study guide very important

STUDY KIT

2005-2006

For use to prepare for: Public Service, Post-Secondary Recruitment, and Foreign Service competitions.

Suite 102 T: (613) 567-9229 E: [email protected] 404 Laurier East F: (613) 567-9098 E: [email protected] Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R2 E: [email protected]

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STUDY KIT 2005-2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE COPYRIGHT ADVISORY 2

SECTION I INTRODUCTION & AUTHOR PROFILE............................................................. 3

SECTION II GOVERNMENT RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION CAMPAIGNS: OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................... 5

i. Insights into the Post-Secondary Recruitment and Promotion Processes 6

ii. Public Service Commission Web Page Insertion-2005 Fall Campaign 9

SECTION III - THE APPLICATION AND RESUM ............................................................... 11

SECTION IV PERSONAL STATEMENT OF INTEREST ................................................. 15

SECTION V CRUCIAL TEST-TAKING TIPS ....................................................................... 20

SECTION VI WRITTEN COMMUNICATION PROFICIENCY TEST (WCPT) ...................... 23

i. Communication Skills Testing WCPT Exercise 24

ii. Public Service Commission Web Page Insertion 25

iii. Tips on WCPT Performance Improvement 30

WCPT Sample Test #1 50 Questions 31

Answers and Categories for WCPT Sample Test #1 49

WCPT Sample Test #2 - 50 Questions 51


WCPT Sample Test #3 - 50 Questions 67



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SECTION VII SITUATIONAL JUDGEMENT TEST (SJT).................................................... 85

i. Situational Judgement Testing Previous Situational Exercises 86

ii. Situational Judgment Testing -Current Situational Judgement Test (SJT) 93

iii. Public Service Commission Web Page Insertion 94

iv. Tips on SJT Performance Improvement 97

SJT Sample Test # 1 100 Questions 109

Answers and Competencies Tested for Sample SJT Test #1 134

SJT Sample Test # 2 100 Questions 138

Answers and Competencies Tested for Sample SJT Test #2 163

SECTION VIII WRITTEN COMMUNICATION TEST (WCT) .............................................. 167

Introduction 167

i. Communication Skills Testing Past WCT Exercise 168

ii. Communication Skills Testing Current WCT Exercise 169


iv. Tips on WCT Performance Improvement 172

v. Instructions for Sample WCT Texts and Sample WCT Summaries 174

WCT Sample Text #1 to Summarize 175

WCT Sample Summary #1 179

WCT Sample Text #2 to Summarize 180

WCT Sample Summaries #2A and #2B 182

vi. Sample Government Summary Canada in the World Web Page Insertion 184

SECTION IX GRADUATE RECRUITMENT TEST (GRT) .................................................. 189

Introduction 189

i. Cognitive Testing Past GRT Exercise 189

ii. Cognitive Testing Current GRT Exercise 191


iv. Tips on GRT Performance Improvement 196

v. Instructions for Sample GRT Questions 199

GRT Sample Questions: Similarities 200

GRT Answers: Similarities 203

GRT Sample Questions: Number Series 206

GRT Answers: Number Series 210

GRT Sample Questions: Arithmetic 217

GRT Answers: Arithmetic 224

GRT Sample Questions: Figure Analogy 234

GRT Answers: Figure Analogy 239

SECTION X ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT / OTHER CAREERS INFO ........................... 244

i. Information on Government Departments/Agencies Hiring Candidates 245

ii. Our Other Services 246

This Study Kit has been prepared for the 2005-2006 government competitions developed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Canada. The Study Kit has been revised this year, as necessary, to reflect changes in the overall examination and evaluation processes. A new kit should be obtained for each competition to stay abreast of changes, and to prepare wisely and effectively. The Study Kit is the only information source published specifically to help candidates prepare for federal government competitions. Our companys services enjoy an outstanding success rate: typically, we attract about 9% of all candidates, but over 35% of those hired are our clients.

Copyright 2005


SCESE FSECC

COPYRIGHT ADVISORY

This 2005-2006 Study Kit is provided for the sole use of the purchaser of record. It

may not be retransmitted or reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written

consent of the publisher, FSECC Inc.

All purchasers are identified individually by a coded security symbol in the text of the

Study Kit to ensure personal usage. Any contravention of copyright will result in

immediate legal action against the purchaser by FSECC Inc.

It is in the interest of FSECC Inc. to limit Study Kit usage to bona fide individual

purchasers; it is in the interest of the purchasers to retain the Study Kit for personal

use only, to enhance their performance compared to that of other competitors in

government examinations and to comply with copyright law.


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SECTION I INTRODUCTION & AUTHOR PROFILE

Thank you for purchasing this newly revised Study Kit, prepared to help improve your

performance in various current federal government competitions. The Kit contains essential

advice and useful practice exercises, and is literally the only source of in-depth, informed

assistance to candidates taking examinations for Public Service jobs and promotions.

How does this information help you? Simple: we provide good information to bright people,

and urge them to use it. The success rate of clients over our 20 years in business is triple that of

the general group of candidates who undertake the government competitions on their own. In

addition to providing instruction and practice tests, the Study Kit dispels the myths and

misinformation which have always surrounded federal government recruitment and advancement

methods.

The cost of the Study Kit combined with other coaching services we provide all listed on our

website - amounts to approximately 1% of the salary of most Public Service positions available

in the Public Service competitions. We believe you will find the Study Kit, and our other,

proven services, valuable in pursuing your career objectives. Best wishes in your efforts to

prepare for your competition.

Sincerely,

Barry Yeates * President

* See attached Profile

BARRY YEATES PROFILE


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Barry Yeates has developed all career advancement materials and services

provided throughout our companys 20 year history. His extensive coaching,

training and consulting experience includes work with organizations and

individuals in the government, multilateral, non-governmental, political,

corporate, legal, media and education sectors in more than 25 countries. Barry

has delivered career-related workshops in Canada, the United States and

Europe at over 150 schools, universities and conferences. Barry joined the then Department of External

Affairs as a Foreign Service officer in 1977. He served in the Media Relations Office in Ottawa, and as

Executive Assistant to the Ambassador at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.. Among other

duties he specialized in political reporting on Central America and the Caribbean. Barry has also worked

as University Secretary at Trent University, as an Organizational Development Consultant for an

international training firm, and as Director of Political Operations for a federal party.

Barry holds a Masters degree from the University of Guelph, was the recipient of a Social Sciences and

Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship, and taught at Guelph and Carleton universities.


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SECTION II GOVERNMENT RECRUITMENT and PROMOTION CAMPAIGNS: OVERVIEW

i. Insights into Post-Secondary Recruitment and Promotion

Processes

ii. Public Service Commission Web Page Insertion


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i. Insights into the Post-Secondary Recruitment and Promotion Processes

N.B. The following refers particularly to the details and vagaries associated with government

recruiting competitions; however, those using the Study Kit for government promotion

exercises will recognize that some of the observations apply to their situation as well.

The Post-Secondary Recruitment (PSR) Campaign run by the Public Service Commission (PSC) of

Canada has been around for decades. We have followed it closely for over 20 years to help people

succeed in it.

The Campaign recruits entry-level officer staff for government departments and agencies. The number

of participating government entities varies in each campaign, as does the type and number of positions

available. The testing is developed and administered by the Public Service Commission, then qualified

candidates are referred to the various departments and agencies to be interviewed. Usually there are

two national PSR campaigns annually, a Fall and a Winter version, with a different mix of participating

government entities and job types in each one.

