NYS PCO NYS Civil Service PCO 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read: 'Agencies must submit quarterly reports no later than 15 days after each quarter ends, unless the deadline falls on a weekend, in which case the report is due the next business day.' A quarter ends June 30, and July 15 is a Saturday. When is the report due?
- Monday, July 17 (Correct answer)
- Saturday, July 15
- Friday, July 14
- Monday, July 31
Correct answer: Monday, July 17
Because the 15-day deadline falls on a Saturday, the passage moves the due date to the next business day, Monday July 17.
Question 2: Read: 'Applications missing a signature will be returned; all other incomplete applications will be held for 10 days pending correction.' An application arrives with no signature and a missing address. What should the clerk do?
- Return the application because it lacks a signature (Correct answer)
- Hold it 10 days because the address is missing
- Approve it since only two items are missing
- Forward it to a supervisor for a waiver
Correct answer: Return the application because it lacks a signature
The signature rule controls: any application missing a signature is returned regardless of other defects.
Question 3: Which sentence is written most clearly and correctly for a professional report?
- The committee reviewed the proposal and recommended two changes. (Correct answer)
- The proposal, it was reviewed by the committee, and they had went on to recommend changes, two of them.
- Reviewing the proposal, two changes was recommended by the committee.
- The committee, having reviewed, recommended the proposal two changes.
Correct answer: The committee reviewed the proposal and recommended two changes.
The first option is concise, grammatical, and in active voice, unlike the wordy or ungrammatical alternatives.
Question 4: In the sentence 'The auditor's findings were corroborated by three independent sources,' the word 'corroborated' most nearly means:
- Confirmed (Correct answer)
- Contradicted
- Collected
- Concealed
Correct answer: Confirmed
To corroborate means to confirm or support with additional evidence.
Question 5: Read: 'Only employees who have completed both the ethics training and the security briefing may access the records room.' Maria completed the ethics training last month but her security briefing is scheduled for next week. May she access the records room today?
- No, because she has not completed both requirements (Correct answer)
- Yes, because she completed the ethics training
- Yes, because the briefing is already scheduled
- Only if her supervisor accompanies her
Correct answer: No, because she has not completed both requirements
The rule requires completion of both requirements, and Maria has completed only one.
Question 6: Which ordering of these steps produces the most logical paragraph about processing a request? (1) Log the request. (2) Receive the request. (3) Notify the requester of the outcome. (4) Review the request for completeness.
- 2, 1, 4, 3 (Correct answer)
- 1, 2, 3, 4
- 4, 2, 1, 3
- 2, 3, 4, 1
Correct answer: 2, 1, 4, 3
A request must be received, then logged, then reviewed, and finally the requester is notified.
Question 7: Read: 'Reimbursement requires original receipts; photocopies are accepted only when accompanied by a signed affidavit.' An employee submits photocopied receipts with a signed affidavit. What is the correct action?
- Accept the submission because the affidavit satisfies the exception (Correct answer)
- Reject it because originals are always required
- Accept only half of the reimbursement
- Hold the request until originals are found
Correct answer: Accept the submission because the affidavit satisfies the exception
The passage's stated exception allows photocopies when a signed affidavit accompanies them.
NYS PCO NYS Civil Service PCO 3
Read: 'Agencies must submit quarterly reports no later than 15 days after each quarter ends, unless the deadline falls on a weekend, in which case the report is due the next business day.' A quarter ends June 30, and July 15 is a Saturday.
When is the report due?