Civil Service Exam Study Guide 2024-2025 - Test Prep Secrets
[4th Edition]
Civil Service Exam 2024–2025 — Practice Questions 1–20
I. Verbal Ability
1. Which of the following is the best synonym for “abate”?
A) Intensify
B) Diminish
C) Complicate
D) Celebrate
✔ Correct Answer: B — “Abate” means to reduce in intensity or amount.
2. Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to “obscure.”
A) Hidden
B) Confusing
C) Clear
D) Dull
✔ Correct Answer: C — “Obscure” means unclear or hidden; its antonym is “clear.”
3. Identify the correctly punctuated sentence:
A) I went to the store and bought apples oranges and bananas.
B) I went to the store and bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
C) I went to the store, and bought apples oranges, and bananas.
D) I went to the store and bought, apples, oranges and bananas.
✔ Correct Answer: B — Correct use of commas in a series.
4. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: “Hit the nail on the head.”
A) To injure oneself
B) To describe a situation accurately
C) To start a task late
D) To be clumsy
✔ Correct Answer: B — This idiom means to describe or identify something precisely.
5. Select the word that best completes the sentence:
“Her explanation was so __________ that everyone understood immediately.”
A) ambiguous
B) lucid
C) obscure
D) vague
✔ Correct Answer: B — “Lucid” means clear and easy to understand.
, II. Numerical Reasoning
6. If a train travels 120 miles in 3 hours, what is its average speed?
A) 30 mph
B) 35 mph
C) 40 mph
D) 45 mph
✔ Correct Answer: C — Average speed = distance ÷ time = 120 ÷ 3 = 40 mph.
7. A store sells pencils at 3 for $1. How much would 15 pencils cost?
A) $3
B) $4
C) $5
D) $6
✔ Correct Answer: C — 15 ÷ 3 = 5 sets; 5 × $1 = $5.
8. If a budget increases by 20% from $5000, the new budget is:
A) $5200
B) $5500
C) $6000
D) $6500
✔ Correct Answer: C — $5000 × 0.20 = $1000; $5000 + $1000 = $6000.
9. Solve: 12 × 15 ÷ 6 = ?
A) 25
B) 30
C) 40
D) 45
✔ Correct Answer: B — 12 × 15 = 180; 180 ÷ 6 = 30.
10. A company sold 240 items in a week. If this was a 20% increase over the previous week,
how many items were sold the previous week?
A) 180
B) 200
C) 220
D) 240
✔ Correct Answer: B — Previous week = 240 ÷ 1.20 = 200.
III. Logical Reasoning
11. All cats are mammals. All mammals are animals. Therefore:
A) All cats are animals
B) Some cats are animals
C) No cats are animals
D) Cannot be determined
✔ Correct Answer: A — Syllogism shows that cats belong to the broader category “animals.”
12. Which number completes the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, ?
A) 28
[4th Edition]
Civil Service Exam 2024–2025 — Practice Questions 1–20
I. Verbal Ability
1. Which of the following is the best synonym for “abate”?
A) Intensify
B) Diminish
C) Complicate
D) Celebrate
✔ Correct Answer: B — “Abate” means to reduce in intensity or amount.
2. Choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to “obscure.”
A) Hidden
B) Confusing
C) Clear
D) Dull
✔ Correct Answer: C — “Obscure” means unclear or hidden; its antonym is “clear.”
3. Identify the correctly punctuated sentence:
A) I went to the store and bought apples oranges and bananas.
B) I went to the store and bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
C) I went to the store, and bought apples oranges, and bananas.
D) I went to the store and bought, apples, oranges and bananas.
✔ Correct Answer: B — Correct use of commas in a series.
4. Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: “Hit the nail on the head.”
A) To injure oneself
B) To describe a situation accurately
C) To start a task late
D) To be clumsy
✔ Correct Answer: B — This idiom means to describe or identify something precisely.
5. Select the word that best completes the sentence:
“Her explanation was so __________ that everyone understood immediately.”
A) ambiguous
B) lucid
C) obscure
D) vague
✔ Correct Answer: B — “Lucid” means clear and easy to understand.
, II. Numerical Reasoning
6. If a train travels 120 miles in 3 hours, what is its average speed?
A) 30 mph
B) 35 mph
C) 40 mph
D) 45 mph
✔ Correct Answer: C — Average speed = distance ÷ time = 120 ÷ 3 = 40 mph.
7. A store sells pencils at 3 for $1. How much would 15 pencils cost?
A) $3
B) $4
C) $5
D) $6
✔ Correct Answer: C — 15 ÷ 3 = 5 sets; 5 × $1 = $5.
8. If a budget increases by 20% from $5000, the new budget is:
A) $5200
B) $5500
C) $6000
D) $6500
✔ Correct Answer: C — $5000 × 0.20 = $1000; $5000 + $1000 = $6000.
9. Solve: 12 × 15 ÷ 6 = ?
A) 25
B) 30
C) 40
D) 45
✔ Correct Answer: B — 12 × 15 = 180; 180 ÷ 6 = 30.
10. A company sold 240 items in a week. If this was a 20% increase over the previous week,
how many items were sold the previous week?
A) 180
B) 200
C) 220
D) 240
✔ Correct Answer: B — Previous week = 240 ÷ 1.20 = 200.
III. Logical Reasoning
11. All cats are mammals. All mammals are animals. Therefore:
A) All cats are animals
B) Some cats are animals
C) No cats are animals
D) Cannot be determined
✔ Correct Answer: A — Syllogism shows that cats belong to the broader category “animals.”
12. Which number completes the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, ?
A) 28
