USPS 943 exam questions and Verified ANSWERs Latest Update

1. What is the primary responsibility of a Mail Processing Clerk? A. Driving a mail delivery truck B. Sorting mail by destination and type C. Selling stamps and postal money orders D. Managing a team of postal carriers ANSWER: B. Sorting mail by destination and type *Solution: The core function of a Mail Processing Clerk is to work in a plant or facility to process, sort, and sequence mail for distribution.* 2. Which of the following is an example of a "scheme" used by the USPS? A. A map of all the streets in a city B. A list of all employees at a processing plant C. A specific sortation plan for a group of ZIP Codes D. The budget for postal operations ANSWER: C. A specific sortation plan for a group of ZIP Codes *Solution: In USPS terminology, a "scheme" refers to a sortation plan that groups destinations (like ZIP Codes) together for efficient mail flow.* 3. If you are sorting packages and see the destination "Ketchikan, AK 99901", which scheme is it most likely part of? A. Nonstandard B. Outside C. NDC D. ATH ANSWER: D. ATH *Solution: ATH stands for "All Points Alaska, Hawaii, Territories." Mail destined for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc., is often sorted into this scheme.* 4. The "NDC" scheme typically refers to: A. National Distribution Center B. Next-Day Carrier C. Non-Deliverable Container D. New Delivery Code ANSWER: A. National Distribution Center *Solution: NDCs are major USPS facilities that process and distribute mail for a large geographic area.* 5. What does the acronym "SPR" stand for in the USPS? A. Small Package Route B. Special Postal Rate C. Small Parcel and Roll D. Standard Package Regulation ANSWER: C. Small Parcel and Roll *Solution: SPRs are small, lightweight parcels and rolls that are processed with flats or letters due to their size.* 6. You notice a tray of mail is labeled "URGENT". What should you do? A. Process it after all other first-class mail B. Set it aside for a supervisor C. Process it according to its designated priority D. Return it to the sender ANSWER: C. Process it according to its designated priority *Solution: Mail marked "URGENT" must be handled with the appropriate speed and priority as per USPS standards, not delayed.* 7. When faced with a piece of mail that is damaged and the address is unreadable, the correct action is to: A. Discard the mail item B. Try to guess the address based on the contents C. Send it to the Mail Recovery Center D. Give it to a supervisor for address correction ANSWER: C. Send it to the Mail Recovery Center *Solution: The Mail Recovery Center (formerly the Dead Letter Office) is the official USPS facility for handling undeliverable and non-forwardable mail.* 8. The "FIM" pattern on an envelope is used primarily for: A. Decorative purposes B. Automated facing of mail C. Indicating postage paid D. Security against forgery ANSWER: B. Automated facing of mail *Solution: The Facing Identification Mark (FIM) is a pattern of vertical bars used by automated equipment to properly orient and face mailpieces.* 9. A "nixie" is a term for: A. A new postal employee B. A small, manual sorting tool C. A mailpiece that is undeliverable as addressed D. A type of postal truck ANSWER: C. A mailpiece that is undeliverable as addressed *Solution: "Nixie" is an internal USPS term for mail that cannot be delivered due to an incorrect, incomplete, or illegible address.* 10. What is the purpose of the "ZIP+4" code? A. To indicate a specific delivery segment like a city block or building B. To identify the postal processing center C. To specify the type of mail service D. To indicate the postage amount ANSWER: A. To indicate a specific delivery segment like a city block or building *Solution: The ZIP+4 code adds four additional digits to the standard five-digit ZIP Code, allowing for more precise sorting down to a specific group of addresses.* 11. Which of these is considered a "flat"? A. A standard letter-sized envelope B. A large envelope or magazine C. A small box D. A postcard ANSWER: B. A large envelope or magazine *Solution: Flats are mailpieces that are larger than letters but not rigid. They are typically flexible and rectangular, like magazines and catalogs.* 12. The "OWS" in a processing plant is responsible for: A. Overseeing Window Services B. Operating Waste Systems C. Outgoing Window Sort D. Optimizing Workflow Schedules ANSWER: C. Outgoing Window Sort *Solution: OWS is a key operation where mail is sorted for dispatch from a processing facility to its next destination.* 13. If you are sequencing mail in the order a carrier will deliver it, you are performing: A. Primary sorting B. Scheme sorting C. Delivery Point Sequencing (DPS) D. Manual casing ANSWER: C. Delivery Point Sequencing (DPS) *Solution: DPS is the process where automated equipment sorts letter-mail into the exact order of delivery for each carrier route.* 14. A "hot case" is used for: A. Holding mail that requires special handling B. Storing mail for a specific ZIP Code C. Keeping mail that is awaiting transportation D. Heating food in the breakroom ANSWER: A. Holding mail that requires special handling *Solution: A "hot case" is a physical rack or area where mail is held for manual handling by a clerk, often for items like missorts, holds, or special instructions.