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Civil Service Basic practice questions

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Question 1Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A civil service reading passage states: 'The committee reviewed the proposal and, after lengthy debate, approved it.' Which inference is best supported by this sentence?

  1. The committee approved the proposal without any discussion.
  2. The committee rejected the proposal after a short discussion.
  3. The committee approved the proposal after discussing it at length. Correct answer.
  4. The committee postponed its decision on the proposal.

Explanation

The sentence says the committee reviewed the proposal and approved it after lengthy debate, so the approval followed extended discussion. Any option claiming rejection, no discussion, or postponement contradicts the stated outcome.

Question 2Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

In a report, the word 'notwithstanding' is used: 'Notwithstanding the delay, the project met its deadline.' What does 'notwithstanding' mean here?

  1. In spite of Correct answer.
  2. Because of
  3. In addition to
  4. Instead of

Explanation

'Notwithstanding' signals concession, meaning 'in spite of' or 'despite'. The sentence says that even with the delay, the deadline was met.

Question 3Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

Which word in the sentence 'The auditor carefully examined the records before signing the final report' functions as an adverb?

  1. auditor
  2. records
  3. carefully Correct answer.
  4. final

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. 'Carefully' modifies the verb 'examined', describing how the examination was done.

Question 4Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A notice reads: 'Applicants must submit all documents by Friday; late submissions will not be considered.' Which statement is a valid restatement of this rule?

  1. Friday is the first day documents may be submitted.
  2. Documents received after Friday will be disregarded. Correct answer.
  3. Applicants may submit documents after Friday if they explain the delay.
  4. Only some documents must arrive by Friday.

Explanation

The notice sets Friday as a firm cutoff and states late submissions will not be considered, which means documents arriving after Friday are disregarded. The other options weaken or reverse the deadline.

Question 5Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

In the sentence 'The minister, who had served for a decade, resigned abruptly,' what is the function of the clause 'who had served for a decade'?

  1. It adds descriptive information about the minister. Correct answer.
  2. It introduces a condition for resigning.
  3. It asks a question about the minister.
  4. It states the main action of the sentence.

Explanation

The clause is a relative (adjective) clause modifying 'the minister' and supplying background detail. The main action is 'resigned abruptly'.

Question 6Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A passage says: 'The agency's budget grew by 4 percent, a modest increase compared with the previous year's 12 percent.' What does the passage imply about the current year's growth?

  1. It was identical to the prior year's growth.
  2. It was larger than the prior year's growth.
  3. It was unrelated to the prior year's growth.
  4. It was smaller than the prior year's growth. Correct answer.

Explanation

The text contrasts 4 percent with the previous year's 12 percent and calls the current figure 'modest', implying it is smaller. The explicit numbers confirm 4 is less than 12.

Question 7Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly in a formal administrative text?

  1. The office closes at noon; and all staff must leave by then.
  2. The office closes at noon; all staff must leave by then. Correct answer.
  3. The office closes at noon; because all staff must leave.
  4. The office closes at noon; leaving by then.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two independent clauses that are closely related, and 'The office closes at noon' and 'all staff must leave by then' are both complete clauses. The other options place a conjunction or fragment after the semicolon, which breaks the rule.

Question 8Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A memo states: 'All staff are required to attend the briefing unless they are on approved leave.' Which situation is consistent with the memo?

  1. A staff member on approved leave does not attend. Correct answer.
  2. No staff member is required to attend.
  3. A staff member on approved leave must still attend.
  4. Only managers are required to attend.

Explanation

The exception clause 'unless they are on approved leave' exempts staff on approved leave from the attendance requirement. The other options ignore or contradict that exception.

Question 9Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

Read: 'Although the report was concise, it covered every required topic.' Which statement best captures the author's point?

  1. The report was long and incomplete.
  2. The report was long but complete.
  3. Brevity did not prevent the report from being complete. Correct answer.
  4. The report was concise but missed required topics.

Explanation

'Although' sets up a contrast: conciseness might suggest incompleteness, but the report covered every required topic. The point is that brevity did not cause gaps.

Question 10Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

In the sentence 'The new policy will affect every department, and its effects will be felt for years,' which pair of words is used correctly?

  1. affect as a verb and effects as a noun Correct answer.
  2. affect as a verb and effects as a verb
  3. affect as a noun and effects as a verb
  4. affect as a noun and effects as a noun

Explanation

'Affect' is typically a verb meaning to influence, while 'effect' is typically a noun meaning a result. Here 'will affect' is a verb and 'its effects' is a noun.

Question 11Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A passage argues: 'Since the pilot program reduced processing times in three offices, it should be expanded nationwide.' Which assumption underlies this argument?

  1. Processing times are unimportant to the agency.
  2. Nationwide expansion would cost nothing.
  3. Conditions in the three offices resemble those in other offices. Correct answer.
  4. The pilot program was unpopular with staff.

Explanation

The argument generalizes from three offices to the whole country, which requires assuming other offices are similar enough for the results to transfer. Without that assumption, the inference is unsupported.

Question 12Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

Which sentence best avoids ambiguity in an official instruction?

  1. The form should be submitted before noon to the clerk or the supervisor.
  2. Submit the form to the clerk or the supervisor, and do it before noon.
  3. Forms must be submitted by someone to the clerk before noon.
  4. Submit the form to the clerk or the supervisor before noon. Correct answer.

Explanation

Option 0 places the recipient and the deadline in a clear sequence: submit to the clerk or supervisor, before noon. It leaves no doubt about what must be done and when.

Question 13Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A text states: 'The committee neither endorsed nor rejected the plan; it deferred the decision.' What is the effect of the semicolon in this sentence?

  1. It separates two related independent clauses that contrast with each other. Correct answer.
  2. It connects a dependent clause to a main clause.
  3. It introduces a list of the committee's actions.
  4. It marks a direct quotation from the chair.

Explanation

Both parts of the sentence are independent clauses, and the second clarifies the first by stating what the committee did instead. A semicolon correctly joins closely related clauses.

Question 14Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A paragraph begins: 'Critics argue that remote work reduces collaboration. However, recent surveys show that virtual teams communicate more frequently than office-based teams.' What is the function of 'However'?

  1. It introduces a cause for the preceding claim.
  2. It signals a contrast with the preceding claim. Correct answer.
  3. It restates the preceding claim in different words.
  4. It adds a supporting example to the preceding claim.

Explanation

'However' is a contrastive transition that signals the next sentence challenges or counters the critics' claim. The survey finding opposes the idea that remote work reduces collaboration.

Question 15Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' and 'less'?

  1. The agency has less staff and less funding than last year.
  2. The agency has fewer staff and fewer funding than last year.
  3. The agency has fewer staff and less funding than last year. Correct answer.
  4. The agency has less staff and fewer funding than last year.

Explanation

'Fewer' is used with countable items such as staff members, while 'less' is used with uncountable quantities such as funding. Option 0 applies each correctly.

Question 16Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A passage notes: 'The inspector's findings were preliminary; the final report is expected next month.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. The inspector found no issues at all.
  2. The final report was already published.
  3. The findings may change once the final report is issued. Correct answer.
  4. The findings are final and cannot be revised.

Explanation

Calling the findings 'preliminary' means they are provisional, so they may be revised when the final report appears. The text gives no basis for treating them as final.

Question 17Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

Identify the sentence in which the modifier is placed correctly.

  1. Having reviewed the file, approval was given to the request.
  2. Having reviewed the file, the officer approved the request. Correct answer.
  3. Having reviewed the file, the request was approved by the officer.
  4. Having reviewed the file, it was approved by the officer.

Explanation

A participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause. In option 0, the officer is the one who reviewed the file and approved the request, so the modifier attaches correctly.

Question 18Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A paragraph reads: 'The training was mandatory. Attendance was high. Satisfaction scores were low.' Which revision best combines these ideas while preserving their logical relationship?

  1. Satisfaction scores were low because attendance was high.
  2. Although the training was mandatory and attendance was high, satisfaction scores were low. Correct answer.
  3. Because the training was mandatory, satisfaction scores were low.
  4. The training was mandatory, attendance was high, and satisfaction scores were low.

