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Postal Exam 955 study materials
Postal Exam 955 study resources

Postal Exam 955 practice questions

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Question 1Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that most nearly means the same as brief.

  1. old
  2. short Correct answer.
  3. wide
  4. loud

Explanation

A synonym is a word with nearly the same meaning as another. Brief describes something lasting only a little time, which matches short. The other choices describe sound, width, or age, so they share no meaning with brief.

Question 2Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to expand.

  1. widen
  2. enlarge
  3. stretch
  4. shrink Correct answer.

Explanation

An antonym expresses the opposite meaning of a word. To expand is to grow larger, so its opposite is to shrink, meaning to grow smaller. The remaining choices all move in the same direction as expand.

Question 3Verbal Reasoning

HAND is to GLOVE as FOOT is to ___.

  1. floor
  2. toe
  3. shoe Correct answer.
  4. ankle

Explanation

The relationship is a body part paired with the item of clothing worn on it. A glove is worn on the hand, just as a shoe is worn on the foot. The other choices name parts of the foot or a walking surface, so they do not complete the same relationship.

Question 4Verbal Reasoning

The clerk spoke ___ so that everyone in the back of the room could hear.

  1. rapidly
  2. faintly
  3. loudly Correct answer.
  4. shyly

Explanation

The phrase so that everyone could hear calls for a word describing strong volume. Loudly fits because it means with great sound. The other choices describe weak volume, timidity, or speed of speech.

Question 5Verbal Reasoning

Which word comes first when the four are arranged in alphabetical order?

  1. lady
  2. ladder
  3. labor
  4. label Correct answer.

Explanation

Alphabetize letter by letter. All four words begin with la, and the third letters are b, b, d, d, so the two lab- words come before ladder and lady. Comparing the fourth letters, e comes before o, so label ranks first.

Question 6Verbal Reasoning

In the sentence The supervisor's remarks were terse, the word terse most nearly means ___.

  1. lengthy
  2. confusing
  3. angry
  4. brief Correct answer.

Explanation

Terse means using very few words, so brief is the closest match. Lengthy is its opposite, while angry and confusing describe emotion or clarity rather than economy of expression.

Question 7Verbal Reasoning

Choose the sentence that is written correctly.

  1. Neither the clerks nor the supervisor was present. Correct answer.
  2. Neither the clerks nor the supervisor have arrived.
  3. Neither the clerks nor the supervisor were present.
  4. Neither the clerks nor the supervisor are present.

Explanation

When neither and nor join two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. The nearer subject here is the singular supervisor, so the singular verb was is required.

Question 8Verbal Reasoning

All letter carriers in the office wear badges. Miguel is a letter carrier in the office. Which statement must be true?

  1. Miguel enjoys his job.
  2. Miguel wears a badge. Correct answer.
  3. Miguel wears a badge only indoors.
  4. Everyone who wears a badge is a letter carrier.

Explanation

If every letter carrier in the office wears a badge and Miguel belongs to that group, then Miguel must wear a badge. The other choices add conditions, reverse the rule, or introduce information that the premises never mention.

Question 9Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word that most nearly means meticulous.

  1. hurried
  2. careless
  3. careful Correct answer.
  4. cheerful

Explanation

Meticulous describes great attention to detail, which matches careful. Hurried and careless suggest the opposite quality, and cheerful describes mood rather than thoroughness.

Question 10Verbal Reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to scarce?

  1. limited
  2. rare
  3. abundant Correct answer.
  4. costly

Explanation

Scarce means in short supply, so its opposite is abundant, meaning plentiful. Rare and limited are close in meaning to scarce, and costly refers to price.

Question 11Verbal Reasoning

THERMOMETER is to TEMPERATURE as SCALE is to ___.

  1. height
  2. balance
  3. kitchen
  4. weight Correct answer.

Explanation

A thermometer is an instrument that measures temperature. A scale is an instrument that measures weight, so the relationship is instrument to the quantity it measures.

Question 12Verbal Reasoning

Although the route was long, the carrier remained ___ and finished on time.

  1. exhausted
  2. idle
  3. diligent Correct answer.
  4. doubtful

Explanation

The word although signals a contrast, so the blank should name a quality that explains finishing on time despite a long route. Diligent, meaning hardworking, supplies that quality. The other choices do not account for completing the work on schedule.

