
A nonrestrictive clause ('who transferred last month') must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 4: Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The agency distributed the forms to _____ requested them.'
- whom
- who
- whoever
- whomever (Correct answer)
Correct answer: whomever
'Whomever' is correct because it functions as the object of the preposition 'to.'
Question 5: Which sentence is written in the active voice?
- The memo was drafted by the director.
- A decision was reached by the committee.
- The inspector issued a violation notice. (Correct answer)
- The complaint form was completed by the applicant.
Correct answer: The inspector issued a violation notice.
In the active voice, the subject ('inspector') performs the action ('issued').
Question 6: Choose the correctly spelled word to complete the sentence: 'Please _____ the attached documents for accuracy.'
- reveiw
- revew
- review (Correct answer)
- reviw
Correct answer: review
'Review' is the correct spelling, following standard English orthographic rules.
NYC FREE NYC Civil Service Written Expression and Grammar Questions and Answers 2
Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb?