Next CSE-PPT: 14 March 2027 · Professional & Subprofessional
Civil Service Exam verbal ability reviewer on sentence structure and paragraph organization: correct sentence forms, parallelism, modifiers, combining sentences and arranging sentences in logical order.
Sentence structure and paragraph organization are two items in the official Verbal Ability scope of the Civil Service Exam. This set practises choosing the correctly structured sentence, fixing run-on sentences, fragments, faulty parallelism and misplaced modifiers, combining ideas with the right connector, and arranging jumbled sentences into a logical paragraph.
For paragraph items, find the opening sentence first: it introduces the topic and does not depend on any earlier sentence. Then follow pronouns ("it", "they", "this") and transition words ("however", "as a result", "finally") to link the rest.
Correct answer: B. The office closed early because of the storm.
A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb and must express a complete thought. "Because…", "When…" and "-ing" phrases on their own are fragments that leave the reader waiting for the rest.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. The report is late the manager is worried.
A run-on sentence joins two complete clauses with no punctuation or connector. It can be fixed with a comma and a conjunction, a semicolon, or by making one clause dependent, as the other options show.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. She likes reading, writing and swimming.
Items in a series should have the same grammatical form. "Reading, writing and swimming" are all -ing forms, so the sentence is parallel and easy to read.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. Walking to the office, an accident happened.
"Walking to the office, an accident happened" suggests the accident was walking. The opening phrase must describe the subject that follows it, so the subject should be "I".
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. Although the applicant was qualified, she was not hired.
The two ideas contrast, so a contrast word such as "although" is needed. "Therefore", "because" and "so" wrongly suggest that being qualified caused her not to be hired.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Because it rained heavily, the program was moved indoors.
The rain caused the move, so a cause word like "because" fits. "Although" and "but" signal contrast, which does not match the meaning.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. However, the deadline was extended.
An introductory transition word such as "however" is followed by a comma when it begins a sentence. A semicolon is used before "however" only when it joins two complete clauses.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. The director signed the memo.
In the active voice the subject performs the action: "The director signed the memo." The other options are passive, with the memo receiving the action. Clear official writing often prefers the active voice.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. I think the plan is good.
"I think the plan is good" says the same thing without repeating "personal", "opinion" and "I think". Conciseness is valued in government correspondence.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. 2-1-4-3
The sequence words set the order: "First" (2), "Then" (1), "Next" (4) and "Finally" (3). Here the clerk checks the documents before payment, as the words "Then" and "Next" indicate.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. 2-4-1-3
The paragraph starts with the new road (2), explains how it is used ("it" refers to the road) (4), states the effect on traffic ("This") (1), and ends with a further result ("As a result") (3).
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. 2-3-1-4
The paragraph introduces the problem (2), turns it with "Even so" (3), gives an example (1) and states the benefit of that example ("This") (4).
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. 3-4-1-2
The process starts with filing (3), then evaluation ("It" refers to the application) (4), then waiting (1), and ends with the decision (2).
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Trees provide shade, clean air and protection from floods.
A topic sentence states the main idea that the rest of the paragraph will develop. Only the first option presents several benefits of trees; the others are specific details or unrelated remarks.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. The office canteen serves good food.
Every sentence in a paragraph should support its main idea. The remark about the canteen has nothing to do with saving electricity, so it breaks the unity of the paragraph.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. He is not only hardworking but also honest.
With "not only … but also", the two parts should be parallel: "not only hardworking but also honest". Both are adjectives following the verb "is".
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. The reason he was absent is that he was sick.
"The reason … is because" is redundant, since "reason" already means cause. Formal English uses "the reason … is that".
Correct answer: C. A list of the passers was posted.
The subject is "a list", which is singular, so the verb is "was". The plural noun "passers" belongs to the phrase "of the passers" and does not change the subject.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. as a result
The shorter queues are a consequence of the longer hours, so a result transition fits. "However" and "in contrast" signal opposition, and "for example" introduces an illustration.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. however
The second clause contrasts with the first: online filing is faster, yet some still apply in person. "However" signals this contrast, while "therefore" and "moreover" do not.
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