Question 13Verbal Reasoning

Read the passage: Mail volume in the district rose 12 percent during December, but the number of temporary carriers hired increased by only 4 percent. Supervisors credited improved sorting procedures for the difference. Which statement is best supported by the passage?

  1. Fewer temporary carriers were hired than in previous years.
  2. December mail volume was the highest ever recorded.
  3. Supervisors expect volume to fall in January.
  4. Sorting became more efficient that month. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage says supervisors credited improved sorting for handling more mail with only a small staffing increase, which supports a claim of greater sorting efficiency. The other choices add comparisons or predictions the passage never makes.

Question 14Verbal Reasoning

Every package delivered by the office is scanned before delivery. The package on the truck was not scanned. Which conclusion follows?

  1. The package will be scanned at the door.
  2. The truck left the station late.
  3. The office did not deliver that package. Correct answer.
  4. The package is too large for the truck.

Explanation

The rule states that being delivered by the office guarantees being scanned. Since this package was not scanned, it cannot have been delivered by the office, which follows by contrapositive reasoning.

Question 15Verbal Reasoning

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

  1. The mail, that arrived late, was sorted quickly.
  2. The mail that arrived late was sorted quickly. Correct answer.
  3. The mail, that arrived late was sorted quickly.
  4. The mail that arrived late, was sorted quickly.

Explanation

The clause that arrived late identifies which mail is meant, making it restrictive, so it takes no commas. Commas would wrongly suggest the clause is extra, nonessential information.

Question 16Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence should come first in a well-organized paragraph?

  1. For these reasons, the pilot program was extended.
  2. Two stations tested new sorting bins for six weeks. Correct answer.
  3. In addition, overtime hours fell by half.
  4. Carriers also reported fewer sorting errors.

Explanation

A well-organized paragraph opens with a topic sentence that introduces the subject. The sentence about testing sorting bins at two stations sets up the details and conclusions that follow.

Question 17Verbal Reasoning

Choose the word closest in meaning to candid.

  1. polite
  2. doubtful
  3. frank Correct answer.
  4. hidden

Explanation

Candid means open and straightforward in speech, so frank is the closest synonym. Hidden suggests concealment, while polite and doubtful describe manners or uncertainty.

Question 18Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence uses the word cite correctly?

  1. The new building site was cite near the river.
  2. Please cite the boxes on the top shelf.
  3. Her cite improved after glasses.
  4. The report must cite each source used. Correct answer.

Explanation

Cite is a verb meaning to quote or refer to a source, which is how it is used in the sentence about the report. The other sentences require site, a location; set, meaning to place; or sight, meaning vision.

Question 19Verbal Reasoning

CAREFUL is to RECKLESS as THRIFTY is to ___.

  1. wealthy
  2. frugal
  3. wasteful Correct answer.
  4. sensible

Explanation

Careful and reckless are opposites, so the second pair must also be opposites. Thrifty means careful with money, and wasteful is its opposite.

Question 20Verbal Reasoning

Some of the clerks who work weekends are trained in bulk sorting. Which conclusion must be true?

  1. Most clerks prefer weekday shifts.
  2. All weekend clerks are trained in bulk sorting.
  3. No weekday clerk is trained in bulk sorting.
  4. Some weekend clerk is trained in bulk sorting. Correct answer.

Explanation

A statement of the form some A are B guarantees that at least one member of A has property B. Therefore at least one weekend clerk is trained in bulk sorting, and nothing stronger follows.

Question 21Verbal Reasoning

Read the passage: The office's new dispatch schedule cut average route start time by 22 minutes. However, overtime rose slightly, because carriers now finish later in the afternoon and meet heavier traffic on the return trip. Which best describes the relationship between the two findings?

  1. The schedule change failed to achieve any of its goals.
  2. Overtime rose because start times were earlier.
  3. A benefit came with a partly offsetting cost. Correct answer.
  4. Traffic is unrelated to the overtime increase.

Explanation

The passage presents a clear gain, earlier route starts, and then a drawback introduced by the word however. The best description is that the benefit was partly offset by added overtime caused by later return trips in heavier traffic.

Question 22Verbal Reasoning

No one who skipped the safety briefing may operate the forklift. Everyone on the evening crew operated the forklift. Which statement must be true?

  1. Those who attended operate forklifts.
  2. All evening crew attended the briefing. Correct answer.
  3. Some evening crew members skipped the briefing.
  4. Only evening crew attended the briefing.

