Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Argument: 'The government should abolish the House of Lords because an unelected chamber has no place in a modern democracy.' Which response best evaluates this argument?

The argument is valid because all democracies require fully elected legislatures
The argument presents a principled position but ignores practical considerations such as the Lords' role in scrutiny and expertise (Correct answer)
The argument is irrelevant because the Lords has limited powers
The argument is strong because public opinion supports abolition

Correct answer: The argument presents a principled position but ignores practical considerations such as the Lords' role in scrutiny and expertise

The argument makes a principled democratic claim but fails to address practical considerations: the Lords provides legislative scrutiny, specialist expertise, and acts as a check on the Commons. A complete evaluation must weigh the democratic principle against these functional benefits.

Question 2: Passage: 'The library will be closed for refurbishment from 1 August to 15 August inclusive.' Is the library open on 10 August?

It depends on the refurbishment schedule
The library may open for limited hours
Yes, the library is open
No, the library is closed (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No, the library is closed

10 August falls within the 1–15 August closure period (inclusive). The library is closed on that date.

Question 3: An MP states: 'The NHS waiting list has grown by 2 million in three years. This government has clearly failed in its management of the health service.' Which response best identifies the flaw in this reasoning?

The growth may be attributable to external factors such as a pandemic rather than government management alone (Correct answer)
The NHS has always had waiting lists, so this is not unusual
The MP should propose solutions rather than simply criticising
2 million is a small number relative to the total UK population

Correct answer: The growth may be attributable to external factors such as a pandemic rather than government management alone

The MP assumes the waiting list growth is caused solely by government management. However, external factors (such as a pandemic, ageing population, or increased demand) could be significant contributors. Attributing the entire effect to one cause without considering alternatives is a causal reasoning flaw.

Question 4: Statement: 'The Cabinet Office now requires all government departments to publish their single departmental plans, including performance metrics and spending breakdowns, on GOV.UK.' What assumption underlies this requirement?

Public transparency about departmental plans and spending improves accountability (Correct answer)
Government departments cannot be trusted to manage their own performance
Departmental plans were previously kept secret from ministers
All members of the public regularly check GOV.UK for departmental information

Correct answer: Public transparency about departmental plans and spending improves accountability

Mandating publication of plans and performance data assumes that making this information publicly available serves a purpose — specifically, it improves accountability. Without this assumption, there would be no reason to require public disclosure rather than internal reporting alone.

Question 5: Every complaint submitted through the online portal is logged within 24 hours. Ahmed's complaint was not logged within 24 hours. What MUST be true?

Ahmed's complaint was not submitted through the online portal (Correct answer)
The system failed
Ahmed submitted the complaint late
Ahmed's complaint was lost

Correct answer: Ahmed's complaint was not submitted through the online portal

If all portal complaints are logged within 24 hours, and Ahmed's was not, his complaint was not submitted through the portal. The contrapositive follows.

Question 6: Choose the correct form: 'Each of the employees ______ required to sign the form.'

were
have been
is (Correct answer)
are

Correct answer: is

'Each' is singular and takes a singular verb. 'Each of the employees is' is grammatically correct.

Question 7: Argument: 'Artificial intelligence should be used to make benefits decisions because algorithms are objective and consistent, unlike human decision-makers who are subject to bias and fatigue.' What is the most fundamental flaw in this argument?

AI technology is too expensive for government use
Benefits claimants would prefer to interact with humans
Human decision-makers are more experienced than algorithms
Algorithms are trained on historical data that may itself contain biases, meaning AI can systematically replicate and scale existing prejudices (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Algorithms are trained on historical data that may itself contain biases, meaning AI can systematically replicate and scale existing prejudices

The argument's fundamental flaw is its assumption that algorithms are inherently objective. AI systems are trained on historical data, and if that data reflects past biases (e.g., certain groups being disproportionately denied benefits), the algorithm will learn and replicate those biases — potentially at greater scale and with less opportunity for individual case consideration.

