Verbal Ability Reviewer Part 3 with Answers | Civil Service Exam Reviewer

Part 3 of our Verbal 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 3

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

Sample question 1

There are no effective boundaries when it comes to pollutants. Studies have shown that toxic
insecticides that have been banned in many countries are riding the wind from countries where they
remain legal. Compounds such as DDT and toxaphene have been found in remote places like the
Yukon and other Arctic regions.
This paragraph best supports the statement that

toxic insecticides such as DDT have not been banned throughout the world.
more pollutants find their way into polar climates than they do into warmer areas.
studies have proven that many countries have ignored their own anti-pollution laws.
DDT and toxaphene are the two most toxic insecticides in the world.

Answer: toxic insecticides such as DDT have not been banned throughout the world.

The passage says insecticides such as DDT are banned in many countries but remain legal in other countries, from where they travel by wind. So DDT is not banned throughout the world. The other options go beyond the passage (polar vs. warm areas, ignored laws, most toxic).

Sample question 2

Critical reading is a demanding process. To read critically, you must slow down your reading and, with
pencil in hand, perform specific operations on the text. Mark up the text with your reactions,
conclusions, and questions. When you read, become an active participant.
This paragraph best supports the statement that

critical reading is a slow, dull, but essential process.
the best critical reading happens at critical times in a person’s life.
readers should get in the habit of questioning the truth of what they read.
critical reading requires thoughtful and careful attention.

Answer: critical reading requires thoughtful and careful attention.

This answer is implied by the whole paragraph. The author stresses the need to read critically by performing operations on the text in a slow and specific manner. Choice a is incorrect because the author never says that reading is dull. Choices b, c, and e are not supported by the paragraph.

Sample question 3

Two person look out through the same bars; one sees mud and the other, the stars.
The sentence best supports the statement that __________.

some people are more blind than others
people see things differently depending on their own perspective
people have varied ways of looking at different things
people have different tastes and interests

Answer: people have varied ways of looking at different things

The two persons see the same bars but one sees mud and the other stars, so people perceive the same thing in different ways. People have varied ways of looking at different things best restates this.

Sample question 4

Nagawang mabago ng mga kasalukuyang awitin ang kamalayan ng Pilipino upang kantahin ang sarili
niyang mga awit sa tanging wikang nakapagsasatinig sa kanyang kaluluwa.
Isinasaad ng pangungusap na __________.

madamdamin at makabuluhan ang mga awiting isinulat sa wikang Pilipino
tagumpay ang mga awiting Pilipino na mabago ang kaugalian ng mga tao Pilipino
madaling matutuhan ang mga awiting Pilipino dahil ang mga ito ay nasusulat sa katutubong wika
natututuhan nang tangkilikin ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang mga sariling awitin.

Answer: natututuhan nang tangkilikin ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang mga sariling awitin.

The sentence says present-day songs changed Filipinos' awareness so that they sing their own songs in the language that voices their soul. In other words, Filipinos are learning to patronize their own songs: natututuhan nang tangkilikin ang sariling awitin.

Sample question 5

In a modern economy, the results of long-range planning frequently depend upon the future value of
money. The ability then to predict the value of money is a key to economic progress.
The paragraph best supports the statement that _________.

the value of money is unpredictable at times
the unpredictability of money is an obstacle to a nation’s prosperity
the unpredictability of money is an obstacle to a
nation’s prosperity
long-range planning is unheard of in traditional economies

Answer: the unpredictability of money is an obstacle to a
nation’s prosperity

The passage says long-range planning depends on the future value of money, and being able to predict that value is key to economic progress. Therefore, unpredictable money value is an obstacle to a nation's prosperity.

Verbal Ability Reviewer - Part 3