A book deserves to be written on this exercise, but for your purposes we will limit our observations to

what will help you, and fill in some details to combat the abundant myths and misinformation

surrounding this Public Service hiring process.

In almost every campaign there are changes: the jobs change, the application and academic criteria

change, the tests change, and the pass marks change. Three things do not change:

- First, everyone talks about how the PSR process works, and almost none of them are right. - Second, the electronic system through which you apply and which posts the marks almost

always fails at some point, causing delays.

- Third, despite what is said by government recruitment staff or other federal employees in all jobs at all levels, and by university teachers and counsellors, only test scores and interview

performance count. With the rarest of exceptions, degrees, marks, scholarships, experience


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and language ability (other than English and French, sometimes) do not count in advancing

your candidacy.

Affirmative action and/or regional preference mechanisms have been used in a limited fashion on

occasion, but top marks on the tests virtually alone are key. Age is not a factor in hiring.

Currently, the basic tests used in different combinations for most Public Service jobs available in the

PSR campaign are: the Situational Judgement Test (SJT); the Graduate Recruitment Test (GRT)

(formerly the ELOST Entry-Level Officer Selection Test); the Written Communication Test (WCT), a

prcis exercise; and the Written Communication Proficiency Test (WCPT), a multiple-choice language

test. The SJT replaced, in 2003, various incarnations of Foreign Service situational tests used over time.

The old Foreign Service Knowledge Test (FSKT), a multiple-choice exercise on international affairs

issues, was done away with for the 1999 competition.

Test results: The pass mark to qualify for the interview pool is always much lower than the mark

finally set for those who receive interviews. In other words, just because you pass does not mean you

will be interviewed (and obviously just because you are interviewed does not mean you will be hired).

As an example, in the 2005 Spring PSR campaign, pass marks for Foreign Service (FS) candidates was

23 out of 55 on the GRT, and 60 out of 100 on the SJT. Those actually interviewed (with a few

adjustments) had a minimum of 35 out of 55 on the GRT, 75 out of 100 on the SJT, and a score on the

WCT (typically 65 out of 100, or better) which placed them in the top 750-800 candidates.

Number of applicants versus applicants hired: The overall recruitment process, irrespective of job type,

has several stages with fewer people at the later stages than at each earlier stage, as is normal in any job

competition. The PSR competition involves several stages/groupings of candidates for each job type:

those who complete the application, those who actually write the tests, those who pass and are in the

interview pool, those who are interviewed, those who make the preliminary short-list, those who make

the final short-list (after reference and other checks), those who receive a job offer, and finally those

who take a position. As a ball park example, again using the Foreign Service (FS) group from the recent

competition, about 8000 took the tests, about 1000 passed, about 800 will be interviewed, preliminary

and final short-list numbers will likely be around 225 and 200, respectively, and about 165 positions will

be filled. Actual candidate numbers vary widely for each job category in the PSR competition, but the


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ratios apparent at the various stages of the FS competition will be roughly similar to those occurring in

other position categories.

So how do you succeed in these competitive, lengthy recruitment exercises? First, unlike most

candidates, prepare for the application process and tests. Use this Study Kit to start now. Second, when

it is time, prepare for the interviews. We can assist you with that, as indicated on our website.

Ignore the governments claim that you cannot prepare for these tests or interviews. We have the data

and success stories to prove otherwise.

If you have questions about government rules and procedures regarding the PSR process you will have

to call them. However, questions should be directed not to local government offices/spokespersons, or

to hastily assembled campus information teams, but rather to informed Ottawa-based coordinators of the

tests at the Public Service Commission, where there is some institutional memory about the process and

the authority to take decisions on problem issues. (N.B. The PSC will not provide information beyond

test scores, as the results are used for staffing only and not for diagnostic purposes in career

development.)

Finally, to do well on your application and the tests themselves, read and use the material in this Study

Kit to help you.


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ii. Public Service Commission Web Page Insertion-2005 Fall Campaign

The following description was taken directly from the Public Service Commission of Canadas

website www.jobs.gc.ca. It is imported here as a sample to show you their explanation of the

campaign.

Franais Contact us Help Search Canada Site

Site Map

Your Opinion

Information PSC Offices Home

PSR

[Employer of Choice]

My Jobs Listing of Current Opportunities How to apply After you apply Test Information Manager Website

[What You'll Get]

Our Annual Fall Campaig Tested 05. Plea

n is now open!

career choices will occur across Canada on October 22, 20 snote that you can't change your testing location after the closing date.

nowledge and A ti

lease note that the KP bility Test for Mathematical Statis c(MA) for Statistics Canada will occur across Canada on November 2, 2005

Careers with other governmental organizations

Franais | Contact us | Help | Search | Canada Site Site Map | Your Opinion | Information

PSC Offices | Home PSR | My Jobs | Listing of Current Opportunities

How to Apply | After you Apply | Test Information | Manager Website

Updated: 2005-09-12 Important Notices and Disclaimers


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SECTION III - THE APPLICATION and RESUM


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The Application and the Resum Despite what you may expect, your application and initial resum (the latter required only for certain

Public Service positions as noted on the government website for particular jobs) are not reviewed or

used in the Post-Secondary entry process usually until after you are interviewed, if at all. Basically, the

Public Service Commission demands this material for its own internal purposes, and it plays little or no

role in getting you to or, often, beyond the interview process.

With two exceptions, test scores alone get you to the interview, and interview performance alone gets

you to the stage where your personal background may be vetted.

Why is this so? The government simply does not have the human and financial resources to devote to

scrutinizing individual applicants until far along in the hiring process, and has no way to evaluate one

candidates degrees, scholarships, language skills, range of experience, etc. versus other sets of similar

claims by others.

The two exceptions: first, your input on the application and resum is used to screen for key words or

phrases to show you are eligible to apply for particular jobs as defined by their posted criteria; second,

your self-identification in the affirmative action section of the application could be used in preparing

interview eligibility lists. This is not always necessary if the demographics of those succeeding on the

tests match government demographic needs - whatever they may be which are seldom made public.

The net out of the foregoing is that the Public Service uses, and trusts, only its own test and interview

scores to advance candidates in the hiring process. Possibly before but usually after the interview is

when your resum can come into play. If and when the resum is deemed important, you will be invited

to submit an up-to-date, hard copy version.

There is, however, value for you in doing a good application and resum at the outset as they may help

to advance your candidacy at some point in the hiring process, and distinguish you from competitors.


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Look over the application early, and think about what it and the resum, if requested, require of you. Application forms are on-line on the Public Service Commission (PSC) website at

www.jobs.gc.ca

The real question underlying the application and resum is: Why hire you? Therefore you need to show how you suit the job, intellectually and otherwise. The key is doing a solid self-

assessment before completing the application and resum. This exercise should explore not only

your academic work, but also your vocational and avocational experience, and your skills and

qualities. The Resum Planning Matrix graphic which follows in this section of the study kit

will help you with preliminary self-assessment.

For the resum, do a draft first. Put it aside and re-read it after a day or two. Make the necessary revisions and ask someone who (a) knows you well, (b) knows something about the position(s)

you are applying for, and (c) writes well, to review how you have expressed yourself (grammar,

spelling, punctuation) and represented yourself (sequence and emphasis of your achievements).

When completing the application and resum: - Dont worry about sending a cover letter or reference letters unless specified at this stage.