* 15. What does the term "residual mail" refer to? A. Mail that remains after an automated sorting process B. Mail that is returned to the sender C. Mail that is damaged D. Mail that is for international delivery ANSWER: A. Mail that remains after an automated sorting process *Solution: Residual mail is the mail that automation equipment could not process and must be sorted manually.* 16. The "CSBCS" machine is used to process: A. Letters B. Flats C. Parcels D. International mail ANSWER: B. Flats *Solution: The Computerized Flat Sorting Machine (CFSM) or newer systems like the FSS (Flats Sequencing System) are used to automate the sorting of flat-sized mail.* 17. When you see a yellow sticker on a tray of mail, it typically indicates: A. Standard Mail B. Express Mail C. International Mail D. Mail for a specific scheme ANSWER: B. Express Mail *Solution: Color-coding is used for quick identification. Yellow is commonly associated with high-priority Express Mail.* 18. The "DBCS" machine is primarily used for: A. Scanning barcodes for tracking B. Sorting letter-sized mail C. Weighing packages D. Destroying undeliverable mail ANSWER: B. Sorting letter-sized mail *Solution: The Delivery Barcode Sorter (DBCS) is a key machine in USPS plants that automatically sorts letter-sized mail by ZIP Code and delivery order.* 19. A "throwback" is a term for: A. A missorted piece of mail B. A new parcel sorting machine C. A type of postal uniform D. The process of returning mail to a sender ANSWER: A. A missorted piece of mail *Solution: A "throwback" is a piece of mail that was incorrectly sorted and needs to be "thrown back" into the correct sortation stream.* 20. What is the main goal of the "FSS" machine? A. To sequence flat-sized mail in delivery order B. To face letter mail automatically C. To scan packages for tracking D. To apply postage to mailpieces ANSWER: A. To sequence flat-sized mail in delivery order *Solution: The Flats Sequencing System (FSS) automates the sorting of magazines and other flats into the order a carrier will deliver them.* 21. The "APC" is used for: A. Automated Parcel Collection B. Accounting and Postal Claims C. Automated Postal Center (self-service kiosk) D. All-Purpose Container ANSWER: D. All-Purpose Container *Solution: An APC is a large, wheeled container used to transport mail within and between postal facilities.* 22. If a barcode on a letter cannot be read by automation, a clerk might need to: A. Manually key the ZIP Code into the system B. Discard the letter C. Place a new stamp on it D. Forward it to a different facility ANSWER: A. Manually key the ZIP Code into the system *Solution: Clerks at Remote Bar Coding System (RBCS) stations manually key address information from images of mailpieces that automation could not read.* 23. The "RFS" operation in a plant stands for: A. Return to Sender B. Remote Forwarding System C. Return for Sender D. Radio Frequency Scanner ANSWER: A. Return to Sender *Solution: RFS is the process of handling mail that is undeliverable and must be returned to the sender.* 24. A "scheme rack" is a: A. Plan to increase postal revenue B. Physical rack that holds labels for a specific sort plan C. Tool for repairing machinery D. Database of employee schedules ANSWER: B. Physical rack that holds labels for a specific sort plan *Solution: A scheme rack holds separations or labels that correspond to the destinations within a specific sorting scheme.* 25. What does "AFCS" stand for? A. Automated Flat Canceling System B. Advanced Financial Control System C. Automated Face-Canceler System D. Annual Facility Check System ANSWER: C. Automated Face-Canceler System *Solution: The AFCS is a machine that automatically faces (orients) and cancels (postmarks) stamped mail.* 26. When mail is "cased," it means it has been: A. Put into a protective case for shipping B. Sorted into a carrier's delivery sequence C. Placed into a sealed bag D. Investigated for damage ANSWER: B. Sorted into a carrier's delivery sequence *Solution: "Casing" is the manual process where a letter carrier sorts mail into the order of their route using a physical case with separations for each address.* 27. The "LDC" scheme is for mail destined for: A. Large Distribution Centers B. Local Delivery Carriers C. Low-Density Countries D. A specific group of cities within a region ANSWER: D. A specific group of cities within a region *Solution: LDC stands for Local Distribution Center, a scheme for mail going to a specific local area.* 28. A "sack" in postal terms is a: A. A small bag for holding mail B. A unit of weight for postage C. A type of mail tray D. A disciplinary action ANSWER: A. A small bag for holding mail *Solution: Sacks (or bags) are used to contain and transport mail that is not suitable for trays, such as parcels or irregularly shaped items.* 29. The "OSS" operation is for sorting: A. Out-of-state mail B. Outgoing Secondary mail C. Over-Sized Sacks D. Old and Special Services ANSWER: B. Outgoing Secondary mail *Solution: OSS follows primary sorting and involves a finer sort of mail within a scheme.*