Explanation

Skipping the briefing disqualifies a person from operating the forklift, so anyone who operated it must have attended. Since every evening crew member operated the forklift, all of them attended the briefing.

Question 23Verbal Reasoning

Despite the union's ___ tone during negotiations, the final agreement was reached without a strike.

  1. cheerful
  2. brief
  3. combative Correct answer.
  4. conciliatory

Explanation

Despite signals a contrast with the peaceful outcome, so the blank needs a word suggesting conflict. Combative, meaning ready to fight, supplies that contrast. The other choices either match the peaceful outcome or describe something unrelated to conflict.

Question 24Verbal Reasoning

The auditor's findings were equivocal, leaving the board unable to decide. Equivocal most nearly means ___.

  1. dishonest
  2. ambiguous Correct answer.
  3. favorable
  4. decisive

Explanation

The clause about the board being unable to decide shows that the findings were unclear. Equivocal means open to more than one interpretation, which matches ambiguous.

Question 25Verbal Reasoning

A supervisor argues: Every time we added a second sorting machine, throughput increased. Therefore, adding more machines always raises throughput. Which is the strongest criticism of this argument?

  1. It misuses technical terms.
  2. It assumes past results will always repeat. Correct answer.
  3. It relies only on the opinions of carriers.
  4. It confuses throughput with the number of machines.

Explanation

The argument generalizes from a few past cases to a universal rule without considering limits such as space, staffing, or volume. That is a hasty generalization, so the strongest criticism is the unsupported assumption that past results always repeat.

Question 26Verbal Reasoning

In the sentence "The clerk's explanation was succinct," the word succinct most nearly means ___.

  1. hesitant
  2. ornate
  3. brief Correct answer.
  4. repetitive

Explanation

Succinct describes something expressed clearly in very few words. A succinct explanation is therefore brief and to the point. The other choices describe style or manner rather than brevity.

Question 27Verbal Reasoning

Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to abundant?

  1. ordinary
  2. plentiful
  3. sparse Correct answer.
  4. costly

Explanation

Abundant means existing in large quantities. Its opposite should mean existing in small quantities or thinly distributed, which is sparse. Plentiful is a synonym, while costly and ordinary describe value or familiarity, not quantity.

Question 28Verbal Reasoning

GLOVE is to HAND as ___ is to FOOT.

  1. toe
  2. sock Correct answer.
  3. ankle
  4. sole

Explanation

A glove is a covering worn on the hand, so the analogous item is a covering worn on the foot. A sock fits that relationship. Ankle, toe, and sole are parts of the foot or leg, not coverings.

Question 29Verbal Reasoning

The instructions were so ___ that even a new employee could follow them.

  1. clear Correct answer.
  2. optional
  3. vague
  4. lengthy

Explanation

The phrase "even a new employee could follow them" signals that the instructions were easy to understand. Clear fits that meaning. Vague and lengthy would make following them harder, and optional does not describe comprehensibility.

Question 30Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence uses the word principal correctly?

  1. The new principal of the route changed.
  2. Please principal the labels before shipping.
  3. The principal reason for the delay was bad weather. Correct answer.
  4. The clerk will principal the morning meeting for the entire staff.

Explanation

Principal as an adjective means main or most important, so "principal reason" is correct. As a noun it can refer to a school leader or a sum of money, but it is not a verb meaning to lead a meeting or label items.

Question 31Verbal Reasoning

Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct.

  1. Each of the packages has a label. Correct answer.
  2. Each of the packages have a label.
  3. The list of addresses were updated by the clerk.
  4. Neither of the clerks were available.

Explanation

The subject "each" is singular, so it takes the singular verb "has." In the other sentences, singular subjects such as "list" and "neither" are paired with plural verbs, creating agreement errors.

Question 32Verbal Reasoning

In the sentence "The manager's reply was curt, so the clerk felt dismissed," the word curt most nearly means ___.

  1. cheerful
  2. polite
  3. abrupt Correct answer.
  4. detailed

Explanation

Curt means rudely brief or abrupt in speech. The clerk feeling dismissed supports that negative sense. Polite, detailed, and cheerful do not fit the context.

Question 33Verbal Reasoning

All overdue notices are printed on blue paper. This notice is printed on yellow paper. Which statement must be true?