They arent read, just discarded. - Dont overly embellish your qualifications or give false information. - Dont submit a resum longer than 2 to 3 pages maximum if a hard-copy version is

required. Should references be needed, ask them for permission to include them on the resum. If they are

not familiar with the job(s), describe the competition and the position(s). Later, if you are

granted an interview give your references a copy of your application and an up-to-date resum

for background use in case they are contacted by the government.

Unless instructed otherwise, use employers as references: you are applying for a job not a scholarship.

Proofread the completed application and resum carefully before submitting the final version. Keep copies for your records in case of a system failure, and to review before your interview. Submit the material on the internet by the deadline indicated on the PSC website www.jobs.gc.ca

The application and resum alone will not win you a job, but they can help or hinder you at various

stages of the competition. Which of these they achieve is your choice.

RESUM PLANNING MATRIX

Process List beneath relevant job heading(s) you have applied to the requirements stated in their description on the PSC website

Correlate the requirements to your background using the matrix columns Highlight in colour your greatest strengths and experience vs job requirements Package your resum

Their World/Work (examples of jobs) Samples

Economist - various requirements

Policy Analyst - various requirements

Management Trainee - various requirements

Etc.

Your World/Career Educational Work Avocational Background Experience Experience/Interests

Secondary (if Part-time/ still relevant) summers (if still relevant) Post-secondary (degree(s), part- Full-time N.B Counts as much icular courses, as paid work thesis topics, etc) Scholarships (if any) Professional Development (if any)

Contrary to popular belief, degrees alone are the least important element of your candidacy once

you satisfy the entry criteria. Critical elements underlying a good resum are: solid self-

analysis, focus/application of your whole background to the job, articulateness and brevity.

N.B. See our website for details on our Resum service.

Suite 102 T: (613) 567-9229 E: [email protected]

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404 Laurier East F: (613) 567-9098 E: [email protected] Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R2 E: [email protected]

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SECTION IV PERSONAL STATEMENT OF INTEREST


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Personal Statement Of Interest You will see on the description for certain types of jobs open in the government recruitment and

promotion campaigns a requirement to submit a personal statement of interest on why you are right

for the position. The title and length for these statements vary, sometimes two are required (one for

why you qualify, another to explain your interests and suitability), and they are not demanded by every

federal department or agency. Check the listing for the job(s) you are interested in to see what is

applicable.

If you need to submit some type of personal interest statement, there are a number of tips to help you in

doing one, and background advice you may find useful. As with the Application and Resum, it is

highly unlikely that anyone will actually review interest statements until well along in the hiring process.

To reiterate, the government does not have the time, funding, staff or will to do so, usually until, at the

earliest, before the interview crop is selected, or more likely after you have been interviewed. Typically,

test scores alone get you to the interview, and interview performance alone gets you to the point where

your background, including your personal statement, may come into play.

The purpose of the statement is to let the government have on hand a writing sample which they can use

to verify whether your verbal communication skills demonstrated at the interview are matched by your

written communication skills displayed in the statement. For your information, we have seen

innumerable examples of weak personal statements submitted by people who got interviews, so the

likelihood of the statement being used to advance or reject candidates up to that stage is remote for most,

if not all, government departments or agencies.

Nonetheless, you will still benefit by crafting a good statements of interest for whenever they are looked

at in the competition. To overcome the dearth of website information about what they (the

government entity you are applying to) want in a personal statement, we offer the following

recommendations.

First, determine whether the outline for the job(s) you are interested in on the government website, and

which requires some sort of personal essay, refers to an attached statement of qualifications for the

position. If so, go to it (there may be occasion where one is mentioned, but not provided) and use it as a

basis to develop your personal statement. We have provided the following sample government position

statement of qualifications as an example here, although every positions statement of qualifications

will differ.

Statement of Qualifications -Entry Level Officer Position EDUCATION: Bachelors degree in any area of study LANGUAGES: Non-imperative staffing Candidates must attain language proficiency level BBB/BBBABILITIES:

ele

cgo

re

Suite 102 T: (613) 567-9229 E: info@foreig 404 Laurier East F: (613) 567-9098 E: info@post- Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R2 E: info@publi

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Ability to analyse Ability to plan and organize Ability to communicate orally PERSONAL SUITABILITIES: Flexibility and adaptability Client focus Judgement Interpersonal relations Teamwork and cooperation

The various ments of ability and personal

suitability described are referred to collectively as ompetencies by vernment human source people.

nserviceexamprep.com secondaryrecruitmentexamprep.com cserviceexamprep.com

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What you should do after reviewing the statement of qualifications for your prospective job(s), if one

is posted, is use a matrix process again, similar to the one we discussed for the Application and Resum,

to undertake your planning to create your personal statement. An example of the matrix adapted for this

purpose is shown below.

STATEMENT OF INTEREST PLANNING MATRIX Process

List beneath relevant position heading(s) the particulars required under their statement of qualifications (if one is available on the website)

Correlate to your resum using the matrix columns Highlight in colour your greatest strengths and experience for the job vs the SOQ requirements Write a description of your experience complying with the title and length required by each

personal interest statement request

N.B. If two statements of interest are required for a particular position, one will likely demand an explanation of your qualifications (education, experience, possibly languages) for the job, while the other statement will likely demand an explanation of your interests and suitability related to the position description and competencies

Their World/Work Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) particulars (for each position applied for)

Samples:

Suite 102 T: (613) 567-9229 E: [email protected] 404 Laurier East F: (613) 567-9098 E: [email protected]

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Accelerated Economist

~ SOQ details Management Trainee ~ SOQ details Foreign Service

Political/Economic ~ SOQ details Foreign Service Trade ~ SOQ details Foreign Service Immigration ~ SOQ details Management/Consular Officer

~ SOQ details Etc.

Your World/Career Educational Work Avocational Background Experience Experience/Interests

Critical elements underlying good statement of interest descriptions are: solid self-analysis, focus/application of your whole background to the job, articulateness and brevity (i.e. sticking to the prescribed word limit for each statement).

Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R2 E: [email protected]

If there is no statement of qualifications mentioned for the job(s) you are applying to, or if it is

mentioned but missing on the government website, then analyze instead the textual description

provided for the position in the job ad on the government website. From this, construct, as best you

can (the ads are often poorly written and/or layed out) a replica of a statement of qualifications.

Use your facsimile of the position statement of qualifications to work with in the matrix.

Depending on the length specified for the required personal statement, you may have to do

considerable sifting through your matrix outputs to write a targeted, succinct piece. Come up with a

one-sentence personal intro line which connects with the governments statement request, then

organize the bulk of your text in, perhaps, three paragraphs, plus a one-sentence personalized

concluding line.

We recommend getting your greatest set of strengths in the first paragraph, your least array of

strengths in the second, and your second-best agglomeration of strengths in the third paragraph, just

before your one-sentence, personalized wrap-up line.

If you are applying for several types of positions, each will require its own personal statement

because the qualifications for each job will vary.

As we also recommended concerning the Application and Resum: do a draft first, edit it after a day

or so goes by to get some objectivity, let someone else read it, and proofread carefully yourself

before submitting the piece. Keep a copy for your file in case of a system failure, and to have on

hand to look over before your interview.

Irrespective of when or how your personal statement of interest is used by the government, it

ought to be written in a way that speaks to their needs using your attributes. This makes it easy for

the reader(s) to connect you with the position, whether you were clearly asked to do so or not.

