FreeExam

Civil Service Examination Verbal Ability

Reading details, vocabulary, grammar, and following written directions.

Civil service exams are administered by government agencies. FreeExam is not a government agency, and these questions are original practice, not an official test.

These questions are original. This is not an official civil service examination, and FreeExam is not a government hiring agency.

Friday Permit Hours

The Harbor Street permit window is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Friday the window closes at 1:00 p.m., and the cash drawer is locked then. Applications placed in the wall slot after closing are stamped on the next business morning. Cash is not taken from the slot.

  1. 1.According to the notice, when is a wall-slot application stamped if it is dropped off after closing?

  1. 2.A supervisor asks the counter to expedite the bridge permit because the school path is closed. As used here, expedite most nearly means

  2. 3.A clerk is writing a note about the park-map stack. Which sentence is written correctly?

Lobby Badge Rule

The front desk gives a visitor badge only after the visitor shows a photo ID and names the office being visited. A visitor without a photo ID may sit in the lobby chairs but may not go through the inner door. Badges are returned to the desk before the visitor leaves.

  1. 4.What may a visitor who has no photo ID do?

  1. 5.Counter rule: Stamp a form only when it is signed and a fee receipt is clipped to it. If the signature is missing, hand the form back. If it is signed but the receipt is missing, put the form in the blue tray. Do not write a fee on the form. Nia holds a signed form and no receipt. What should the clerk do?

  2. 6.The fence application is pending until the lot sketch arrives. In this sentence, pending most nearly means

Confidential Envelopes

Interoffice envelopes marked Confidential stay sealed at the sorting table. Staff may write the date and the receiving office on the log, then place the envelope in that office's slot. Staff may not open the envelope or read the paper inside.

  1. 7.What may staff record before they slot a confidential envelope?

  1. 8.Which sentence about the permit-drawer count is written correctly?

  2. 9.Key rule: A room key is signed out and signed back in. If the return line is still blank at 5 p.m., call the holder once. If there is no answer, note the time and leave the note for the supervisor. Do not sign the return line yourself. At 5 p.m. the return line for room 4 is blank. What is the correct next step?

Shelter A Card

Cedar Park shelter A may be reserved for up to four hours. The group must post its reservation card on the shelter board before setting up tables. If no card is posted by 15 minutes after the reserved start time, the next group on the wait list may use the shelter.

  1. 10.When may the next group on the wait list use shelter A?

  1. 11.The office may revoke a park permit if the grill rules are ignored. Revoke most nearly means

  2. 12.Which mail-room sentence uses its correctly?

Fence Permit Sketch

If a fence-permit packet has no lot sketch, the clerk returns the packet with a green slip and does not take the fee. If the sketch is included but the fee is unpaid, the clerk holds the packet for 10 business days. After those 10 days, an unpaid packet is mailed back.

  1. 13.What does the clerk do with a fence-permit packet that has no lot sketch?

  1. 14.Payroll-envelope rule: Payroll envelopes go in the locked canvas bag. Write the count on the bag tag. Do not put them in open slots. A clerk finds three payroll envelopes on the sort table. What should the clerk do?

  2. 15.The clerk will prorate the annual shelter fee for a group that uses only three months. Prorate most nearly means

East Path Closure

The east path at Pine Court is closed because the footbridge boards are loose. Walkers must use the gravel loop until the bridge reopens. Dogs on the loop must be on a leash. Bicycles are not allowed on the gravel loop during the closure.

  1. 16.Which use of the gravel loop does the notice allow during the closure?

  1. 17.Which sentence about the aide badges is written correctly?

  2. 18.Splash-pad rule: If the test strip is purple, close the pad and call the maintenance number on the pump. Do not add chemicals. Do not leave the pad open. The strip on the pump is purple. What should the aide do?

Held Packages

The mail room holds packages for residents of city housing for five days. A resident must show a photo ID that matches the package name. On the sixth day, an unclaimed package is returned to the sender. Staff do not leave these packages at the front desk.

  1. 19.What happens to a package that is still unclaimed on the sixth day?

  1. 20.The director can waive the late stamp when the mail room was closed by a storm. Waive most nearly means

  2. 21.Which sentence about the license window is written correctly?

