SHRM-CP - PRACTICE EXAM LATEST UPDATED

1) A specialized field which works on engineering the work environment is: A. industrial existentialism. B. ergonomics. C. environmentalism. D. engineering design - Answer B. ergonomics. 2) A primary advantage of unstructured versus structured interviewing techniques is that: A. structured interviews take less time B. in an unstructured interview, the interviewer can ask follow-up questions and pursue points of interest as they develop C. unstructured interviews are in compliance with EEOC regulations, whereas structured interviews are not D. unstructured interviews are more cost effective - Answer B. in an unstructured interview, the interviewer can ask follow-up questions and pursue points of interest as they develop 3) A common repatriation problem for international companies is that: A. repatriation usually precipitates employee grievances B. there is usually high employee turnover following repatriation C. repatriated employees usually demand significantly higher salaries D. repatriated employees generally do not wish to return to the U.S. - Answer B. there is usually high employee turnover following repatriation 4) If an OSHA inspector shows up at the workplace, the first step an HR professional should take is: A. check and verify the inspector's credentials B. close the workplace and send the employees home C. deny any violation noted by the inspector D. secure all health and safety related company records in a locked location - Answer A. check and verify the inspector's credentials 5) Comparing the expense of a program versus its projected and identifiable results is using which planning technique? A. Zero-based budgeting B. MBO C. Cost-benefit analysis D. Variable budgeting - Answer C. Cost-benefit analysis 6) Frederick Taylor is noted for his contribution to: A. performance appraisal systems B. "humanizing" the workplace C. Making the work process more efficient and less fatiguing D. Pension reform - Answer C. Making the work process more efficient and less fatiguing 7) An HR professional is investigating reasons for job turnover among company employees moving from one job or department to another. Which data collection method would provide the information without interdepartmental conflicts? A. Surveys to all employees who have changed positions within the last year. B. Group interviews with employees and previous supervisors to discuss reasons for job changes. C. Search through performance appraisal files and personnel records to learn reasons for job turnover within the company. D. Questionnaires distributed only to employees who have changed positions - Answer C. Search through performance appraisal files and personnel records to learn reasons for job turnover within the company. 8) Of the following, the weakest tool for predicting an applicant's job performance is the: A. application form B. proficiency test C. interview D. prior work reference - Answer C. interview 9) Keeping a record of all employees and listing significant successes and failures of each describe which method? A. critical incident B. MBO C. Essay form D. Field review - Answer A. critical incident 10) Which of the following pieces of federal legislation is considered pro management? A. Wagner Act B. National Industrial Recovery Act C. Railway Recovery Act D. Taft-Hartley Act - Answer D. Taft-Hartley Act 11) The most important element in defending an organization's position in a disciplinary action is to demonstrate that: A. the employee has been warned B. the employee knew the rules before the infraction C. an example was needed to eliminate or reduce similar misbehavior D. progressive discipline has been applied consistent with policy and past practice - Answer D. progressive discipline has been applied consistent with policy and past practice 12) Which of the following would be considered nontaxable indirect compensation? A. Employee discounts on employer goods or services B. Employer-paid group-term life insurance over $50,000 C. Personal use of a company car D. Severance pay - Answer A. Employee discounts on employer goods or services 13) The lowest dose level at which toxic effects of a material can be demonstrated is called: A. the adverse impact level B. the toxicity level C. the lethal level D. the just-toxic amount - Answer B. the toxicity level 14) Which type of organizational structure creates a dual chain of command? A. Line and staff B. Functional C. Matrix D. Vertical - Answer C. Matrix 15) The use of an aptitude test in the selection process best predicts: A. skill level B. job knowledge C. manual dexterity D. training performance - Answer D. training performance 16) A company is in the process of establishing formal compensation policies and practices. This company is in which phase of the organizational cycle? A. Introduction B. Transition C. Growth D. Maturity - Answer D. Maturity 17) The first step in the job analysis process entails: A. deciding how the organization will use the information collected B. writing new job descriptions for all current employees C. comparing old job descriptions with new job specifications D. replacing job descriptions with job