Finally, using care in drafting the statement will enable you to pass muster in terms of written

communication skills, which may be bench-marked against your verbal performance at the

interview.

N.B. See our website for details on our Statement of Interest service.


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SECTION V CRUCIAL TEST-TAKING TIPS


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Crucial Test-taking Tips All test prep services and manuals provide advice to candidates on what to do logistically, as well as

intellectually, to improve performance on examinations. Our following point-form recommendations

are brief, easy to read, and based on long experience in taking and observing Public Service

examinations at many venues across Canada.

Please read the suggestions, think about what is being proposed and why, and carry through with the

ones you need to follow to do better on test day. The annual Fall Public Service tests in particular are

usually fraught with confusion and involve a large cast of characters - test-takers and test

administrators alike - unfamiliar with the process. Keep your focus by doing what is in your control

to reduce the challenges inherent in mass testing events.

Three days before your test:

Check the Public Service website to re-confirm the date and room location for your test(s), and call the local PSC office and/or the facility hosting the testing to ensure all information

is correct.

The night before your test day: Sleep and eat properly, unless you perform best on edge On test day: Arrive early and bring with you to the test site: Your identification (PSR) number from your internet application Two pieces of personal identification, at least one with a photo and a signature A watch, to keep track of time yourself during the tests, so you do not have to rely on defective wall clocks or invigilators posting the time remaining A large eraser, to make it easier and clearer if you decide to change answers A pencil sharpener (or ask for extra pencils)


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Highlighters to use on the test booklets, if acceptable

(N.B. ask first before highlighting government materials) Earplugs if noise bothers you (or pick a corner or end seat if traffic bothers you) Food and water: facilities may not be available or breaks may not be long enough to leave, particularly in larger test centres Visit the washroom before not during each test At the start of each test: Listen carefully to oral test directions, and ask questions if you are unclear Read test directions carefully, and make inquiries if necessary

N.B. The most important tip you should consider is taking your test at a smaller venue

instead of in a large city/university (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver especially). There is much less confusion in the test administering process, administration time is reduced, and you may perform better as a result.


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SECTION VI WRITTEN COMMUNICATION PROFICIENCY TEST (WCPT)

i. Communication Skills Testing WCPT Exercize

ii. Public Service Commission Web Page Insertion

iii. Tips on WCPT Performance Improvement

WCPT Sample Test #1 50 Questions

Answers and Categories for WCPT Sample Test #1






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i. Communication Skills Testing WCPT Exercise The Written Communication Proficiency Test (WCPT) is a multiple-choice, wide-ranging language

usage evaluation tool that differs radically from the Written Communication Test (WCT), included

elsewhere in this Study Kit. The WCPT makes it easy, fast and cheap for the government to score the

language proficiency of candidates.

The governments test instructions and practice example below are included for guidance. Then we

have provided tips to improve your WCPT performance. Finally there are three, full-length sample

WCPT tests of 50 questions each followed by the answers to help you prepare for this exam.


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ii. Public Service Commission Web Page Insertion The following description is taken directly from the Public Service Commission of Canadas website

www.jobs.gc.ca. It is imported here to show you their description of, and sample passage and

questions for, the WCPT test. It also serves as an instructional preface to our following three full-

length sample (WCPT) tests which you can use for practice to improve your performance on test day.

Written Communication Proficiency Test (WCPT): Information

The Written Communication Proficiency Test (WCPT) assesses your ability to communicate in writing.

In this test, you will read 13 short passages, each of which contains approximately 10 sentences or sentence fragments. Errors have been introduced into some of the passages, and the order of some sentences or paragraphs has been purposely modified. After each passage, you will be presented with several questions related to the passage. The questions involve, for example, identifying grammar errors, determining the best word to insert in a blank, choosing the best title for a passage, ordering sentences, and choosing the best summary of a text. In total, there are 50 questions. For each of these, you will select the answer that seems best to you from among the choices presented, and you will record it on an answer sheet. You will be allowed 1 hour and 40 minutes to do the test.

You will be tested on your knowledge of the following features of writing: grammar, punctuation, vocabulary richness and preciseness, appropriate level of language use, avoiding wordiness and redundancies, knowledge of main points vs. subordinate details, and paragraph and text development - including order of sentences and paragraphs.

Sample Passage & Questions

The following examples show some of the question types used in the Written Communication Proficiency Test. This list is not exhaustive, however. Also, please note that these questions are not necessarily the same difficulty as those in the test. In the explanations following each sample question, some of the reasons for choosing the designated answer and not the other choices are provided.

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

NOTE: The order of the paragraphs in the following text has been purposely modified.

A. [1] In the women's relay in the 1928 Olympics, Rosenfeld began and Myrtle Cook ran the final part as the Canadian team dramatically demonstrated excellence. [2] They won the gold medal in the world record time of 48.4 seconds.


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B. [3] Canadas' finest Olympic moments occurred in the 1920s. [4] The first competition was in the Winter Olympics which took place in 1924, at this competition, one of the athletes, Cecile Smith, finished sixth in figure skating. [5] Moreover, Canadian female athletes were to make a remarkable showing in the 1928 Summer Games in Amsterdam. [6] In many ways those Games were a sporting watershed for Canada, a high-water mark of achievement not __________ until the 1984 Summer Games.

C. [7] The Canadian women's 4 x 100-metre relay team in the 1928 Games was made up of a quartet of some of the finest athletes ever to represent their country. [8] Fanny Rosenfeld was __________ competitor who later coached women's hockey and baseball teams, and was named Canada's female athlete of the half-century. [9] She was an accomplished journalist who did much to promote women's sports in Canada's major daily newspapers. [10] Rosenfeld narrowly missed gold in the 100-metres, edging out her relay teammate Ethel Smith. [11] Another Canadian, Myrtle Cook, was disqualified in that race, but along with Florence Bell made up the other members of the relay team.

1. Which of the following alternatives is the right order of the three paragraphs of the text? * (1) B, C, A (2) B, A, C (3) A, C, B (4) C, A, B

[Explanation: The first sentence of B is an introductory sentence; Fanny Rosenfeld is only referred to by the last name in paragraph A, but a full name is given in paragraph C where she is introduced.]

2. Which of the following is the most appropriate title for the text? (1) Sports, Health and Politics * (2) Canadian Female Athletes (3) The History of the Canadian Female Relay Team (4) Glory of a Nation

[Explanation: "(1)" is incorrect because neither health nor politics is discussed in the text. "(3)" is incorrect because other sports are discussed in the text, and "(4)" is incorrect because it gives no indication of the topic of the text.]

3. Which of the following rephrases of Sentence 4 is best in terms of style and conciseness?

(1) When Canadian female athletes first participated in competition in 1924, one of the athletes by the name of Cecile Smith could get the sixth position in figure skating.

(2) During their first appearance in international


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tournaments, namely in the Winter Olympics, one of the Canadian athletes finished sixth in figure skating.

* (3) Canadian women first competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics in which Cecile Smith finished sixth in figure skating.

(4) The first appearance of Canadian female athletes was

in the Winter Olympics, in the competition where Cecile Smith finished sixth in figure skating.

[Explanation: "(1)" does not mention the Olympics; "(2)" is imprecise; "(4)" does not include a year and Cecile Smith was not the only female athlete; "(3)" is correct because it contains all the pertinent information without being redundant.]