  1. This notice was printed on blue paper by the clerk.
  2. This notice is overdue.
  3. This notice is printed on blue paper.
  4. This notice is not an overdue notice. Correct answer.

Explanation

If all overdue notices are blue, then a yellow notice cannot be an overdue notice. The rule does not tell us what kind of notice it is, only what it is not.

Question 34Verbal Reasoning

A clerk placed fragile items at the bottom of a cart and stacked heavy boxes on top. Several fragile items arrived damaged. What is the most likely explanation?

  1. The fragile items had no labels.
  2. The heavy boxes crushed the fragile items. Correct answer.
  3. The cart was too small for the packages.
  4. The delivery route was unusually long.

Explanation

The passage emphasizes the placement of heavy boxes above fragile items. That arrangement creates pressure and impact that can damage fragile contents. The other details are not mentioned or connected to the damage.

Question 35Verbal Reasoning

AUTHOR is to MANUSCRIPT as COMPOSER is to ___.

  1. instrument
  2. audience
  3. score Correct answer.
  4. orchestra

Explanation

An author creates a manuscript, just as a composer creates a score. The other options are performers, tools, or listeners rather than the work produced.

Question 36Verbal Reasoning

Although the new sorting process was efficient, it was not ___; several clerks found it difficult to learn.

  1. effective
  2. mandatory
  3. intuitive Correct answer.
  4. legal

Explanation

The contrast with "efficient" and the detail that clerks found it hard to learn point to a word meaning easy to understand naturally. Intuitive fits. Effective would repeat efficiency, while legal and mandatory do not address learnability.

Question 37Verbal Reasoning

Every mailbag with a red tag goes to Route 4. This mailbag did not go to Route 4. Which statement must be true?

  1. This mailbag went to Route 5.
  2. This mailbag has a red tag.
  3. This mailbag has no tag of any kind on it.
  4. This mailbag does not have a red tag. Correct answer.

Explanation

The rule says a red tag implies Route 4. Since the bag did not go to Route 4, it cannot have a red tag. The passage does not establish which other route it took or whether it had some other tag.

Question 38Verbal Reasoning

The new label printer saved time, but its labels occasionally jammed. Clerks kept a spare roll of labels nearby. What can be inferred?

  1. The labels were unnecessary.
  2. The spare roll was for a different printer.
  3. The printer never jammed.
  4. The clerks expected jams to happen. Correct answer.

Explanation

Keeping a spare roll nearby is a precaution that makes sense if jams were a known possibility. The passage explicitly says jams occurred, so the other choices conflict with or go beyond the text.

Question 39Verbal Reasoning

Which sentence uses the word affect correctly?

  1. The new rule had a surprisingly big affect on morale.
  2. Her affect was to finish early.
  3. The weather will affect our delivery route. Correct answer.
  4. Please affect the labels before shipping.

Explanation

Affect is most commonly a verb meaning to influence. "Will affect our route" uses it correctly. The other sentences use affect as a noun meaning result or as a verb meaning to attach or accomplish, which is incorrect in those contexts.

Question 40Verbal Reasoning

Which order makes the most sense? (1) First, clerks sort letters by route. (2) Then carriers load the sorted mail. (3) Finally, carriers begin deliveries. (4) The morning shift begins before dawn.

  1. 1-2-3-4
  2. 4-1-3-2
  3. 2-1-4-3
  4. 4-1-2-3 Correct answer.

Explanation

A well-organized paragraph should start with the general setting, then present steps in chronological order. The shift begins first, followed by sorting, loading, and delivering. That sequence is 4-1-2-3.

Question 41Verbal Reasoning

The office replaced paper sign-out sheets with an electronic log. Supervisors can now see who is on which route in real time. However, some carriers need extra training to use the log. What is the main idea?

  1. Paper sign-out sheets are more accurate.
  2. Supervisors should not track routes.
  3. The electronic log improves tracking but requires training. Correct answer.
  4. Electronic logs are always easier to use than paper sign-out sheets.

Explanation

The passage presents a benefit of the electronic log and a drawback or cost. The best main idea captures both sides: improved tracking and the need for training. The other choices are unsupported or too absolute.

Question 42Verbal Reasoning

In the sentence "The supervisor's criticism was harsh but constructive," the word constructive most nearly means ___.

  1. cruel
  2. lengthy
  3. vague
  4. helpful Correct answer.