Explanation

The three facts set up a contrast: high attendance despite low satisfaction. 'Although' captures that tension by subordinating the mandatory-training and attendance facts to the low scores.

Question 19Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

In formal writing, which sentence uses the passive voice most appropriately?

  1. The auditor destroyed the records quickly.
  2. The records were destroyed before the audit began. Correct answer.
  3. The auditor destroys records every week.
  4. The auditor was destroying records all morning.

Explanation

The passive voice is appropriate when the actor is unknown or unimportant and the receiver of the action matters. If the records' destruction is the key fact and the actor is unspecified, the passive fits.

Question 20Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A passage claims: 'Every regulation that was revised last year improved efficiency. Therefore, all efficiency gains came from revised regulations.' Which flaw does this argument contain?

  1. It provides too many examples of revised regulations.
  2. It defines efficiency too precisely.
  3. It assumes that everything improving efficiency was a revised regulation. Correct answer.
  4. It relies on a single counterexample.

Explanation

The premise says revised regulations improved efficiency, but the conclusion reverses the direction, claiming all efficiency gains came from those regulations. This is a converse error, treating a sufficient condition as necessary.

Question 21Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

Read: 'The proposal was not without merit, but its costs were not insignificant.' What is the author's overall stance?

  1. The proposal is entirely worthless and costless.
  2. The proposal is excellent and inexpensive.
  3. The proposal has some value, yet its costs are substantial. Correct answer.
  4. The proposal has no costs but little merit.

Explanation

The double negatives 'not without merit' and 'not insignificant' mean the proposal has some merit and considerable costs. The 'but' signals that the cost concern weighs against the merit.

Question 22Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

An argument states: 'If the office adopts the new software, then processing errors will fall. Processing errors have fallen. Therefore, the office adopted the new software.' Which description best fits this reasoning?

  1. It denies the antecedent and is valid.
  2. It uses a disjunctive syllogism and is valid.
  3. It uses modus ponens and is valid.
  4. It affirms the consequent and is invalid. Correct answer.

Explanation

The form is: if P then Q; Q; therefore P. This is the fallacy of affirming the consequent, because errors could fall for other reasons. The conclusion does not follow necessarily.

Question 23Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A sentence reads: 'The manager told the trainee that she would review the report.' Why is this sentence ambiguous?

  1. The verb 'told' requires an object.
  2. The word 'report' has two meanings.
  3. The sentence lacks a main clause.
  4. The pronoun 'she' could refer to the manager or the trainee. Correct answer.

Explanation

The pronoun 'she' has two possible antecedents, the manager and the trainee, so the reader cannot tell who will review the report. Replacing the pronoun with a name would remove the ambiguity.

Question 24Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A memo says: 'Only those who have completed the training may approve requests, and no one without certification may approve them.' Which inference is valid?

  1. Staff without training may approve requests if certified.
  2. Certification is optional for approving requests.
  3. Completing the training alone is sufficient to approve requests.
  4. Anyone who approves requests must have completed the training and be certified. Correct answer.

Explanation

Both conditions are stated as necessary: only trained staff may approve, and no uncertified person may approve. Together they mean anyone approving must be both trained and certified.

Question 25Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A passage states: 'The board's decision was unanimous, yet the minutes record a single abstention.' What does this apparent contradiction most likely indicate?

  1. The decision was not unanimous under any reading.
  2. The board did not actually meet.
  3. The abstention may have occurred without counting as a vote against the decision. Correct answer.
  4. The minutes are certainly fabricated.

Explanation

An abstention is not a vote for or against, so a unanimous decision among voting members can coexist with one abstention. The apparent conflict is resolved by distinguishing abstention from dissent.

Question 26Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A civil service reading passage states: 'The directive was circulated to all regional offices; nevertheless, several managers reported that they had not received it.' What is the logical relationship between the two clauses?