4. Which of the following words, if inserted in the blank in Sentence 6, would best fit the style of the sentence and the whole text? * (1) Surpassed (2) Beaten (3) Transcended (4) surmounted

[Explanation: "(2)" is too low (or too informal) a level of language for the passage; "(3)" is too high (or too formal) a level; "(4)" is an incorrect use of the word; "(1)" is the most accurate use of the word and best fits the style used.]

5. Which of the following phrases, if added in the blank in Sentence 8, would best fit the meaning of the paragraph? (1) an awesome (2) a great (3) a fascinating * (4) a multi-talented

[Explanation: "(4)" is correct because it is the only one which highlights that she was involved with several sports.]


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6. Which of the following changes is needed in the text? (1) Sentence 1: place dramatically after demonstrated. * (2) Sentence 3: change Canadas' to Canada's. (3) Sentence 5: change were to make to made. (4) Sentence 9: change women's to woman's.

[Explanation: "(2)" is correct since Canada is a single entity; thus the apostrophe must go before the s.]

7. Which of the following changes would improve the text? * (1) Sentence 4: change the comma after 1924 to a semicolon (2) Sentence 6: change the comma after Canada to a colon. (3) Sentence 9: add a comma before who. (4) Sentence 11: add a dash between dis and qualified in the word disqualified.

[Explanation: "(1)" is correct because a semicolon is used to join the two halves of a compound sentence.]


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iii. Tips on WCPT Performance Improvement Before you take the practice tests, and after having read the governments introduction to the WCPT,

you will benefit from considering the following pointers to improve your performance.

The governments textual description lists the following general writing features being tested:

Government Terminology

Grammar Punctuation Vocabulary-richness and preciseness Appropriate level of language, or Register Avoiding wordiness and redundancy, or Conciseness Knowledge (main points vs. subordinate details), or Content Paragraph/Text Development (ordering of sentences within a paragraph, and

paragraphs within a text), or Organization

What we have done on the answer key following our three enclosed sample tests is describe precisely

not only the general writing feature being probed in each question (e.g. grammar), but also the specific

element of that general feature (e.g. use of correct verb tense) that is being examined. This helps you

because you will easily see exactly where you have weaknesses. Then you can go to any grammar/

writing/ language text to correct faults which you have identified by using the appropriate term.

As a resource for you to use, we recommend A Canadian Writers Reference by Diana Hacker. It is

published by Nelson Thomson Learning (website www.nelson.com) and is available in most university

and chain bookstores. Any similar text can also help you, as long as it is well-indexed and, preferably,

Canadian in origin.


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Note: The order of the paragraphs in the following text has been purposely modified. A

[1] Charles George Douglas Roberts was born in Douglas, New Brunswick, in 1860. [2] He attended the University of New Brunswick. [3] At the age of 20, he published his first book, Orion and Other Poems. [4] He ________ a number of different jobs while continuing to write poetry over the next 15 years. [5] During this time, his many collections of works attracted considerable attention in Great Britain and North America. [6] Several of his contemporaries; Archibald Lampman, D.C. Scott, and Roberts cousin, Bliss Carman, acknowledged his influence on their work and their careers.

B

[7] As a result of this commercial success, Roberts devoted himself to writing fiction, leaving poetry behind. [8] In 1897, he moved to New York, where he remained for ten years, before leaving for Europe. [9] It was only after Roberts returned to Canada in 1925 that he once again turned his attention to poetry, publishing two books: The Vagrant of Time and The Iceberg and Other Poems. [10] One of the most popular writers of his time, Roberts was knighted in 1935. [11] He died in Toronto in 1943 at the age of 83.

C

[12] In 1896, Roberts career ________ when his first work of fiction, Earths Enigmas, received accolades for being a realistic animal story, in which animals behave as animals and not as humans. [13] Together with his friend, Ernest Thompson Seton, Roberts is credited with having created this genre.

1. Which of the following alternatives is the correct order for the three paragraphs of the text?

1) B, C, A 2) B, A, C 3) A, C, B 4) C, A, B

2. Which of the following is the most appropriate title for the text?

1) Canadian Poet in the United States 2) The Life of Charles George Douglas Roberts 3) The Realistic Animal Story as a Genre 4) Charles George Douglas Roberts, Poet, Animal Lover


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3. Which of the following words, if inserted in the blank in Sentence 12, would best fit the style of

the sentence and the whole text?

1) skyrocketed 2) got better 3) increased 4) worsened

4. Which of the following changes is needed in the text?

1) Sentence 6: change the semi-colon after contemporaries to a comma 2) Sentence 7: remove the comma after success 3) Sentence 10: add a comma after writers 4) No change is necessary

5. Which of the following words, if inserted in the blank in Sentence 4, would best fit the style of the sentence and the whole text?

1) executed 2) was working at 3) had done 4) held

6. Which of the following changes would improve the text?

1) Sentence 5: place North America before Great Britain2) Sentence 6: change and their careers for and careers 3) Sentence 12: change Roberts to Roberts4) Sentence 13: remove the word together

[1] Scholastic success is not always a good indicator of someones intellectual capacity. [2] __________ Albert Einstein, Dr. Frederick Banting is proof of that very fact. [3] Born in rural Ontario, Banting barely scraped through medical school, only to become, by the age of thirty-one, world renowned and Canadas favourite son. [4] He rose to prominence through his discovery of insulin and his experimentation with it in 1922. [5] Banting and his colleagues, Dr. Charles Best, Dr. J.J.R. McLeod, and Dr. J.B. Collip experimented with insulin and were the first to apply its use to treat people suffering from diabetes mellitus.

[6] In 1923, along with his colleague J.J.R. McLeod, Banting received the Nobel Prize for Medicine. [7] He later received the Starr Gold Medal from the University of Toronto, the George Armstrong Peters Award, the Reeve Prize, and the Charles Mickle Fellowship Award. [8] Banting was installed as the first full professor for medical research by The University of Toronto and then


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a happy Canadian government also put him in as the chief of his research institution.

[9] Before discovering and experimenting with insulin, Banting had been a doctor in Flanders during World War I. [10] On his return from the war, he attempted to set up a clinic in London, Ontario. [11] After the out-break of World War II, Banting devoted himself to the war effort. [12] He died in a plane crash in Newfoundland while en route to England on a mission in 1941. [13] At the Sir Frederick Banting Square in London, Ontario, a Flame of Hope was lit in 1989 as a tribute to Dr. Banting and to those who have lost their lives to diabetes. [14] It also serves as a reminder that insulin is only a control for diabetes. [15] The Flame of Hope will continue to burn until a cure for diabetes is found. 7. Choose the place in the text where a shift of emphasis or topic suggests that a new paragraph

should have been started, if appropriate.

1) After Sentence 10 2) After Sentence 11 3) After Sentence 12 4) No break needed

8. Which of the following changes would improve the flow of the text?

1) Sentence 5: Remove experimented with insulin and 2) Reverse the order of sentences 7 and 8 3) Sentence 9: Remove Before discovering and experimenting with insulin 4) Sentence 14: Reverse the order of the words also and serves

9. Which of the following changes is necessary in the text?

1) Sentence 3: Change thirty-one to thirty one 2) Sentence 6: Change colleague to collegue 3) Sentence 11: Change out-break to outbreak 4) Sentence 13: Change Sir to sir

10. Which of the following is the most appropriate title for the text?

1) Great Canadian Scientific Discoveries 2) Frederick Banting and the Discovery of Insulin 3) Frederick Banting: A Man of Importance 4) The Amazing Discovery of Insulin


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11. Which phrase, if inserted in the blank in Sentence 2, would help the reader better understand the logical sequence of the writers ideas?

