BPD - Civil Service Exam Practice: Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling, Exams of Service Management

Download BPD - Civil Service Exam Practice: Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling and more Exams Service Management in PDF only on Docsity! BPD - Civil Service Exam Practice - 1 Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling 51 Questions with Verified Answers Identify the proper noun in the sentence: The judge awarded custody to the mother, Margaret. a. mother. b. judge. c. Margaret. d. The. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - Margaret. A proper noun includes the name of a person, organization or place, designated with a capitol letter. Which words complete the sentence with the correct spelling? The ___________ was apprehended, and the __________ encounter was over. a. theif, brief. b. thief, brief. c. theif, breif. d. thief, breif. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - thief, brief. Remember the rule, use i before e, except after the letter "c". Choose the word in each pair which correctly uses the adverb and adjective: He careless/carelessly ran his car into a ravine. He later told officers how carelessly/careless it was. a. carelessly, carelessly. b. carelessly, careless. c. careless, carelessly. d. careless, careless. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - carelessly, careless. The adverb carelessly describes the verb ran. The adjective careless describes the choice (pronoun) he made. Identify the sentence fragment in the passage: Officer Fields responded to a 911 call. After arriving on scene. He noticed an open door. Nervous, Officer Fields searched the home. Officers found a twelve-year-old girl in the closet. a. After arriving on scene b. He noticed an open door c. Nervous, Officer Fields searched the home d. Officers found a twelve her old girl in the closet - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: a - After arriving on scene. The clause "After arriving on scene" is not a sentence, but a dependent clause. It does not have a subject or a verb. Which answer below corrects the use of the plural possessive for the underlined text? Our counselors skills have been put to the test in the probation office. a. counselor's b. counselores c. counselors' d. No correction needed. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - counselors'. The possessive plural form of counselors is counselors. When a word ends in an (s) and ownership is present, an apostrophe at the end of the word is the correct way to write a plural possessive. Which answer below corrects the usage errors for the underlined text? The too suspects were appointed too appear in court to have the judge set there bail. a. two, too, their A run-on sentence is two or more independent clauses (i.e. complete sentences) joined without the appropriate punctuation or conjunction. Identify the singular pronoun(s) in the following sentences: Police candidates attended a graduation ceremony. Each was awarded a copy of a diploma. No one was prouder that day than the parents of the graduates. a. police, parents b. each, no one c. police, each, parents d. no one, parents - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - each, no one. Pronouns take the place of nouns. Each and no one are singular pronouns. Identify the correct possessive plural for the sentence: The childrens smiles grew large when they saw the officers, dressed as Santa, bringing toys. a. childrens' b. children's c. officers' d. toys' - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - children's. Plural nouns, not ending in an s, do not have the apostrophe at the end. Officers and toys are plural, but in the sentence they do not show possession. Which answer below corrects the use of the possessive and verb agreement for the underlined phrase? The officer, who is the son of a retired police chief, applied to run for his fathers' former job. a. no correction needed b. to run for his father's former job c. to run for his fathers former job d. to ran for his father's former job - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - to run for his father's former job. "Father" is singular, but possessive of "former job." An apostrophe is used for possessive nouns. Identify the declarative sentence: a. Officer Gaddis retired from the force with twenty-four years of service. b. Did the human resource office receive your updated information? c. Turn in all paper work to your supervisor. d. You stepped on my foot! - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: a - Officer Gaddis retired from the force with twenty-four years of service. A declarative sentences makes a statement. It does not ask a question, give a command or express excitement or emotion. Identify the interrogative sentence: a. The city government just passed a new ordinance on leashing dogs. b. Stop right there! c. Do you want to drive? d. Write your reports in pen. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - Do you want to drive? An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends in a question mark (?). Which sentence is in the present tense? a. The officers drove through their assigned patrol district. b. The officers had driven through their assigned patrol district. c. The officers drive through their assigned patrol district. d. The officers will drive through their assigned patrol district. