Ohio Civil Service Exam Reading Comprehension and Grammar 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the policy statement: 'An employee shall not use state property for personal gain or for any purpose not related to official state business.' Which of the following would VIOLATE this policy?
- Using a state computer to draft a quarterly report
- Using a state vehicle to attend an official training
- Using a state printer to print personal résumés (Correct answer)
- Using a state telephone to call a work-related vendor
Correct answer: Using a state printer to print personal résumés
Printing personal résumés is a personal use unrelated to official state business, violating the policy.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running down the hallway, the employee dropped her files.
- After reviewing the data, the supervisor submitted the report.
- Having completed the training, the certificate was awarded to John. (Correct answer)
- After finishing the audit, the team celebrated their success.
Correct answer: Having completed the training, the certificate was awarded to John.
The certificate cannot review training; the modifier 'Having completed the training' illogically modifies 'certificate' instead of 'John.'
Question 3: Choose the correct form: 'The manager asked that each employee ______ a copy of the new handbook.'
- receives
- receive (Correct answer)
- received
- will receive
Correct answer: receive
After 'asked that,' the subjunctive mood requires the base form 'receive' without an -s ending.
Question 4: Read the passage: 'When responding to a citizen inquiry, staff should acknowledge the request within two business days and provide a full response within ten business days. If additional time is needed, staff must notify the citizen in writing.' What must staff do if they cannot respond fully within ten days?
- Close the inquiry and ask the citizen to resubmit
- Notify the citizen in writing that more time is needed (Correct answer)
- Forward the inquiry to a supervisor
- Send a partial response immediately
Correct answer: Notify the citizen in writing that more time is needed
The passage states staff must notify the citizen in writing if additional time beyond ten business days is needed.
Question 5: Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: 'The board will ______ the budget proposal at next week's meeting.'
- altar
- alter (Correct answer)
- alters
- altared
Correct answer: alter
'Alter' means to change or modify, which is the correct word in this context.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the main idea of a paragraph?
- The last sentence of the paragraph
- The sentence that provides the most specific detail
- The central point the paragraph is organized to support (Correct answer)
- The longest sentence in the paragraph
Correct answer: The central point the paragraph is organized to support
The main idea is the central point or argument that all supporting details in the paragraph are organized to develop.
Question 7: Read the sentence: 'The new regulation, which takes effect January 1, will require all vendors to submit quarterly compliance reports.' What is the function of the clause 'which takes effect January 1'?
- It states the main action of the sentence
- It provides additional, nonessential information about the regulation (Correct answer)
- It replaces the subject of the sentence
- It introduces a condition required for compliance
Correct answer: It provides additional, nonessential information about the regulation
Set off by commas, 'which takes effect January 1' is a nonrestrictive clause that adds extra information without changing the core meaning.
Ohio Civil Service Exam Reading Comprehension and Grammar 5
Read the policy statement: 'An employee shall not use state property for personal gain or for any purpose not related to official state business.' Which of the following would VIOLATE this policy?