1) Because of 2) Without 3) However with 4) Along with

12. If sentence 8 seems poorly written, which version, from those given below, is the most appropriate for this type of text?

1) Banting became the first full professor of medical research at The University of Toronto and was set up as the head of his own research institute by a grateful Canadian government.

2) With his wonderful advancements in medical research, Frederick Banting was awarded the first full professorship of the medical research team by The University of Toronto which also acquired him a research institute with him at its head by the Canadian government

3) Banting became the first full professor of medical research at The University of Toronto, which earned him great prestige and recognition by the Canadian government who in turn set him up as the head of his own research institute.

4) No change is needed.

[1] In the morning of December 6, 1917, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a Belgian relief vessel collided with a French munitions carrier in Halifax Harbour, creating the largest man-made explosion before Hiroshima. [2] During World War I, Halifax was the main base of the new Canadian Navy and housed the most important army garrison in Canada. [3] The port and harbour were crowded with warships, supply ships, and troop transports.

[4] The Belgian relief vessel Imo was heading to New York from Halifax, while the French munitions ship Mont Blanc was on its way to wait for a convoy when the two collided in the harbour. [5] The Mont Blanc was carrying priric acid, gun cotton, benzol, and dynamite. [6] Some of these flammable substances spilled on the deck and started burning as the Mont Blanc drifted towards Pier 6. [7] Crowds were gathered around the harbour to watch the fire. [8] __________ crews from nearby ships raced to put out the _________, the captain and crew of the Mont Blanc rowed in lifeboats for the Dartmouth shore. [9] _________________________ [10] When the Mont Blanc rammed the pier, it set its wood pilings on fire. [11] The Mont Blanc then exploded, flattening everything within 800 metres, and causing damage for 1.6 km. [12] People heard the explosion from as far away as Prince Edward Island. [13] The explosion was so powerful that it vapourized the water around the ship, and a wave flooded the streets of Halifax and Dartmouth, sweeping people into the harbour where they drowned. [14] The weather did not help, as the next day one of the worst blizzard ever recorded in Halifax began, and lasted for six days.


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1) Sentence 1: change man-made to man made 2) Sentence 5: remove the comma after benzol 3) Sentence 12: change Prince Edward Island to Prince Edward island 4) Sentence 14: change blizzard to blizzards

14. Which word, or phrase, if inserted in the first blank in Sentence 8, would help the reader better understand the logical sequence of the writers ideas?

1) During 2) While 3) At the time 4) After

15. Choose the word or phrase to be inserted in the second blank in Sentence 8 which is most appropriate for this text.

1) blaze 2) conflagration 3) fire 4) burning mess


1) Sentence 1: remove Belgian and French 2) Sentence 4: change collided to intercepted 3) Sentence 10: change its to the piers 4) Reverse the order of Sentence 12 and Sentence 13

17. Which of the following sentences, placed in the blank labelled Sentence 9, would best fit the

second paragraph in terms of the writers style, the sequence of ideas, and intended audience?

1) It was because they knew about the flammable materials on the ship that the captain and the crew tried to make people leave the scene.

2) As they landed, they tried to warn people to run. 3) Upon their arrival on shore, they attempted to evacuate the populace to secure the

premises. 4) It was nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.


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18. Choose the summary that best fits the style of the text.

1) The most important explosion made by man before Hiroshima was the one that rocked Halifax Harbour on December 6, 1917. It was during World War I, and Halifax Harbour had the best army garrison in Canada. A relief vessel and a munitions carrier collided in the Harbour. The munitions carrier caught fire and rammed into Pier 6, setting it on fire also. Shortly after, there was an explosion on the munitions carrier that destroyed everything within 800 metres. The people who had come to see the fire were dragged into the harbour by the mighty wave that flooded the streets of Halifax and Dartmouth. These unfortunate souls drowned. To make things worse, a fierce blizzard started the next day and lasted for 6 days.

2) During World War I, Halifax was the most important harbour for the military. It had a vast number of ships stationed there. When the Belgian relief vessel Imo ran into the French munitions carrier Mont Blanc, the Mont Blanc caught on fire and drifted, eventually ramming Pier 6. The pier caught fire also, then the Mont Blanc exploded, destroying everything within 800 metres, and dragging the spectators into the harbour where they drowned. The weather did not help, as the next day a fierce blizzard started and lasted six days.

3) The largest explosion made by man before Hiroshima happened on December 6, 1917, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where a Belgian relief vessel collided with a French munitions carrier in the harbour. During World War I, Halifax was the main base of the new Canadian Navy and the port and harbour were crowded with ships of all kinds. The munitions carrier caught fire and set the pier on ablaze when it hit it. Many had gathered to watch the fire and after the carrier hit the pier, the vessel exploded, flattening everything within 800 metres. The explosion was so powerful that it vapourized the water around the ship, and a wave flooded the streets of Halifax and Dartmouth, sweeping people into the harbour where they drowned. The fierce blizzard that started the next day did not help.

4) Halifax Harbour was an important garrison and had many boats in harbour. This is where the largest explosion made by man before Hiroshima happened. There, a Belgian relief vessel and a French munitions carrier collided and the supplies that the munitions carrier carried caught on fire. The French vessel drifted as it was burning and rammed into Pier 6, setting it on fire also. After ramming the pier, the vessel then exploded. The water around the harbour was vapourized and people were swept under by a giant wave that flooded the streets in Halifax and in Dartmouth. Those poor people drowned. The weather didnt help, because a 6-day long blizzard started on December 7th.

Note: The order of the paragraphs in the following text has been purposely modified. A [1] Ten Actar 911 can fit in one duffel bag. [2] CPR training was

revolutionized when Dianne Croteau and her partner, Richard Brault, released Actar 911, a lightweight mannequin, affordable, well-designed, and suitable for wet conditions, such as lifeguard training. [3] This Canadian mannequin comprises only the head and torso, greatly reducing its overall size, bulkiness, and weight. [4] Due to those mannequins cost, classes often had only one of them and students wasted valuable class time waiting to practice. [5]When someones heart stops beating, rescuers perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). [6] Before 1989, CPR training was done on heavy, expensive, full size, life-like mannequins. [7] This procedure has saved uncounted numbers of lives, which makes training people in the procedure invaluable.

B [8] ____________________ [9] Actar 911s life-like torso responds to pressure by deflating slightly when pressed and expanding when air is blown in the mouth and lungs. [10] Actar 911s affordability allowed institutions to purchase several for each class, allowing more practice time for students who no longer had to wait to share the mannequin.

C [11] The demands of performing CPR on small children require that the child be in the arms of the rescuer. [12] Dianne and her partner felt is was necessary to have a different mannequin for infant CPR training and released the Actar 911 Infant in 1992. [13] This model is life-size and includes an entire small body. [14] __________, new versions of Actar 911 have been designed and both the Actar 911 and the Actar Infant are used by many organizations around the world.

19. Choose the best topic (introductory) sentence for paragraph C.

1) Although CPR training had been greatly improved with the Actar 911, it was still difficult to teach how to perform CPR on babies.

2) Because the Actar 911 was bigger than a small child, the rate of failure of CPR on infants was still much too high.

3) The Actar 911 had greatly advanced CPR training, but it was time for more development.