  1. The second clause adds a condition that limits the first clause
  2. The second clause gives the cause of the first clause
  3. The second clause contradicts an expectation set up by the first Correct answer.
  4. The second clause restates the first clause in different words

Explanation

The connector 'nevertheless' signals concession: the first clause establishes that distribution was complete, and the second clause reports an outcome that runs against that expectation. Recognizing contrast connectors is essential in administrative reading, where distribution or approval claims are often qualified by reported exceptions.

Question 27Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

In a public-sector style guide, which sentence correctly applies the rule that 'fewer' is used with countable items and 'less' with quantities that are not counted individually?

  1. There were fewer delays after the new queue system was installed. Correct answer.
  2. The agency received less applications this quarter than last.
  3. The office has fewer paperwork than it did before digitisation.
  4. Staff spent less hours on casework after the reform.

Explanation

'Delays' are individual, countable events, so 'fewer delays' follows the standard rule. 'Less' belongs with mass or uncountable quantities such as 'time', 'paperwork', or 'funding', while 'fewer' attaches to plural count nouns.

Question 28Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A notice reads: 'Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday. Late submissions will not be considered.' Which inference is best supported by these two sentences?

  1. Applications submitted after the deadline are automatically disqualified Correct answer.
  2. Only electronic submissions will be accepted
  3. Applicants may request an extension of the deadline
  4. The office closes at 5 p.m. every weekday

Explanation

The second sentence states a consequence that applies to anything submitted late, so a submission after 5 p.m. on Friday falls outside consideration. The passage says nothing about extensions, office opening hours, or the submission channel, so those inferences go beyond the text.

Question 29Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A civil service report sentence reads: 'Having reviewed the evidence, the panel's recommendation was to postpone the rollout.' What is the grammatical problem with this sentence?

  1. The sentence uses a comma splice between two independent clauses
  2. The introductory phrase is left dangling because the panel, not the recommendation, performed the review Correct answer.
  3. The infinitive 'to postpone' should be replaced by a gerund after 'was'
  4. The verb 'was' should agree with 'evidence' rather than with 'recommendation'

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase must describe the subject of the main clause. Here the subject is 'the panel's recommendation', which cannot logically have reviewed evidence, so the modifier dangles. Rewriting as 'Having reviewed the evidence, the panel recommended postponing the rollout' restores the correct agent.

Question 30Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A policy memo argues: 'Offices that adopted digital case files reported faster processing. Therefore, digital case files cause faster processing.' Which criticism most directly weakens this reasoning?

  1. It uses the phrase 'digital case files' in two different senses
  2. It relies on reported figures rather than independently audited statistics
  3. It assumes that faster offices were not already better resourced before adopting digital files Correct answer.
  4. It generalises from offices within a single jurisdiction

Explanation

The argument moves from a correlation to a causal claim without ruling out confounders. If offices that adopted digital files were already better resourced or better managed, the speed advantage may stem from those pre-existing conditions rather than from the files themselves.

Question 31Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

Which sentence expresses an official instruction most precisely, leaving the least room for misinterpretation?

  1. Staff must submit travel claims within ten working days of returning from travel Correct answer.
  2. Staff may submit travel claims at some point following their return
  3. Staff are expected to deal with travel claims in a timely manner
  4. Staff should try to submit travel claims reasonably soon after returning

Explanation

Precise instructions specify the actor, the obligation, and a measurable deadline. 'Must submit within ten working days' fixes both the modal strength and the time limit, leaving no discretion about when the claim is due.

Question 32Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A paragraph in a consultation document reads: 'The scheme was praised for its ambition. Its cost, however, drew sustained criticism.' Which statement best describes the paragraph's structure?

  1. It offers a general principle followed by a specific example
  2. It describes a sequence of events in chronological order
  3. It states a problem and then proposes a solution
  4. It presents a concession followed by a contrasting reservation Correct answer.

Explanation

The first sentence acknowledges a strength, and the second introduces a drawback marked by 'however'. This is a concession-plus-reservation pattern, common in consultation summaries that balance praise against concerns.

Question 33Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A sentence reads: 'The supervisor informed the officer that her application had been rejected.' Why is this sentence ambiguous?

  1. The verb 'informed' requires a direct object that is missing
  2. The word 'officer' can denote either a military rank or a public official
  3. The past perfect 'had been rejected' implies the rejection occurred before the informing
  4. The pronoun 'her' could refer to the supervisor or to the officer Correct answer.