Permit Status Calls

The desk phone is answered by the third ring. A clerk gives a permit status only when the caller states both the permit number and the applicant's last name. If either fact is missing, the clerk does not give the status and offers to take a message for the permit unit.

  1. 22.A caller knows the last name but not the permit number. What should the clerk do?

  1. 23.Notary rule: A document must be signed while the notary watches. A signature already on the page does not count. An expired photo ID means the notary does not proceed. The resident's ID is current, but the page was signed at home. What should happen?

  2. 24.The mail clerk set the card aside because the office name was not legible. Legible most nearly means

Volunteer Service Letter

Park volunteers sign the shed log when they arrive and again when they leave. Only hours written on both lines count toward a service letter. A supervisor initials the log at the end of the day. Volunteers do not initial their own times.

  1. 25.Which hours count toward a service letter?

  1. 26.Which sentence about the shelter forms is written correctly?

  2. 27.Cart rule: Boxes marked GLASS stay on the bottom shelf. Do not stack anything on them. If a glass box is on top, move it to the bottom before the cart moves. A glass box is sitting on the top shelf. What should the clerk do before moving the cart?

Later Receipt Copy

The counter gives one original receipt. If the resident asks for a copy on that same day, the clerk stamps the copy DUPLICATE and keeps the original in the drawer. A copy requested on a later day is ordered from records. The counter does not reprint a receipt on a later day.

  1. 28.How does a resident get a receipt copy on a day after the visit?

  1. 29.A discrepancy between the drawer count and the receipt tape must be reported before closing. Discrepancy most nearly means

  2. 30.Which note about Friday hours is written correctly?

Forwarding Cards

A mail-forwarding card is valid for 60 days. Mail for a name on a valid card goes to the new office written on the card. If the card has expired, the mail is placed in the old office's slot with a pink note. Staff do not guess a new office.

  1. 31.Where does mail go when the forwarding card has expired?

  1. 32.Deposit rule: Picnic-deposit cash is returned only when the area is clean and the aide has signed the card. Without that signature, give a cleanup slip instead of cash. Do not return cash from the desk alone. The area is clean, but the aide has not signed. What should the desk do?

  2. 33.Badge photos are confidential and stay in the locked drawer. Confidential most nearly means

North Lawn Grills

Grills on the north lawn may be lit only in the metal rings. A group that finds a ring already hot must tell the park aide and use a different ring. Coals must be cold before the group leaves. Water may be poured on coals only when the aide is present.

  1. 34.What must a group do if it finds a grill ring already hot?

  1. 35.Which sentence about the morning mail is written correctly?

  2. 36.Torn-label rule: If a package's office name is torn off, put the package on the problem table and fill out a trace card. Do not open it. Do not guess the office. A tube arrives with the office name torn away. What should the clerk do?

Permit Drop Box

The permit drop box is emptied at 8:15 a.m. and again at 3:45 p.m. on business days. Papers inside at 3:45 p.m. are processed that day. Papers dropped after 3:45 p.m. stay until 8:15 a.m. the next business morning. The box is not emptied on Saturday or Sunday. This Thursday and Friday are business days.

  1. 37.Papers are dropped in the box at 4:10 p.m. on Thursday. When are they first removed?

  1. 38.An interim receipt is given until records prints the permit. Interim most nearly means

  2. 39.Which sentence about blank badges is written correctly?

Lost Visitor Badge

If a visitor loses a badge inside the building, the desk issues a temporary badge only after checking the visitor's photo ID again. The lost badge number is written on a loss slip. The temporary badge is good for that visit only and must be returned to the desk.

  1. 40.A temporary badge is issued only after which step?

  1. 41.Date rule: A wrong date on a shelter card can be fixed at the desk only before the reservation day. On the reservation day, the park aide must approve any change. Do not cross out the date yourself on that day. Today is the reservation day, and the holder wants a later hour. What should the desk do?

  2. 42.Vendors must comply with the rule that carts stay off the gravel loop. Comply most nearly means

Fountain Lawn Spray

The fountain lawn is sprayed for weeds on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The lawn stays closed until noon that day. Dogs are not allowed on the lawn on a spray day, including after noon. The path around the lawn stays open all day.