4) Training for CPR performance on children still left something to be desired.


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20. Which of the following alternatives is the correct order for the sentences in paragraph A?

1) 2, 3, 1, 6, 5, 7, 4 2) 6, 7, 5, 2, 1, 4, 3 3) 5, 6, 2, 3, 1, 7, 4 4) 5, 7, 6, 4, 2, 3, 1


1) Sentence 2: add which is after Actar 911, 2) Eliminate sentence 7 3) Sentence 10: change had to wait to have to wait 4) Reverse the order of Sentence 11 and Sentence 12

22. Choose the sentence that would best fit the blank of Sentence 8, with respect to the writers

development in the paragraph and text.

1) How does one know what it feels like to push down on someones chest and what its like to blow into their lungs?

2) Everyone knows what it feels like to press on a persons chest. 3) One of the crucial elements of CPR training is that students should know what it

feels like to press on someones chest and blow into their lungs. 4) Without the Actar 911, CPR training had not been possible.

23. Choose the summary for the text which you believe best reflects the content, writers style, purpose, and intended audience.

1) Before the invention of the Actar 911, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation training used expensive and bulky life-like mannequins. Students wasted class time waiting to share the one mannequin. Dianne Croteau and her partner, Richard Brault, designed a lightweight, inexpensive, and life-like training mannequin which meant that there could be several in a classroom, increasing practice time. The success of the Actar 911 prompted Dianne Croteau and her partner to further her developments by designing an infant version to facilitate training on babies, which uses a different method. Today both of these Canadian mannequins are used worldwide for CPR training.

2) Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation is so important in saving lives and the mannequins that were previously used were so bulky and expensive that the invention of a lightweight and affordable mannequin to teach the procedure was needed. After the conception of the Actar 911, Diane Croteau did not rest, as she felt that there was a need to develop an infant version of the Actar in order to teach rescuers how to perform the procedure on babies. Both inventions are now used all over the world.


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3) The importance of a hands-on approach in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation training prompted Dianne Croteau to develop a life-like mannequin. Rescuers in training needed to practice more to improve their skills and the Actar 911 allowed them to do this. Once the Actar 911 proved its usefulness, Dianne and her partner, Richard Brault, designed the Actar 911 Infant, to improve the teaching of infant resuscitation.

4) The Actar 911 made the use of full size mannequins obsolete and its life-like build lets students feel what it is like to perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation on someone. Dianne Croteau and her partner, Richard Brault, have now developed the Actar 911 Infant for CPR training on infants, which requires that the infant be in the arms of the rescuer.

24. Which word or phrase, if inserted in the blank in Sentence 14, would help the reader better

understand the logical sequence of the writers ideas?

1) Nevertheless 2) Until now 3) However 4) Today


1) Sentence 5: change Cardio-Pulmonary to Cardio Pulmonary 2) Sentence 4: change mannequins cost to mannequins cost 3) Sentence 9: remove quotation marks around mouth and lungs 4) Sentence 13: change life-size to life size

[1] In 1962, when the Soviet Union cancelled its plans to host the 1967 world exhibition, Montreals mayor, Jean Drapeau, proposed that his city be the site. [2] Drapeau made a presentation to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). [3] The BIE __________ the 1967 exhibition to Canadathe first such exhibition to be held in North America.

[4] Expo 67 was a three-way partnership, with participation by the federal government, provincial government, and the city of Montreal. [5] The three governments met to choose a central theme, develop a philosophy, and find a site for Expo. [6] Man and His World evolved as the theme to show the full range of activities of contemporary humanity. [7] Ile Ste-Hlne, an island in the centre of the St. Lawrence River, would be enlarged, and a new island, Ile Notre-Dame, would be created. [8] Together these islands would be the location for Expo 67. [9] Landfill from the bottom of the St. Lawrence and from the excavations for a subway line to serve Expo was used to create Ile Notre-Dame and to enlarge Ile Ste-Hlne.

[10] There were 120 governments at Expo, housed in sixty pavilions. [11] __________, thousands of private exhibitors and sponsors co-operated in setting up displays in fifty-three private pavilions. [12] When it was all over on October 27, 1967, more than fifty million people had paid the admission to Expo, almost double the number of people the exhibition had planned to accommodate.


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26. Choose the best introductory sentence for paragraph 3.

1) The undeniable greatness of Expo 67 was predicted by the organizers. 2) The popularity of Expo was anticipated so many countries chose to participate. 3) The countries that participated in Expo 67 either built their own pavilions or

combined with other nations to create regional pavilions. 4) Amazingly, the predicted visits of Expo 67 were to surprise everyone.

27. Which of the following changes is beneficial to the text?

1) Sentence 1: change Montreals to Montreals 2) Sentence 3: change Canadathe first to Canada, the first 3) Sentence 4: change three-way to three way 4) Sentence 12: change Expo, almost to Expoalmost

28. In what type of document or context would you most likely find this text?

1) in an electoral document 2) in a history text 3) in an environmental activist document 4) in a political speech

29. Which word or phrase inserted in the blank of Sentence 11 would help the reader understand

the logical sequence of ideas?

1) In addition 2) As a matter of fact 3) Yet 4) However


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30. Which of the following words, if added to the blank in Sentence 3, would better fit the

meaning of the sentence?

1) entrusted 2) bestowed 3) gave 4) awarded

[1] At the turn of the 20th century, watching professional sport was a very popular form of entertainment. [2] In Canada, __________ attention was focused on Tom Longboat, the greatest long-distance runner of his day. [3] Tom Longboat was an Onondaga born in 1877 on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario. [4] As a boy Tom raced at local town field days, and by age 19 he could outrun all of his opponents. [5] In 1906, Longboat burst onto the canadian sporting scene by winning the Hamilton Around-the-Bay race. [6] Longboat had a deceptive running style with long, smooth strides. [7] In 1907 he raced the tough, hilly course of the Boston Marathon, winning with a record time of 2 hours, 21 minutes, 24 seconds. [8] He ended the race 400m ahead of the second place runner. [9] His record was not broken until the course of the Boston Marathon was changed to make it easier. [10] Longboat did not finish the marathon in the 1908 olympics. [11] __________, he won many more marathons, including the race of the century in 1909. [12] He was proclaimed the worlds best long-distance runner. [13] Each time Tom Longboat ran, crowds flocked to see him. 31. Choose where a change in emphasis suggests a change of paragraph should be.

1) After Sentence 2 2) After Sentence 3 3) After Sentence 4 4) After Sentence 5

32. Which word, inserted in the blank of Sentence 11, would help the reader understand the

logical sequence of ideas?

1) Consequently 2) However 3) Therefore 4) Accordingly


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33. Which of the following words, if added to the blank in Sentence 2, would better fit the

meaning of the sentence?

1) tremendous 2) extreme 3) little 4) some

34. Which change is needed in the text?

1) Sentence 1: remove the comma after century 2) Sentence 5: change canadian to Canadian 3) Sentence 7: change 21 minutes, 24 seconds to 21 minutes, and 24 seconds 4) Sentence 13: change comma after ran to a semi-colon

[1] Ask most Canadians to create a list of fifty great Canadians and few, if any, will

include the name of Dr. Leonora Howard King. [2] Born Leonora Howard on a farm near Farmersville, Ontario, in 1851, Leonora dreamed of becoming a doctor but faced many obstacles in Canada because medical schools would not admit women in the 1870s. [3] Not easily hindered, she applied and was accepted into the University of Michigans Womens Medical College where she graduated with honours [4] Dr. Howard applied to serve with the Womens Foreign Missionary Society and was posted to China. [5] At the age of twenty-six, Dr. Howard sailed for China, where she would spend most of her life.