Explanation

The possessive pronoun 'her' has two grammatically possible antecedents, the supervisor and the officer, and the sentence does not settle which is intended. Replacing the pronoun with a name or a noun phrase removes the ambiguity.

Question 34Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A passage states: 'The consultation attracted 4,000 responses. Most respondents supported the proposal in principle, though many qualified their support with detailed concerns about implementation.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. The concerns raised were too detailed to be considered by the department
  2. Implementation details, rather than the proposal's purpose, were the main source of concern Correct answer.
  3. The consultation was too small to yield meaningful findings
  4. Respondents overwhelmingly rejected the proposal outright

Explanation

The passage distinguishes support 'in principle' from reservations about 'implementation', so the concerns cluster around how the proposal would be carried out rather than whether it should proceed. That is the only conclusion the text directly licenses.

Question 35Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

In a formal administrative report, which sentence uses the passive voice most appropriately?

  1. The minutes were circulated before the meeting by the secretary
  2. The decision was taken after consultation with affected staff Correct answer.
  3. A revised timetable was announced by the director yesterday
  4. Mistakes were made by the branch in handling the case

Explanation

The passive is justified when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately depersonalised, as with a collective decision reached after consultation. Here the emphasis falls on the process and timing of the decision rather than on who took it.

Question 36Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A memo states: 'No request may be approved unless the approving officer has completed the delegated authority course.' Which situation complies with the rule?

  1. An officer who failed the course approves a request in an emergency
  2. An officer who is enrolled on the course approves a request before starting it
  3. An officer who completed the course last year approves a request Correct answer.
  4. An officer who has never taken the course approves a request after checking with a colleague

Explanation

The rule requires completion of the course as a precondition for approval, and completion last year satisfies that condition. The 'unless' structure makes completion a necessary condition, so any officer who has not finished the course cannot validly approve a request.

Question 37Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A paragraph reads: 'The review found gaps in record-keeping. It recommended a new digital system. The department has not yet allocated funding.' Which revision best expresses the logical links in a single formal sentence?

  1. The review found gaps in record-keeping, it recommended a new digital system, the department has not yet allocated funding
  2. The review found gaps in record-keeping; recommending a new digital system; the department has not yet allocated funding
  3. The review found gaps in record-keeping and recommended a new digital system, but the department has not yet allocated funding Correct answer.
  4. The review found gaps in record-keeping because it recommended a new digital system although the department has not yet allocated funding

Explanation

The three short sentences report a finding, a recommendation, and an obstacle. Coordinating them with 'and' and 'but' captures the additive and contrastive relations while keeping the result a single well-formed sentence.

Question 38Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A passage claims: 'Every office that introduced the new rota reported improved staff satisfaction. Therefore, introducing the rota is sufficient to improve satisfaction in any office.' Which assumption does the argument depend on?

  1. The conditions that produced improved satisfaction in those offices also hold in any office that adopts the rota Correct answer.
  2. Staff satisfaction is the most important measure of a rota's success
  3. All offices that introduced the rota did so at the same time
  4. Offices that did not introduce the rota had lower satisfaction beforehand

Explanation

To generalise from the observed offices to any office, the argument must assume that the relevant conditions are comparable across settings. If local factors such as staffing levels or management style drove the improvement, the rota alone would not be sufficient elsewhere.

Question 39Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

A text states: 'The inspector's findings were provisional and subject to challenge by the department. The final determination rests with the tribunal.' Which conclusion is most defensible?

  1. The inspector's conclusions may change before any binding outcome is reached Correct answer.
  2. The department has already accepted the inspector's conclusions
  3. The tribunal is bound to adopt the inspector's provisional findings
  4. The inspector's findings are binding unless the department objects in writing

Explanation

Provisional findings are open to challenge, and the binding determination belongs to the tribunal, so the inspector's conclusions are not final. The passage therefore supports the conclusion that they may be revised before a binding outcome.

