ARCO MASTER THE CLERICAL EXAMS

408 Pages·2007·1.31 MB·English

ARCO
M
ASTER THE
C E
LERICAL XAMS

ARCO
M
ASTER THE
C E
LERICAL XAMS
Christi M. Heuer
Sharon S. Saronson, MSE
John J. Niesz
5th Edition
AnARCOBook
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ISBN-13:978-0-7689-2335-3
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FifthEdition
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ANOTHER RECOMMENDED TITLE
ARCO Master the Civil Service Exams
Contents
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Before You Begin ..................................... xi
How This Book Is Organized .......................... xi
Special Study Features ................................ xii
You’re Well on Your Way to Success ................... xiii
Give Us Your Feedback .............................. xiii
Top 10 Strategies to Raise Your Score .................. xiv
PART I: CLERICAL EXAM BASICS
1 All About Clerical Careers ........................ 3
Exploring Your Options .............................. 3
Federal Clerical Jobs ................................. 4
State and Local Clerical Jobs .......................... 7
Clerical Jobs in the Private Sector ...................... 10
Summing It Up ...................................... 11
2 Civil Service Test Requirements ................... 13
Preparing for the Civil Service Tests .................... 13
Summing It Up ...................................... 18
3 Federal, State, and Local Tests .................... 19
About Civil Service Tests ............................. 19
Federal Testing ...................................... 20
Exercise 1........................................... 23
Answer Key and Explanations.......................... 24
Exercise 2........................................... 27
Answer Key and Explanations.......................... 30
Exercise 3........................................... 33
Answer Key and Explanations.......................... 38
Exercise 4........................................... 41
Answer Key and Explanations.......................... 43
Exercise 5........................................... 45
Exercise 6........................................... 48
State Testing ........................................ 49
Local Testing ....................................... 50
Clerical Employment Tests for Court-Related and Private-
Sector Positions ................................. 50
Summing It Up ...................................... 53
viii Contents
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.4 Test-Taking Techniques ....................................... 55
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. Preparing for the Test ............................................ 55
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Taking the Test ................................................. 56
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. Should You Guess? .............................................. 59
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. Scoring ........................................................ 60
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. Summing It Up .................................................. 62
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.PART II: DIAGNOSING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
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.5 Practice Test 1: Diagnostic ................................... 69
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. Vocabulary ..................................................... 69
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. Spelling......................................................... 74
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Coding ......................................................... 76
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. Math ........................................................... 80
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. Answer Key and Explanations ..................................... 87
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.PART III: EIGHT PRACTICE TESTS
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.Practice Test 2 ....................................................105
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. Vocabulary ..................................................... 105
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. Math ........................................................... 110
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. Perceptual Skills ................................................. 115
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Spelling ........................................................ 117
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. Coding ......................................................... 119
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. Answer Key and Explanations ..................................... 123
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.Practice Test 3 ....................................................135
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. Vocabulary ..................................................... 135
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. Coding ......................................................... 140
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Math ........................................................... 144
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. Perceptual Skills ................................................. 147
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. Answer Key and Explanations ..................................... 151
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.Practice Test 4: Federal Clerical Examination ....................159
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. Vocabulary ..................................................... 159
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. Clerical Skills ................................................... 167
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Answer Key and Explanations ..................................... 185
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Practice Test 5: U.S. Postal Service Clerk, Distribution Clerk,
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. and Mark-Up Clerk Exam .......................209
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. Address Checking ............................................... 209
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. Memory for Addresses ............................................ 213
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. Number Series .................................................. 221
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Forms Completion ............................................... 223
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. Coding ......................................................... 229
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Contents ix
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Following Oral Instructions ....................................... 231
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Personal Characteristics and Experience Inventory .................... 237 .
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Answer Key and Explanations ..................................... 257 .
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Practice Test 6: U.S. Postal Service Clerk-Typist Exam ............273 .
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Sequencing ..................................................... 273 .
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Comparisons .................................................... 278 .
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Spelling ........................................................ 280 .
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Computations ................................................... 282
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Verbal Ability ................................................... 284 .
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Dictation ....................................................... 292 .
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Dictation Transcript .............................................. 294 .
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Answer Key and Explanations ..................................... 297
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Practice Test 7: Senior Office Typist Exam (Court System) ........311
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Spelling ........................................................ 311
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Grammar Skills .................................................. 314 .
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Clerical Skills ................................................... 317 .
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Record-Keeping Skills ............................................ 319 .
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Reading Comprehension .......................................... 323
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Answer Key and Explanations ..................................... 326 .
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Practice Test 8: Municipal Office Aide Exam .....................333 .
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Answer Key and Explanations ..................................... 349
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Practice Test 9: Private Sector Clerical Exam .....................355
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Filing .......................................................... 355
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Spelling ........................................................ 358 .
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Grammar Skills .................................................. 361 .
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Proofreading Skills ............................................... 365 .
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Answers and Explanations ........................................ 366
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APPENDIXES .
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Appendix A: Where to Look for Clerical Jobs ....................379
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Federal Employment.............................................. 379 .
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State and Local Employment ....................................... 381
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Applying for a Government Job .................................... 383 .
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Taking an Examination ........................................... 386 .
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Appendix B: Working for the Department of .
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Homeland Security .................................389 .
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Career Opportunity Areas ......................................... 390 .
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Finding and Applying for a DHS Job ................................ 391
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Job Benefits ..................................................... 391 .
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Pay Scale ....................................................... 392 .
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