Question 8: An argument states: 'Our new recruitment process takes longer but is more thorough. Therefore, it improves the quality of hires.' Which STRENGTHENS this argument?

Analysis shows employees hired through the new process perform better after 6 months (Correct answer)
The new process costs more to run
Candidates prefer the new process
The old process was criticised by HR

Correct answer: Analysis shows employees hired through the new process perform better after 6 months

If employees hired through the new process demonstrably perform better, this directly supports the claim that the new process improves hire quality.

Question 9: A policy was described as 'draconian'. What does this mean?

Well-balanced
Widely supported
Excessively harsh or severe (Correct answer)
Slightly restrictive

Correct answer: Excessively harsh or severe

'Draconian' means excessively harsh — named after Draco, the ancient Athenian lawmaker who imposed very severe laws. It describes extreme and disproportionate measures.

Question 10: A journalist claims: 'Reading fiction improves empathy. Therefore, people who read a lot of fiction are more empathetic.' Which BEST challenges this?

Fiction readers enjoy many genres
Not all fiction explores human emotions
Empathetic people may be more drawn to reading fiction in the first place (Correct answer)
Empathy is difficult to measure

Correct answer: Empathetic people may be more drawn to reading fiction in the first place

The journalist assumes fiction causes empathy, but the relationship could be reversed — naturally empathetic people may prefer fiction. This is reverse causation.

Question 11: Departments that fail to meet their diversity targets for two consecutive years must commission an external review. The Home Office missed its diversity targets in both 2024 and 2025. The Foreign Office missed in 2024 but met them in 2025. Which statement is correct?

Only the Foreign Office must commission an external review
Neither department needs to commission an external review
Only the Home Office must commission an external review (Correct answer)
Both departments must commission an external review

Correct answer: Only the Home Office must commission an external review

The rule requires two consecutive years of missed targets. The Home Office missed in both 2024 and 2025 (consecutive), triggering the requirement. The Foreign Office missed only in 2024 and met targets in 2025, so the consecutive condition is not met.

Question 12: Argument: 'If we don't introduce stricter regulations now, companies will continue to pollute unchecked, the environment will be destroyed, and future generations will have no future.' What fallacy does this commit?

Ad hominem
Appeal to tradition
False dichotomy
Slippery slope — jumping from a moderate premise to an extreme conclusion without justification (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Slippery slope — jumping from a moderate premise to an extreme conclusion without justification

The argument leaps from 'no strict regulations now' to 'no future for humanity' without showing why each step in the chain must inevitably occur. Intermediate outcomes could prevent the extreme.

Question 13: Statement: 'The Ministry of Defence spends more on external consultants per year than any other government department, despite having the largest in-house analytical capability.' What assumption would someone need to make to conclude this spending is wasteful?

External consultants always provide poor value for money
The Ministry of Defence has the largest budget of all departments
Other departments manage without external consultants entirely
The in-house analytical capability should be sufficient to handle the work currently given to consultants (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The in-house analytical capability should be sufficient to handle the work currently given to consultants

To conclude the spending is wasteful, one must assume the in-house team could do the consultants' work — i.e., the internal capability is sufficient. Without this assumption, there may be legitimate reasons for external consultants (specialist skills, capacity constraints, independent assurance) despite having large in-house teams.

Question 14: Passage: 'The trial period for the new system ends on 30 June. A full review will be conducted in July.' Which is CANNOT SAY?

The trial ends before the review
A review is planned for July
The new system will be adopted permanently after July (Correct answer)
The review happens after the trial period

Correct answer: The new system will be adopted permanently after July

The passage does not say anything about permanent adoption. Whether the system will be kept cannot be determined from the text.

Question 15: Statement: 'The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) found that 4 out of 17 departments received a 'limited assurance' rating in their most recent audit, indicating significant control weaknesses.' What is the most accurate interpretation?