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - The officers drive through their assigned patrol district. The present tense of verb drive is "drive". What type of error exists in the sentence? A man marijuana smoking quickly hurried his step when he saw police lights. a. misspelled word b. misplaced modifier c. misused subject-verb agreement d. sentence fragment - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - misplaced modifier. A misplaced modifier is mixing up the order of the sentence. It lacks clarity. The sentence should read, A man smoking marijuana quickly hurried his step when he saw police lights. Which answer choice below avoids a vague, ambiguous or distant pronoun? a. The driver's car hit a light pole. It was not damaged. b. Although the driver's car hit a light pole, it was not damaged. c. Although the driver's car hit the light pole, the car was not damaged. d. Although the driver hit a light pole with his car, it was not damaged, - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - Although the driver's car hit the light pole, the car was not damaged. Only answer option c avoids the distant pronoun problem by restating the noun. In the other options, the pronoun "it" is unidentified and can refer to either the car or the light pole causing confusion. Identify the imperative sentence: a. Officer Jones asked his partner to trade shifts. b. Will you trade shifts? c. Sit in the chair. d. Shots fired! - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - Sit in the chair. An imperative sentence gives a command. The subject (you) is usually implied. What is the correct way to write the appositive of the sentence? Corporal West a dear friend wrote a letter of recommendation. a. it's b. its c. its' d. None of the above. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - its. The possessive pronoun form of "it" is "its" and does not get an apostrophe. Identify the answer that uses the adverb of frequency in brackets in its correct position. He watches his favorite football team's games. (often) a. He watches often his favorite football team's games. b. He often watches his favorite football team's games. c. He watches his often favorite football team's games. d. He watches his favorite football team's games often. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - He often watches his favorite football team's games. Adverbs modify the verb, adjective or other adverbs. The best placement for the adverb is before the word it modifies. In this case, "often" describes how he watches his favorite team. The other answer choices do not indicate this grammar relationship and are confusing. Identify the answer that uses the adverb of frequency in brackets in its correct position. John arrives early at the office in the morning. (usually) a. John arrives early usually at the office in the morning. b. John arrives usually early at the office in the morning. c. John usually arrives early at the office in the morning. d. Usually John arrives early at the office in the morning. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - John usually arrives early at the office in the morning. Adverbs modify the verb, adjective or other adverbs. The best placement for the adverb is before the word it modifies. In this case, "usually" describes how frequently John arrives at work in the morning. The police station opened more (than, then) ten years ago (on, in) 2005 and has undergone heavy traffic in and out of the facility. a. than, on b. then, on c. than, in d. then, in - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - than, in. "Than" is used as a comparison. "Then" is used to show the sequence of time. "In" is the more appropriate preposition to use for the general date like the year. If referring a specific date, "on" would be the better choice. The business partners had to cooperate together in close proximity for a period of 6 days. Which answer appropriately reduces redundancy for stylistic effect and clarity? a. The business partners had to cooperate in proximity for 6 days. b. The business partners had to cooperate in close proximity together for a 6-day period. c. The business partners had to cooperate in close proximity for a 6-day period. d. The business partners had to cooperate together closely for a period of 6 days. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: a - The business partners had to cooperate in proximity for 6 days. Choice A is the only choice that eliminates the redundancy concerning the partners' cooperation, proximity and time. Choice A eliminates "together" since cooperating implies togetherness, "close" since proximity requires closeness and also "period" since 6 days is a period of time without directly stating it. Choose the answer that corrects the error with a comma, semicolon, dash or colon. I'm sorry that I lost the item however I'll certainly replace it. a. I'm sorry that I lost the item; however; I'll certainly replace it. b. I'm sorry that I lost the item; however, I'll certainly replace it. c. I'm sorry that I lost the item, however, I'll certainly replace it. d. I'm sorry that I lost the item: however: I'll certainly replace it. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - I'm sorry that I lost the item; however, I'll certainly replace it. Use a semicolon between two independent clauses (complete sentences) joined by a conjunctive adverb or an equivalent transition such as however, therefore, consequently, in fact, etc. A comma should follow the conjunctive adverb or transition. Also when using commas, semicolons and colons, be careful to not create fragments and run-on sentences with the added punctuation. (Many, Much) of the protestors at the park (makes, make) statements about threats to the earth's environment. Which answer below uses the correct pronoun and verb? a. much, make b. many, make c. much, makes d. many, makes - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - many, make. "Many" is an indefinite plural pronoun and needs a plural verb. The group behind (me, I), missing the point of the officer's message that drugs must be avoided, (laughs, laugh) at his comments. a. I, laugh b. me, laughs