[6] Two years after arriving in the Chinese province of Chihli, Dr. Howard was summoned to treat Lady Li, the wife of the provincial ruler. [7] For curing Lady Li, Howard was given part of the Tseng Kuo-fans memorial temple, which she used to open Chinas first hospital for women and children. [8] She went on to open Chinas first Government Medical School for Women after marrying Alex King. [9] The __________ of Dr. Leonora Howard King to Chinese society were recognized by the Empress Dowager, who made her the first Western woman to become an official member of the Chinese elite. [10] In 1895 she also received the Order of the Double Dragon, which elevated her to the status of Chinese royalty. [11] She was now a respected member of the Chinese community.

[12] Dr. Leonora Howard King continued her medical and missionary work through war and revolution until 1916, when she retired. [13] On June 30, 1925, forty-seven years after arriving in China, Dr. Howard King died from a virus, at the age of seventy-four.


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35. Which of the following editorial changes would help maintain focus on the main thrust of the text?

1) Delete Sentence 5 2) Reverse the order of Sentences 9 and 10 3) Delete Sentence 11 4) In Sentence 13, add the place of death of Dr. Howard King.

36. If Sentence 7 seems poorly written, which version, from those given below, is the most

appropriate for this type of text?

1) For her role in the recovery of Lady Li, Howard was given part of the Tseng Kuo-fans memorial temple by Lady li, which she used to open Chinas first hospital for women and children.

2) Lady Li gave Dr. Howard a part of the Tseng Kuo-fans memorial temple for saving her, which Dr. Howard used to open Chinas first hospital for women and children.

3) For Curing Lady Li, Howard received part of the Tseng Kuo-fans memorial temple as thanks from Lady Li; and howard used it to open Chinas first hospital.

4) No change needed 37. Choose the best summary for the text.

1) Dr. Leonora Howard King is almost unknown to most Canadians, but she should not be, since she did many things to improve the quality of life of people in China. After graduating from medical school, she went to China and established a hospital and a medical school for women. The Empress of the time admired her accomplishments and honoured her with many titles. Dr. Howard married Alex King and continued her work. She retired in 1916 and died in 1925.

2) Most Canadians would not be able to say who Dr. Leonora Howard King was. She was born in Ontario but could not study medicine there, so she went to the United States. She graduated with honours, and then joined a missionary society. This society sent her to China, and she ended up spending most of her life there. She saved the life of a provincial ruler, and that started her fame in China. Dr. Howard received many honours. She married Alex King and then opened a new Medical School for women. This brought her to the attention of the Empress Dowager, who gave her titles. Dr. Howard King remained in China, working until 1916, and later dying in 1925.

3) Dr. Leonora Howard King was born in Canada, but studied in the United States since Canadian medical schools did not admit women at that time. After graduating from the University of Michigan with honours, she enlisted in a missionary society and was sent to China. She spent most of her life there and her contributions to Chinese society were recognized by many. She opened Chinas first hospital for woman and children, and after her marriage to Alex King she founded Chinas first Medical School for women. In recognition for her accomplishments, the Empress Dowager


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bestowed many titles to Dr. Howard King. Leonora retired in 1916 and died in China in 1925.

4) Dr. Leonora Howard King was born in Canada, but had to study in the United States because Canada did not allow women to study medicine. After graduating, she enlisted in a missionary society and was sent to China. She spent most of her life there and her contributions to Chinese society were recognized by many. After her marriage to Alex King, she founded Chinas first Medical School for women. In recognition for her contributions, the Empress Dowager bestowed many titles to Dr. Howard King. Leonora continued her work until 1916. She died in China in 1925.

38. Which word, put in the blank in Sentence 9, best fits the style of the passage?

1) travails 2) contributions 3) exploits 4) gifts

[1] ____________________ [2] When forests are clear-cut, the surrounding soil

is no longer __________ in the ground, especially along hillsides and riverbanks. [3] When natural forces such as rain, wind, and sun beat down on this unprotected earth, erosion begins. [4] In hilly areas during rainy seasons, soil is washed away and the runoff water carries the soil into streams and riverbeds, causing flooding and creating a water imbalance that can harm marine life as well.

[5] Wind erosion due to deforestation __________ the loss of precious topsoil in some arid and semi-arid areas of the world such as in India, China and Africa, where this form of erosion has degraded an estimated 13 million hectares. [6] At least 100 million hectares of tree planting worldwide is necessary to protect the land from wind erosion.

[7] The clearing of forests has also been linked to the warming of the earths surfacethe greenhouse effect. [8] When trees are harvested, carbon dioxide, which is stored in the trees and soil, is released into the atmosphere and absorbs some of the suns energy, resulting in a slow but intermittent warming of the earth. [9] This process happens even more quickly if slash-and-burn techniques are used. [10] It is believed that between 1 billion and 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide is released annually.


45FSECC SCESE

39. Which word put in the blank in Sentence 2 best fits the style of the passage?

1) fixed 2) embedded 3) stuck 4) anchored

40. Choose the sentence that would best fit the blank of Sentence 1, with respect to the writers

development of the paragraph and text.

1) Forests are crucial to the earths ecosystem. 2) Forests decorate the earth. 3) When forests are grown, they help us breathe better. 4) Pollution destroys our forests.

41. Which phrase put in the blank in Sentence 5 best fits the passage?

1) had been causing 2) would cause 3) will cause 4) has caused

42. What change, if any, is needed in the third paragraph to make the style fit the rest of the text in

terms of topic and intended audience?

1) Sentence 7: change linked to attached 2) Sentence 8: change intermittent to steady 3) Sentence 10: change believed to evident 4) No change is needed

Email Date: Sept. 13/04 From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Alberta Management Development Plan

[1] Just as other private sector businesses are doing, we must plan for our future both in the human resources and operational departments. [2] In looking at the current team of Managers in Alberta Region Alberta Management Committee (AMC), we see that a significant number of positions will be created in the next two to four years. [3] It will be imperative to ensure that we have appropriately skilled and trained engineers and management staff available to move into these


46FSECC SCESE

positions in the future. [4] To accomplish this, we need to support our staff internally in their development, look externally when necessary to fill areas of need.

[5] __________ there will be a constant need in the future to replenish the workforce and ensure current employees possess the skills required to move to higher-level positions, a two-faceted development plan which includes both external and internal components is being undertaken. [6] A working committee has developed approaches in both these areas with the support and endorsement of the AMC.

[7] The objectives of External Sourced Management will be achieved mainly through programs such as the university recruitment of MBA graduates, as well as external hiring. [8] We will of course also continue to conduct closed competitions to offer promotional opportunities for our employees. [9] The department will approach the Internal Sourced Management component through a Managament Development framework creating an association to employees who have career aspirations for the Management positions and who wish to acquire the management competencies required. [10] _____________________

43. Which word or phrase inserted in the blank of Sentence 5 would help the reader understand

the logical sequence of ideas?

1) As you know 2) Soon 3) Understandably 4) Since

44. Choose the sentence that should be placed in the blank of Sentence 10 which would best

follow the development of the paragraph and of the text.

1) Benefits already acquired will be maintained, so staff changing positions for their traini

study guide very important

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