The majority of departments have adequate internal controls
The GIAA audits are too strict in their assessments
Nearly a quarter of departments have significant control weaknesses that require attention (Correct answer)
Government internal controls are generally failing

Correct answer: Nearly a quarter of departments have significant control weaknesses that require attention

4 out of 17 is approximately 24%, meaning nearly a quarter of departments have significant weaknesses. This is a factually accurate interpretation that neither overstates (option C — the majority passed) nor understates (option A — which ignores the significant minority with problems) the finding.

Question 16: Choose the correct sentence:

If I am in charge, I would change the policy.
If I were in charge, I would change the policy. (Correct answer)
If I be in charge, I would change the policy.
If I was in charge, I would change the policy.

Correct answer: If I were in charge, I would change the policy.

The subjunctive 'were' is required for hypothetical conditions contrary to fact. 'If I were' is the grammatically correct formal form.

Question 17: Statement: 'The Civil Service has introduced blind recruitment for all Fast Stream applications, removing candidates' names, universities, and school qualifications from initial sift assessments.' What assumption underlies this policy?

All candidates from prestigious universities are less competent
The Fast Stream previously discriminated against all minority applicants
Assessors may be unconsciously influenced by personal information when evaluating candidates (Correct answer)
Removing names is sufficient to eliminate all recruitment bias

Correct answer: Assessors may be unconsciously influenced by personal information when evaluating candidates

Blind recruitment is designed to remove information that could trigger unconscious bias. The underlying assumption is that assessors may be influenced — consciously or unconsciously — by names, university prestige, or school background when making sift decisions. This is a well-established finding in recruitment research.

Question 18: Which word is the OPPOSITE of ENHANCE?

Boost
Improve
Strengthen
Diminish (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Diminish

To enhance means to intensify or improve the quality of something. Its antonym is diminish — to make smaller or weaker.

Question 19: Which word is closest in meaning to PERILOUS?

Uncertain
Safe
Dangerous (Correct answer)
Exciting

Correct answer: Dangerous

Perilous means full of danger or risk. Dangerous is the closest synonym.

Question 20: Which word is the OPPOSITE of SUPPRESS?

Restrain
Encourage (Correct answer)
Control
Prevent

Correct answer: Encourage

To suppress means to prevent or restrain something. Its antonym is encourage — to actively promote or support.

Question 21: Statement: 'Following the introduction of mandatory cyber security training, the number of successful phishing attacks on government systems decreased by 60% within six months.' What can be most safely inferred?

The training appears to have contributed to improved staff awareness of phishing threats (Correct answer)
Government employees are now fully protected against all cyber threats
Phishing attacks against government systems have stopped entirely
Cyber security training is the sole reason for the decrease in phishing attacks

Correct answer: The training appears to have contributed to improved staff awareness of phishing threats

The most cautious and well-supported inference is that the training contributed to improvement. While the correlation is strong, we cannot definitively say it is the sole cause (other measures may have been implemented simultaneously), nor that staff are fully protected or attacks have ceased.

Question 22: Statement: 'HM Prison and Probation Service has introduced educational tablets in 50 prisons, providing inmates with access to approved educational content and job application tools.' What is the key assumption behind this initiative?

All prisoners want to pursue education
Providing educational access in prison reduces reoffending upon release (Correct answer)
Prisoners currently have no access to any educational resources
Tablets are cheaper than employing prison educators

Correct answer: Providing educational access in prison reduces reoffending upon release

The initiative provides educational content and job application tools in prisons. The key assumption is that this access helps prisoners develop skills and employment prospects, thereby reducing their likelihood of reoffending — which is the primary policy objective of prison education programmes.

Question 23: LIBRARY is to BOOKS as GALLERY is to:

Exhibitions
Visitors
Paintings (Correct answer)
Architecture

Correct answer: Paintings

A library is the place where books are housed and displayed. A gallery is the place where paintings are housed and displayed.