c. me, laugh d. I, laughs - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - me, laughs. The sentence is in present tense and uses present tense verbs. Also, only use subject case (I) when the pronoun follows a linking verb. At the cafeteria, (neither, not) Ben nor Jim at the table next to me shared (his, their) opinions of the case. a. neither, his Identify the answer that uses the adverb of frequency in brackets in its correct position. Officer Lowe eats junk food, since she is training for a marathon occurring in our city soon. (never) a. Never Officer Lowe eats junk food, since she is training for a marathon occurring in our city soon. b. Officer Lowe eats junk food, since she is training for a marathon occurring in our city soon never. c. Officer Lowe never eats junk food, since she is training for a marathon occurring in our city soon. d. Officer Lowe eats junk food never, since she is training for a marathon occurring in our city soon. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: c - Officer Lowe never eats junk food, since she is training for a marathon occurring in our city soon. Adverbs modify the verb, adjective or other adverbs. The best placement for the adverb is before the word it modifies. In this case, "never" describes how frequently Officer Lowe eats junk food. Identify the answer that uses the correct comparative or superlative form of the adjective in brackets. The (near) gas station was twenty miles away and they did not have enough gas to drive that far. a. The nearer gas station was twenty miles away and they did not have enough gas to drive that far. b. The more near gas station was twenty miles away and they did not have enough gas to drive that far. c. The most nearest gas station was twenty miles away and they did not have enough gas to drive that far. d. The nearest gas station was twenty miles away and they did not have enough gas to drive that far. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: d - The nearest gas station was twenty miles away and they did not have enough gas to drive that far. In this sentence, the comparison is between more than two gas stations, indicating the need of the superlative form. The comparative form (nearer) is used when comparing two subjects, while the superlative form (nearest) is used for comparing more than two. Additionally, if the adjective is three or more syllables, the comparative form uses more and the superlative uses most. The mountain is climbed by thousands of hikers each year. Which answer appropriately revises the sentence to use active voice? a. Thousands of hikers climb the mountain each year. b. The mountain is climbed each year by thousands of hikers. c. Each year the mountain is climbed by thousands of hikers. d. The mountain is conquered by thousands of hikers each year. - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: a - Thousands of hikers climb the mountain each year. The correct answer is A since the hikers are actively climbing the mountain. Active verb tense is constructed by the subject performing the action instead of the action performed upon the subject. Active voice is clearer for readers. All other answer choices are in the passive voice. The juvenile had been ____ eager student and attended ____ good school, but she often stayed home from school because of baby-sitting responsibilities. Which answer appropriately completes the sentences with the proper indefinite or definite articles? a. an, a b. a, the c. an, an d. the, an - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: a - an, a. "The" is a definite article meaning that it refers to a particular noun. "A" and "an" are both indefinite articles meaning that they refer to non-specific nouns. "Eager student" refers any student in a group so it requires an indefinite article; additionally, because "eager" begins with a vowel "an" is the correct indefinite article. "Good school" refers to any school and not a particular one so an indefinite article is used again. Because "good" starts with a consonant the correct article is "a." Because he wanted to fly helicopters for law enforcement, Officer Rhodes attended _____ aviation school in Canada and returned to _____ United States as ____ pilot. Which answer appropriately completes the sentences with the proper indefinite or definite articles? a. the, the, the b. an, the, a c. a, the, the d. an, the, an - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: b - an, the, a. "Aviation school" refers any school in Canada so it requires an indefinite article; additionally, because it begins with a word beginning with a vowel "an" is the correct indefinite article. "United States" refers to a specific noun so the definite article is required. Because "pilot" refers to any pilot in a group and starts with a consonant it is the indefinite "a." The woman in line asked politely is it my turn yet? The sentence of dialogue above is not formatted or punctuated correctly. Which answer uses dialogue correctly? a. The woman in line asked politely, Is it my turn yet? b. The woman in line asked politely "is it my turn yet?" c. The woman in line asked politely", is it my turn yet"? d. The woman in line asked politely, "Is it my turn yet?" - CORRECT ANSWER Answer: d - The woman in line asked politely, "Is it my turn yet?" Quotation marks begin and end a direct quotation. A comma should separate the quotation from the rest of the sentence. The first word of the quotation is capitalized. As a police officer arrived on the scene of a report of a vandalism in progress, she noticed a red pick-up truck pull away from the scene. The officer's investigation found that graffiti had been sprayed on the side of a house. The officer felt that the red pick-up driving away from the scene should be included in her report.