  1. 43.What stays open during the spray hours?

  1. 44.Which sentence about the affidavit is written correctly?

  2. 45.Fax rule: Faxes that arrive after 4:00 p.m. are stamped the next morning. Do not deliver them on the evening round. A fax marked RUSH still waits, unless it is marked SAFETY, in which case the supervisor is called at once. A RUSH fax that is not marked SAFETY arrives at 4:20 p.m. What should the clerk do?

Certified Red Book

Certified letters are logged in the red book before they are placed in a slot. The clerk writes the article number, the date, and the receiving office. The letter is not opened. If the article number cannot be read, the letter goes to the supervisor's tray and is not placed in a slot.

  1. 46.Where does a certified letter go if the article number cannot be read?

  1. 47.The shed log shows which rakes were allocated to the morning crew. Allocated most nearly means

  2. 48.Which sentence about the storm and the desk hours is written correctly?

Name Correction Card

A resident may correct a misspelled name before the permit is issued by filing a pink correction card at the counter. After the permit is issued, the counter cannot change the name. The resident then files a records request. The fee is not refunded when the misspelling was on the resident's own form.

  1. 49.How is a misspelled name corrected after the permit has already been issued?

  1. 50.Payment rule: A child may not pay a permit fee or sign the form. If a child offers the cash, ask for the applicant. Do not take the fee from the child. A child holds out cash for a parent's fence fee. What should the clerk do?

  2. 51.The resident asked to amend the permit so the gate faces the alley. Amend most nearly means

Dusk Gate Notice

The Oak Hill loudspeaker says the gates lock at dusk. Visitors already inside may finish the loop path and leave by the south gate. The loop takes about 20 minutes. The north gate locks at the hour posted on the board. New picnic setups are not allowed after the announcement.

  1. 52.What may visitors who are already inside do when the closing announcement plays?

  1. 53.Which sentence about Friday visitors is written correctly?

  2. 54.Placard rule: A replacement parking placard is issued only when the old number is reported and a photo ID is shown. If there is no ID, give a form to bring back. Do not issue the placard. A resident reports the old number but has no ID. What should the desk do?

Phone Interpreter List

If a resident asks for help in another language, the clerk offers the phone interpreter list posted at the desk. The clerk does not ask a child who came with the resident to interpret fees or deadlines. The resident may accept or decline the phone interpreter.

  1. 55.Whom does the notice say the clerk must not ask to interpret fees?

  1. 56.A shelter request is refused when the group is in arrears on an earlier fee. In arrears most nearly means

  2. 57.Which sentence comparing the gates is written correctly?

Bulk Tray Shelf

Trays labeled Bulk are delivered only on the afternoon run. The morning run carries first-class mail and certified mail. A bulk tray found on the morning cart is set on the holding shelf. Bulk pieces are not placed in first-class slots.

  1. 58.What should a clerk do with a bulk tray found on the morning cart?

  1. 59.Phone-card rule: A new phone number is written on a white card and placed in the file. Do not erase the old number. Records crosses out the old number later. A resident wants the old number erased now. What should the clerk do?

  2. 60.The board voted to defer the fountain repair until the parts arrive. Defer most nearly means

Shade Sail Limit

The playfield shade sail may be reserved by a group of 10 or fewer. A group larger than 10 must use shelter B. A shade-sail reservation does not include the grill. Grill use needs a separate card from the park aide.

  1. 61.What must a group of 14 do if it wants covered space under this notice?

  1. 62.Which sentence about the two drawers is written correctly?

  2. 63.Bridge rule: Riders must walk horses on the wooden bridge. If a rider is mounted on the bridge, ask the rider to dismount and walk the horse. Do not take the reins. A rider is sitting on a horse halfway across the bridge. What should the aide do?

Waiver Packet Desk

The front desk accepts a park-program fee-waiver packet only when the signed waiver form and proof of residency are both included. The desk does not approve the waiver. An approval or denial is mailed within 15 days. A packet missing proof of residency is handed back.

  1. 64.What is the front desk's role when a waiver packet is complete?

  1. 65.A resident is eligible for the fee waiver only with proof of residency. Eligible most nearly means

  2. 66.Which sentence about opening the drop box is written correctly?

