NYC Reading Comprehension Skills 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A public health bulletin reads: 'Citizens are advised to boil tap water before consumption until further notice. This precaution is not required for bathing or washing dishes.' What is the most accurate interpretation of this notice?
- All water use requires boiling
- Boiling is required only for drinking, not for bathing or dishwashing (Correct answer)
- The water supply is completely unsafe for all purposes
- Citizens should stop using tap water entirely
Correct answer: Boiling is required only for drinking, not for bathing or dishwashing
The bulletin specifically limits the boiling requirement to consumption (drinking), explicitly excluding bathing and dishwashing.
Question 2: A paragraph reads: 'Although the defendant presented several mitigating factors, the judge determined that the severity of the offense warranted the maximum permissible sentence.' What does 'mitigating factors' most likely mean in this context?
- Evidence of the defendant's guilt
- Circumstances that argue for a harsher penalty
- Circumstances that argue for a reduced penalty (Correct answer)
- Legal technicalities that could dismiss the case
Correct answer: Circumstances that argue for a reduced penalty
Mitigating factors are circumstances that reduce the perceived severity of wrongdoing and argue for a lighter sentence.
Question 3: A city policy states: 'Employees must obtain prior written approval from their department head before speaking to media representatives on behalf of the city. Unauthorized statements to media are grounds for disciplinary action.' An employee answers a reporter's question about city services while clearly stating they are giving a personal opinion. This employee:
- Has not violated the policy because they gave a personal opinion
- Has violated the policy because prior written approval was not obtained (Correct answer)
- Has not violated the policy because the question was about services, not personnel
- Has violated the policy only if the statement causes harm
Correct answer: Has violated the policy because prior written approval was not obtained
The policy requires prior written approval before speaking to media on behalf of the city regardless of how the statement is framed.
Question 4: The following passage appears in a training manual: 'A witness's credibility may be affected by their relationship to the parties involved, their opportunity to observe the events, and any prior inconsistent statements they have made.' According to this passage, which is NOT listed as a factor affecting credibility?
- Relationship to parties involved
- Opportunity to observe events
- Prior inconsistent statements
- The witness's level of education (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The witness's level of education
The passage lists three specific factors; a witness's level of education is not among them.
Question 5: A notice reads: 'All applicants must provide two forms of government-issued identification. At least one form must include a photograph.' An applicant brings a passport and a social security card. The passport includes a photo; the social security card does not. This applicant:
- Does not meet the requirements because neither ID is state-issued
- Meets the requirements because they have two government-issued IDs, one with a photo (Correct answer)
- Does not meet the requirements because both IDs must have photos
- Meets the requirements only if a supervisor approves the social security card
Correct answer: Meets the requirements because they have two government-issued IDs, one with a photo
The applicant has two government-issued IDs, and the passport satisfies the photo requirement; both conditions are met.
Question 6: Read this sentence: 'The inspector's report was ambiguous, leaving the committee unable to render a definitive conclusion.' The word 'ambiguous' as used here most nearly means:
- Detailed and thorough
- Open to more than one interpretation (Correct answer)
- Deliberately misleading
- Overly lengthy
Correct answer: Open to more than one interpretation
'Ambiguous' means open to multiple interpretations, which is why the committee could not reach a definitive conclusion.
Question 7: A regulation states: 'Civilian employees may be assigned to field operations only when sworn personnel are unavailable and the assignment is approved by a Deputy Commissioner.' A civilian employee is assigned to field operations because the supervisor is understaffed. The Deputy Commissioner did not approve the assignment. This situation:
- Complies because the staffing shortage justifies the assignment
- Violates the regulation because Deputy Commissioner approval was not obtained (Correct answer)
- Complies because the supervisor has authority to make field assignments
- Violates the regulation only if the civilian objects to the assignment
Correct answer: Violates the regulation because Deputy Commissioner approval was not obtained
Both conditions must be met—unavailability of sworn personnel AND Deputy Commissioner approval—and approval was not obtained.
NYC Reading Comprehension Skills 4
A public health bulletin reads: 'Citizens are advised to boil tap water before consumption until further notice.
This precaution is not required for bathing or washing dishes.' What is the most accurate interpretation of this notice?