Question 24: Passage: 'No evidence has been found linking the suspect to the crime scene.' Which statement can be TRUE?

The investigation has concluded
The suspect may or may not be guilty (Correct answer)
The suspect is definitely innocent
The suspect is definitely guilty

Correct answer: The suspect may or may not be guilty

Absence of evidence linking the suspect to the scene does not prove innocence or guilt — the suspect may or may not be guilty.

Question 25: Argument: 'Crime rates fell after the prison population increased. Therefore, imprisoning more people reduces crime.' What BEST challenges this?

Crime statistics are difficult to measure accurately
Not all crimes lead to imprisonment
Prisons are expensive to run
Crime rates were already falling before the prison population increased (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Crime rates were already falling before the prison population increased

If crime was already declining before prison populations rose, the increase in prisoners may not have caused the fall. Pre-existing trends undermine the causal claim.

Question 26: EDITOR is to MANUSCRIPT as CURATOR is to:

Visitor
Painting
Exhibition (Correct answer)
Gallery

Correct answer: Exhibition

An editor oversees and refines a manuscript. A curator oversees and manages an exhibition. Both professionals manage and shape their respective collections or works.

Question 27: A departmental memo argues: 'We should not invest in upgrading our IT systems because the last IT upgrade in 2019 went over budget by 40% and caused significant disruption.' What type of reasoning flaw does this represent?

Appeal to authority — relying on expert opinion rather than evidence
Straw man — misrepresenting the opposing position
Hasty generalisation — drawing a broad conclusion from a single past experience (Correct answer)
Circular reasoning — the conclusion simply restates the premise

Correct answer: Hasty generalisation — drawing a broad conclusion from a single past experience

Concluding that all future IT upgrades will fail based on one previous experience is a hasty generalisation. A single data point does not establish a reliable pattern, and circumstances, technology, and project management may have changed significantly since 2019.

Question 28: Which sentence uses 'there', 'their', and 'they're' correctly?

Their going to there house over they're.
They're going to their house over there. (Correct answer)
They're going to there house over their.
There going to they're house over their.

Correct answer: They're going to their house over there.

'They're' = they are (contraction); 'their' = belonging to them (possessive); 'there' = a place (adverb) — all used correctly in B.

Question 29: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Having reviewed the evidence, the verdict was reached.
Having reviewed the evidence, a verdict was reached by the panel.
Having reviewed the evidence, it reached a verdict.
Having reviewed the evidence, the panel reached a verdict. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Having reviewed the evidence, the panel reached a verdict.

The participial phrase 'Having reviewed the evidence' must be followed by the subject who did the reviewing. Only option A correctly matches the panel to the action.

Question 30: If I exercise regularly, I will feel healthier. I do not exercise regularly. Which MUST follow?

I feel less healthy than people who exercise
I am unhealthy
Nothing can be concluded about whether I feel healthy (Correct answer)
I definitely do not feel healthy

Correct answer: Nothing can be concluded about whether I feel healthy

The rule says exercise leads to feeling healthier, but not exercising doesn't automatically mean feeling unhealthy. Other factors (diet, genetics) can affect health.

Question 31: Choose the sentence with the correct use of 'who' and 'whom':

Whom did call first?
Who was the letter sent to by?
Who should I contact about this matter?
Whom should I contact about this matter? (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Whom should I contact about this matter?

'Whom' is used as the object of a verb or preposition. In 'Whom should I contact?' — 'whom' is the object of 'contact.' This is correct.

Question 32: Which word is closest in meaning to UNANIMOUS?

Partial
Divided
United (Correct answer)
Uncertain

Correct answer: United

Unanimous means fully in agreement — all members holding the same view. United captures the sense of complete agreement.

