Clerical Ability Reviewer - Part 17

Practice 20 Clerical Ability questions for the Civil Service Exam (CSE), each with the correct answer and an explanation.

20 questions80% passing markFree

Part 17 of our Clerical Ability reviewer has 20 practice questions in the style of the Civil Service Exam. Answer them in order, read the explanation after each one, and check your score against the 80% passing mark at the end. Questions and choices are reshuffled every time you retake the part.

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Sample questions from Part 17

Here are a few questions from this part. Take the full test to answer all 20 and get your score.

Sample question 1

Communications received by an office from outside sources are referred to as

  • outgoing correspondence
  • archived files only
  • internal memoranda only
  • incoming correspondence
Answer: incoming correspondence
Documents received are incoming; those sent out are outgoing.

Sample question 2

A clerk opens by mistake an envelope marked "Personal" and addressed to another employee. What should the clerk do?

  • Throw it away to avoid trouble
  • Reseal it, write "Opened by mistake" on it with signature, and deliver it to the addressee
  • Deliver it unmarked and say nothing
  • Read it to make sure it is not important
Answer: Reseal it, write "Opened by mistake" on it with signature, and deliver it to the addressee
The mistake is acknowledged on the envelope and the letter is delivered intact. Honesty and confidentiality are preserved.

Sample question 3

The copy of an outgoing letter that is kept in the office for reference is called the

  • blank form
  • recipient's copy
  • office (file) copy
  • original copy
Answer: office (file) copy
The office copy (file copy) is retained in the records of the sending office.

Sample question 4

A business or official letter is generally used to communicate with

  • employees of the same section only
  • only the head of the same office
  • persons or offices outside the agency
  • nobody; it is no longer used
Answer: persons or offices outside the agency
Letters are normally addressed to outside persons or offices; memoranda are for internal use.

Sample question 5

A caller leaves a name and a telephone number for the absent head. To make sure the details are accurate, the employee should

  • ask the caller to write them himself
  • guess the spelling of the name
  • read the name and number back to the caller
  • write them down without checking
Answer: read the name and number back to the caller
Reading back verifies accuracy of names and numbers.

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