Explanation

Constructive criticism is intended to improve performance, so it is helpful rather than merely negative. The contrast with harsh shows that constructive adds a positive purpose. Cruel, vague, and lengthy do not capture that purpose.

Question 43Verbal Reasoning

PARCEL is to WRAP as LETTER is to ___.

  1. envelope Correct answer.
  2. stamp
  3. street address
  4. mailbox outside the office

Explanation

A parcel is enclosed in wrapping, just as a letter is enclosed in an envelope. A stamp, address, and mailbox are related to mailing but are not the enclosing item.

Question 44Verbal Reasoning

A supervisor argues: "Every time we increased staff, errors fell. Therefore, hiring more staff will always reduce errors." What is the main flaw?

  1. It assumes errors cannot fall.
  2. It treats a past correlation as a guaranteed cause. Correct answer.
  3. It ignores the financial cost of hiring additional staff.
  4. It relies on only one example.

Explanation

The argument moves from past co-occurrence to a guaranteed future effect. That is a causal fallacy: a correlation does not prove that staffing alone causes lower errors. Cost may matter practically, but it is not the logical flaw described.

Question 45Verbal Reasoning

The district added a second delivery shift. Package volume rose, but customer complaints about late deliveries also rose. Which conclusion is most reasonable?

  1. The complaints were unrelated to delivery times.
  2. The second shift did not eliminate late deliveries. Correct answer.
  3. Package volume must have fallen.
  4. The second shift was the direct cause of every late delivery.

Explanation

The data show late-delivery complaints increased even after the extra shift, so the shift did not fully solve the problem. The passage does not prove the shift caused the complaints or that volume fell. It also gives no reason to dismiss the complaints as unrelated.

Question 46Verbal Reasoning

No trainee may sign for registered mail. Some employees who sign for registered mail are clerks. Which conclusion must be true?

  1. Some clerks are not trainees. Correct answer.
  2. All trainees in the office are also clerks.
  3. All clerks are trainees.
  4. No clerk is a trainee.

Explanation

Since no trainee can sign for registered mail, any clerk who does sign must not be a trainee. Because at least some such signers are clerks, at least some clerks are not trainees. The other choices make stronger claims that the premises do not support.

Question 47Verbal Reasoning

A report was not false, but it was misleading because it omitted key facts. Which word best describes the report?

  1. ambiguous
  2. comprehensive
  3. disingenuous Correct answer.
  4. fraudulent

Explanation

Disingenuous describes something that is not straightforward or candid, often by selective omission. The report was technically true but misleading, which fits that idea. Fraudulent implies intentional deception that may be illegal, comprehensive is the opposite, and ambiguous means unclear rather than selectively incomplete.

Question 48Verbal Reasoning

Consider: If the office buys a new sorter, training costs will rise. If training costs rise, overtime will be reduced. Which conclusion follows logically?

  1. Overtime will be reduced even if no new sorter is purchased.
  2. Training costs will not rise under any circumstances.
  3. The office will definitely buy a new sorter this year.
  4. If the office buys a new sorter, overtime will be reduced. Correct answer.

Explanation

The two conditional statements form a chain: new sorter leads to higher training costs, and higher training costs lead to reduced overtime. Therefore, a new sorter would lead to reduced overtime. The premises do not say whether the office will actually buy the sorter.

Question 49Verbal Reasoning

A carrier's route changed from a dense apartment area to a spread-out suburban area. The number of stops fell by 15 percent, but delivery time increased. What best explains this?

  1. More travel time between stops offset the fewer stops. Correct answer.
  2. The apartment area had fewer stops.
  3. The suburban area received no mail.
  4. The carrier took longer breaks than usual on that route.

Explanation

Delivery time depends on both the number of stops and the distance between them. In a spread-out area, extra travel can outweigh a modest drop in stops. The passage gives no evidence for no mail or longer breaks.

Question 50Verbal Reasoning

The training manual was thorough, but its diagrams were so ___ that few trainees could follow them.

  1. courteous
  2. intricate Correct answer.
  3. durable
  4. concise

Explanation

The conjunction "but" signals a contrast: the manual's text is praised as thorough, so the blank must name a quality that made the diagrams hard to follow. "Intricate" means highly complicated, which explains why trainees struggled. The other choices describe brevity, toughness, or politeness, none of which would make a diagram difficult to follow.