Question 33: Statement: 'The Government Commercial Function reports that 73% of major contracts are now awarded through competitive tender, up from 61% five years ago.' Consider the claim: 'Government procurement is becoming more competitive.' How well does the statement support this claim?

Contradicts — 27% of contracts still avoid competitive tender
Fully supports — the increase from 61% to 73% in competitive tenders directly demonstrates this
Partially supports — more contracts going to competitive tender suggests increased competition, but we do not know if the competition within each tender is genuinely robust (Correct answer)
Does not support — the statement is about process, not outcomes

Correct answer: Partially supports — more contracts going to competitive tender suggests increased competition, but we do not know if the competition within each tender is genuinely robust

The increase in competitive tenders supports the claim of more competition in process terms. However, a competitive tender process does not guarantee genuine competition — there could be limited bidders, incumbent advantages, or specifications favouring particular suppliers. The support is real but partial.

Question 34: A whistleblower described the company's practices as 'unethical'. What does this mean?

Contrary to accepted moral standards (Correct answer)
Illegal under current law
Technically incompetent
Officially condemned

Correct answer: Contrary to accepted moral standards

'Unethical' means not conforming to moral standards — it describes behaviour that is wrong according to moral principles, which may or may not be illegal.

Question 35: Most people who eat breakfast perform better at work. Priya performs well at work. Which MUST be true?

Priya eats breakfast
Priya never skips breakfast
Nothing can be concluded about whether Priya eats breakfast (Correct answer)
Eating breakfast caused Priya's performance

Correct answer: Nothing can be concluded about whether Priya eats breakfast

Most breakfast-eaters perform well, but not all high performers eat breakfast. We cannot conclude Priya eats breakfast from her performance alone.

Question 36: Statement: 'The Department for Education has allocated an additional £500 million to school building repairs following a survey that found 38% of school buildings have significant structural deficiencies.' Which inference is most strongly supported?

The government considers school building conditions to be a serious issue requiring investment (Correct answer)
The survey was conducted by the Department for Education
All schools with structural deficiencies will be repaired
£500 million is sufficient to repair all deficient buildings

Correct answer: The government considers school building conditions to be a serious issue requiring investment

Allocating £500 million in response to the survey findings strongly suggests the government views the issue as serious enough to warrant significant investment. The other inferences go beyond what the statement supports — we cannot know if the sum is sufficient, who conducted the survey, or whether all buildings will be repaired.

Question 37: Statement: 'The Office for National Statistics reports that public sector employment rose by 80,000 in the past year, with the largest increases in health and social care.' To conclude that this growth represents deliberate government policy, what must be assumed?

Public sector employment always increases year on year
Private sector employment decreased by a corresponding amount
Health and social care are the most important public services
The increase was planned and budgeted for rather than an unintended consequence of other factors (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The increase was planned and budgeted for rather than an unintended consequence of other factors

To attribute the growth to deliberate policy, one must assume it was intentional. Employment figures can rise for many reasons — filling vacancies, temporary pandemic roles, or changes in classification — that do not represent deliberate policy decisions to grow the workforce.

Question 38: Which word is the OPPOSITE of CONCISE?

Brief
Accurate
Wordy (Correct answer)
Clear

Correct answer: Wordy

Concise means brief and to the point. Its antonym is wordy — using more words than necessary.

Question 39: Which word is the OPPOSITE of VOLATILE?

Unpredictable
Stable (Correct answer)
Dangerous
Explosive

Correct answer: Stable

Volatile means liable to change rapidly and unpredictably. Its antonym is stable — steady and not prone to sudden change.

Question 40: Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: 'The results were ______ than expected.'

most good
better (Correct answer)
gooder
more good

Correct answer: better

'Better' is the comparative form of 'good.' 'More good,' 'gooder,' and 'most good' are all grammatically incorrect.

Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test

The Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test assesses candidates' ability to understand written information, evaluate arguments, draw logical inferences, and apply grammar and vocabulary skills required for government roles.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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