Manager Slot

Mail with no office name and no person name is stamped Return and placed in the carrier bin. If an office is named but the person has left that office, the piece goes in that office's manager slot. The mail room does not open a piece to search for a better name.

  1. 67.Where does a letter go when it names an office but the person has left?

  1. 68.Poster rule: An office may request 5 posters with a green slip by 11:00 a.m. A slip after 11:00 a.m. is filled the next day. Posters are picked up at the desk and are not delivered to homes. A green slip for 5 posters arrives at 11:40 a.m. What should the clerk tell the office?

  2. 69.The ordinance bans open fires outside the metal rings. Ordinance most nearly means

Plaza Fountain Basins

The lower basin of the plaza fountain is for dogs. People may not wade in it. Dogs must be on a leash, and a dog that cannot use the ramp must be lifted out. The upper basin is the display basin and is not for dogs or wading.

  1. 70.What is the lower basin for?

  1. 71.Which sentence about the footbridge is written correctly?

  2. 72.Transfer rule: A resident may move to another session of the same class up to 48 hours before it starts, with no new fee, if a seat remains. Inside 48 hours, the transfer needs the supervisor's written OK. A resident asks three days ahead, and a seat remains. What should the desk do?

Numbered Walk-in Cards

The permit counter sees residents by appointment from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Walk-ins are seen from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the order of numbered cards. A walk-in who arrives during appointment hours may take a card but is not called until 1:00 p.m. Staff do not trade an appointment slot for a walk-in card.

  1. 73.A walk-in arrives at 9:40 a.m. and takes a numbered card. When is that person called?

  1. 74.Groups must remit the shelter fee before the card is posted. Remit most nearly means

  2. 75.Which sentence about the shed log is written correctly?

Yellow Bench Tape

Benches with a yellow tape square were painted this morning. A bench may be used after 2:00 p.m. only if the crew has removed the tape. If the tape is still up after 2:00 p.m., the bench stays closed and the crew should be called. Visitors do not pull the tape off.

  1. 76.It is 2:30 p.m. and the yellow tape is still on a bench. What should a visitor do?

  1. 77.Spill rule: If cleaner spills in the lobby, set out two yellow cones and call building staff. Do not leave the spill unmarked. Do not ask a visitor to mop it. A bottle of cleaner spills by the counter. What should the clerk do?

  2. 78.The Friday closing time on the card is tentative until the manager signs it. Tentative most nearly means

Address Pouch

A change-of-address form for permit notices must be signed by the applicant. The front desk dates the form and places it in the records pouch. The desk does not change the computer file. Records updates the file within two business days. Mail keeps going to the old address until that update is finished.

  1. 79.When does permit mail start going to the new address?

  1. 80.Which sentence about the aide's closing tasks is written correctly?

  2. 81.Counter-priority rule: If a person is at the counter and an ordinary phone line rings, greet the person and let that call go to the message. Return the call after the person is helped. The red emergency line is the exception and is answered at once. An ordinary line rings while a resident is at the counter. What should the clerk do?

Field Horn Rule

If the horn sounds, teams leave the fields and go to the brick shelter or to their cars. Tents are not a shelter under this rule. Play does not resume until the park aide gives an all-clear. The all-clear is never sooner than 30 minutes after the last horn.

  1. 82.What does the rule require before play resumes?

  1. 83.Files for the annex are kept in the cabinet adjacent to the mail slots. Adjacent most nearly means

  2. 84.Which request about the maps is written correctly?

Bulky Envelope Shelf

Envelopes thicker than two inches do not go in office slots. They are written on the bulky log and kept on the low shelf for pickup. The receiving office is called once. If no one picks an envelope up by the next morning, it stays on the shelf and the office is called again. A thick envelope is not forced into a slot.

  1. 85.What is the correct first treatment of an envelope thicker than two inches?

  1. 86.History rule: The desk may print one payment history for the person named on the photo ID. A second copy the same day is stamped COPY and is still given only to that person. A request for someone else's history is refused. The same resident asks for a second copy of their own history today. What should the clerk do?