Question 40Verbal reasoning and reading comprehension

An argument in a briefing note runs: 'If the office adopts the new case system, then backlogs will shrink. Backlogs have shrunk. Therefore, the office adopted the new case system.' Which statement best characterises the flaw?

  1. It treats a sufficient condition as though it were a necessary one Correct answer.
  2. It equivocates on the meaning of 'backlogs' between the premises
  3. It draws a conclusion about the future from past observations
  4. It assumes without evidence that backlogs can ever shrink

Explanation

The premise says adoption guarantees shrinking backlogs, not that only adoption can shrink them. Affirming the consequent is invalid because other causes, such as extra staff or seasonal effects, could also have reduced the backlogs.

Question 41Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A civil service training centre enrols 480 candidates. If 37.5% of them are assigned to the written test stream, how many candidates are assigned to that stream?

  1. 185
  2. 160
  3. 180 Correct answer.
  4. 200

Explanation

37.5% equals three-eighths, so multiply 480 by 3/8. 480 ÷ 8 = 60, and 60 × 3 = 180 candidates.

Question 42Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A recruitment board processes applications at a steady rate. In 6 working days it processes 270 applications. At the same rate, how many applications does it process in 10 working days?

  1. 405
  2. 480
  3. 450 Correct answer.
  4. 495

Explanation

Find the unit rate first: 270 ÷ 6 = 45 applications per day. Multiplying by 10 days gives 450 applications.

Question 43Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A clerk's monthly salary is 3,200 units. After a 5% deduction for pension contributions, what is the amount deducted each month?

  1. 16 units
  2. 160 units Correct answer.
  3. 320 units
  4. 32 units

Explanation

Five per cent means 5/100 of the salary. Compute 3,200 × 0.05 = 160 units deducted.

Question 44Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A filing cabinet holds files in the ratio 3:5 between section A and section B. If section B holds 75 files, how many files does section A hold?

  1. 45 Correct answer.
  2. 50
  3. 60
  4. 25

Explanation

Each ratio part equals 75 ÷ 5 = 15 files. Section A has 3 parts, so 3 × 15 = 45 files.

Question 45Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A public office opens at 08:45 and closes at 17:30, with a 45-minute lunch break. How many hours does the office remain open for public service?

  1. 7 hours 30 minutes
  2. 8 hours 15 minutes
  3. 8 hours 45 minutes
  4. 8 hours Correct answer.

Explanation

From 08:45 to 17:30 is 8 hours 45 minutes in total. Subtracting the 45-minute lunch break leaves exactly 8 hours of service.

Question 46Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A candidate scores 42, 48, 51 and 59 marks in four test papers. What is the average score per paper?

  1. 48
  2. 49
  3. 51
  4. 50 Correct answer.

Explanation

The total is 42 + 48 + 51 + 59 = 200. Dividing by the four papers gives an average of 50 marks.

Question 47Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A form is 24 cm long and 18 cm wide. What is the area of the form in square centimetres?

  1. 432 Correct answer.
  2. 84
  3. 216
  4. 42

Explanation

Area of a rectangle is length × width, so 24 × 18 = 432 square centimetres.

Question 48Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

In a batch of 250 examination scripts, 2% are found to have missing pages. How many scripts have missing pages?

  1. 25
  2. 12
  3. 5 Correct answer.
  4. 10

Explanation

Two per cent of 250 is 250 × 0.02 = 5 scripts. The calculation is direct because 2% is a small share of the batch.

Question 49Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A government office has 96 staff, of whom 60 are women. What is the ratio of men to women in its lowest whole-number terms?

  1. 3:4
  2. 5:3
  3. 3:5 Correct answer.
  4. 2:3

Explanation

Men number 96 − 60 = 36. The ratio 36:60 simplifies by dividing both terms by 12, giving 3:5.

Question 50Numerical reasoning and quantitative aptitude

A circular seal has a radius of 7 cm. Using π = 22/7, what is its circumference in centimetres?

  1. 154
  2. 308
  3. 22
  4. 44 Correct answer.

Explanation

Circumference equals 2πr, so 2 × 22/7 × 7 = 44 cm. The radius cancels neatly with the denominator.