specifications - Answer A. deciding how the organization will use the information collected 18) A process that aims to improve the performance and interaction within a specific group of employees is: A. teambuilding B. a Scanlon plan C. human factors engineering D. survey research - Answer A. teambuilding 19) Which of the following is a primary advantage of a balanced scorecard? A. It separates business strategy from day-to-day activities. B. It relates performance of business functions to the organization's mission. C. It focuses on financial measurements and hard data results. D. It tracks progress against goals without raising accountability issues. - Answer B. It relates performance of business functions to the organization's mission. Use the following information to answer questions 20 through 22) A manufacturing facility purchases new equipment so that it can increase productivity. Employees are trained on the new equipment. In anticipation of the increased productivity, the piece-rate standards for the workers are increased. However, the operations manager has noticed that the volume and quality of its products has actually declined. 20) What is the FIRST thing the operations manager should do? A. Talk to employees about the situation. B. Return to the original compensation plan. C. Send employees to refresher training. D. Lower the expected production volume. - Answer A. Talk to employees about the situation. A manufacturing facility purchases new equipment so that it can increase productivity. Employees are trained on the new equipment. In anticipation of the increased productivity, the piece-rate standards for the workers are increased. However, the operations manager has noticed that the volume and quality of its products has actually declined. 21) The manager determines that the decline is a result of both the new equipment and the compensation policy. Because some of the employees are not yet proficient on the equipment, they believe that the higher productivity goals are not achievable. What is the next thing the manager should do? A. Reinstate the original compensation plan. B. Provide a breather period before instituting the new compensation incentives. C. Threaten to reprimand all workers who are falling below standards. D. Provide retraining and coaching for all workers who are below standard. - Answer D. Provide retraining and coaching for all workers who are below standard. A manufacturing facility purchases new equipment so that it can increase productivity. Employees are trained on the new equipment. In anticipation of the increased productivity, the piece-rate standards for the workers are increased. However, the operations manager has noticed that the volume and quality of its products has actually declined. 22) The attitude that the employees are exhibiting can be explained by: A. Theory X and Theory Y. B. Vroom's expectancy theory. C. equity theory. D. Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory - Answer B. Vroom's expectancy theory. 23) Which of the following questions to job applicants is LEGAL under the ADA? A. How many times were you absent due to illness in the last two years? B. Have you ever filed for workers' compensation? C. I see you are wearing a cast on your arm. How did you hurt yourself? D. Describe any problems you would have lifting a 50-pound dog onto an examination table - Answer D. Describe any problems you would have lifting a 50-pound dog onto an examination table 24) Which of the following situations that lead to workplace violence can be controlled by an organization? A. unstable economy B. pressure for increased productivity C. domestic problems D. low self-esteem - Answer B. pressure for increased productivity 25) The key to a successful expatriate experience is: A. foreign language competency. B. sending single managers. C. cultural familiarity. D. cultural flexibility and adaptability. - Answer D. cultural flexibility and adaptability. 26) The concept of reliability refers to: A. how difficult it is for applicants to "fake out" of a test. B. consistency with which a test measures an item. C. how well the test measures what it is supposed to measure. D. the environmental conditions present when the test is given - Answer B. consistency with which a test measures an item. 27) If one supervisor interprets performance standards differently from another supervisor, what type of appraisal error is most likely to occur? A. recovery problem B. rater bias C. halo effect D. rater pattern error - Answer D. rater pattern error 28) The basic premise underlying the Scanlon Plan is that: A. profits should be shared by all employees. B. efficiency depends on teamwork and plant-wide cooperation. C. employees are more motivated if they share ownership of the firm. D. unions inhibit profitability. - Answer B. efficiency depends on teamwork and plant-wide cooperation. 29) The Equal Pay Act of 1963: A. prohibits wage discrimination based on sex. B. requires equal pay for jobs of comparable worth. C. prohibits pay differentials based on race, religion, color, sex or national origin. D. is now expired. - Answer B. requires equal pay for jobs of comparable worth.