  2. 87.The old badge color is obsolete and should not be issued. Obsolete most nearly means

Saturday Snack Stand

The park snack stand sells water and pretzels from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. It does not take cards. A city employee may not run a personal tab. If the water case is empty, the stand closes early and a sign is taped to the shutter.

  1. 88.What does the notice say to do if the water case is empty?

  1. 89.Which sentence comparing the two mail routes is written correctly?

  2. 90.Hold-mail rule: A hold lasts 14 days. On day 15, deliver the held bundle to the office slot. Do not extend a hold because someone calls. An extension requires a new written card. On day 15, a caller asks to keep the hold for one more week. What should the clerk do?

Desk Witness Rule

A permit affidavit needs the resident's signature and the signature of a desk witness. The witness must be a city employee on duty, and the witness must watch the resident sign. A signature already on the form when the resident arrives does not count as witnessed. The resident signs again in front of the employee.

  1. 91.The form was signed before the resident arrived. What must the resident do?

  1. 92.Ask only for documents pertinent to the permit, not for unrelated bills. Pertinent most nearly means

  2. 93.Which sentence about the drawer count is written correctly?

Library Door Racks

The racks by the library door are for bicycles of people using the library or the park office that day. A bicycle left overnight is tagged. A tagged bicycle still there the next evening is moved to the park shed. A lock is cut only if the bicycle blocks the ramp.

  1. 94.When may a lock be cut?

  1. 95.Study-room rule: A study-room reservation is released if the person is 10 minutes late. The next person waiting in the chair may have the room. Do not hold the room because the first person called. It is 10 minutes past the start, the first person is absent, and another person is in the waiting chair. What should the desk do?

  2. 96.Late fees accrue each business day after the tenth day. Accrue most nearly means

Storm Drain Raking

Volunteers may rake leaves away from storm drains on the park paths. They may not lift a drain grate. If a grate is already off, the volunteer tells the park aide and waits at that spot until the aide arrives. Children may help rake, but children may not stand in the street.

  1. 97.What should a volunteer do if a drain grate is already off?

  1. 98.Which sentence about the receipts is written correctly?

  2. 99.Tent-permit rule: Take cash only when the stake plan and the insurance page are both present. If the stake plan is missing, return the packet with an orange tag. If only the insurance page is missing, keep the packet in the gray bin and give a list. Do not take cash when a page is missing. Both pages are here, and the resident has the fee. What should the clerk do?

Sign-in Quiet Hour

The lobby is a quiet area during exam sign-in, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The desk still answers the phone, then asks the caller to hold while a sign-in is completed. A radio is not played during that hour. Questions about the sign-in line are answered in a low voice.

  1. 100.What may the desk do when the phone rings during sign-in?

  1. 101.The aide can rescind a rain check if the original permit was altered. Rescind most nearly means

  2. 102.Which sentence about yesterday's badges is written correctly?

Yellow Map Slips

The mail room keeps park maps for visitors who ask. Each person may take one map. A teacher who wants a bundle of 20 maps fills out a yellow slip before noon, and the bundle is ready at 2:00 p.m. that day. A slip turned in after noon is filled the next day. Maps are not mailed.

  1. 103.A teacher turns in a yellow slip for 20 maps at 12:30 p.m. When is that bundle filled?

  1. 104.Tube rule: Poster tubes do not go in the slot rack. Log them on the tube sheet and stand them in the corner bin. Call the office only if the tube is marked FRAGILE. A tube that is not fragile is not called; the office sees it on the afternoon list. A tube arrives with no FRAGILE mark. What should the clerk do?

  2. 105.The notice will designate the south gate as the dusk exit. Designate most nearly means

Field Rain Check

If lightning or standing water closes Field 2, the permit holder may reschedule within 30 days. The holder brings the original permit to the front desk. The desk writes a rain-check note and does not collect a second fee. A date more than 30 days away needs a new permit and a new fee.

  1. 106.A holder wants a date 10 days away and has the original permit. What should the desk do?

  1. 107.Which sentence about filing the permit is written correctly?

  2. 108.Shutter rule: People already being helped at closing are finished. People still in line at the shutter time get a return card and are not started on a new filing. Do not take a new cash fee after the shutter time. The shutter time arrives while one resident is mid-filing and two more are in line. What should the clerk do?