County of Yuba Reading Comprehension Examination Study Guide

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1 County of Yuba Reading Comprehension Examination Study Guide The following study guide will familiarize and assist you with preparing for a written examination containing multiple-choice reading comprehension items. The sample questions provided in this study guide are intended to give you an idea of the types of reading comprehension items you may encounter on the County examinations. However, it is important to note that actual test questions will vary in content and level of difficulty, depending on the job class being tested. For example, the Office Assistant (an entry-level classification) examination will ask questions of a lower difficulty level than the Office Specialist (an advanced journey-level classification) examination. To determine if the examination you are scheduled to take contains the content in this study guide, refer to the Invitation to Examination letter you have received. This letter will clearly state which subject areas are included on the examination. The Personnel Department recommends you also review the Preparing for a Written Examination guide available on our website for general tips and advice for preparing for and taking written examinations with Yuba County. If you have any questions or concerns regarding written examinations or the recruitment process, please contact the Personnel Department. About this Examination Guide: This guide contains a sample of the different types of questions that may be asked within this content area. None of the sample questions will be on the actual examination; however, the questions in this guide will be similar to the actual questions you will encounter. After each practice exam you will be given the correct answers to the questions and an explanation (if necessary) for why it is the best choice. You should carefully study each sample question to become familiar with questions of the same type on the examination. How to Use this Examination Guide: Read each question carefully. Then read all of the answer choices to each question before deciding which answer is correct. If you are having difficulty in determining the correct answer to a question, skip the question and come back to it later. It is to your advantage to answer each question even if you must guess. With a few exceptions (the exam proctor will be very clear if this is the case) there are no penalties for wrong answers. Your score is determined by the number of correct answers. After you complete each practice examination you should review the solutions page to determine areas for improvement. You may take the practice exams multiple times until you are familiar and comfortable with the format and content of the exam. Do not be discouraged if you are not able to answer some of the sample questions correctly. If you feel you need more practice than this study guide offers, the local library may have reference materials to help you or the Personnel department may be able to help you locate additional study guides on the Internet. 1

2 Practice Exam 1 DIRECTIONS: The following questions are designed to measure your ability to read and understand written material. Each reading passage is followed by a question about the material you have read. Base your answers only on the material you have read and not on any prior knowledge you may have. 1. The Yuba County Animal Care Services (ACS) is a division of the Yuba County Sheriff s Department. Animal Care Services provides service for the unincorporated areas of Yuba County. With exception of dog licenses, Animal Care Services does not provide services to the City of Wheatland, City of Marysville, or Beale Air Force Base. Services include transporting stray injured animals to veterinarians for emergency care; rescuing animals from locked vehicles and abusive or negligent conditions; providing assistance locating services for wild animal removal; impounding loose and stray animals; administering a rabies control program; helping citizens resolve nuisance problems such as complaints about barking dogs; investigating dog bite complaints; assisting other agencies such the Sheriff s Department, Fire Department, and California Highway Patrol; educating pet owners on the importance of spaying or neutering their cats and dogs; and addressing and responding with regards to animals in disaster situations. Requests outside of normal business hours should be directed to the Yuba County Sheriff s Department A. ACS provides not provide any services to the City of Marysville. B. ACS provides animal rescue services and assistance for locating services for wild animal removal. C. ACS does not assist other agencies. D. services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 2. Extra-Help Deputy Probation Officers are deputized temporary employees who have received special training in order to assist Probation staff in a wide range of supervised responsibilities that include direct involvement with juvenile and adult probationers. Extra-Help Deputies are highly motivated, skilled and caring people who want to serve their community. They are not a replacement for or an alternative to permanent staff, but are intended to be an enhancement to existing resources. A. experienced Extra-Help Deputies supervise new Extra-Help Deputies. B. direct interaction with probationers is the only duty of an Extra-Help Deputy. C. members of the community who become Extra-Help Deputies have a desire to give back to the community. D. Extra-Help Deputies are able to act independently on the job once they have successfully passed all training requirements. 3. The main function of the Civil Grand Jury is to investigate county, city, and joint-power agencies. This is a significant civil function. The Grand Jury acts in a watch-dog capacity by examining carefully and completely the operations of various government agencies in a given county. The Civil Grand Jury cannot investigate state or federal agencies, which lie outside their jurisdiction. Part of the investigation of governmental agencies includes the ability to audit operations, accounts and records of officers and departments within the agency under investigation. The Civil Grand Jury is further charged with investigating individual complaints from citizens. By statute the Grand Jury is required to inquire regarding the conditions and management of all public prisons within the assigned County. A. complaints filed by prisoners are not investigated by the Grand Jury. B. auditing is the only method the Grand Jury uses during an investigation of a department. C. the Civil Grand Jury is able to investigate any public sector agency within the County. D. the Grand Jury monitors and investigates the operations of local government agencies within the County. 2

3 4. From time to time the County of Yuba makes surplus property available for sale to the public. This property consists of County property; unclaimed or abandoned personal property and valuables, except those confiscated in conjunction with drug enforcement activities; and unclaimed stolen property. The surplus property is disposed of through sale bids, auctions, and donations. A. the County s personal property brings in the largest sales. B. items that are not claimed by their owner will be sold to the public. C. the County holds regularly scheduled sales of property to the public. D. property obtained by drug enforcement activities is sold through the bid process. 5. The Health and Human Services Department, through its Public Health Division, controls the distribution of Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) assets. Approval of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will provide the process by which Beale Air Force Base will be able to request and access SNS assets in the event that a public health emergency severe enough to deplete Beale Air Force Base s supplies occurs. In addition, this MOU provides another link in the Yuba County s Public Health infrastructure by establishing Beale Air Force Base as a Point of Dispensing, by which prophylactics, vaccinations, and medical supplies will be provided to Beale personnel in the event of a public health emergency. A. The MOU will establish Beale Air Force Base as a Point of Dispensing. B. In an emergency, medical supplies will be distributed by the Public Health Division. C. Beale Air Force is responsible for distributing the Strategic National Stockpile Assets. D. Beale Air Force Base does not currently have any emergency supplies. 3

4 Practice Exam 1 Solutions 1. B. The passage states that the ACS services include rescuing animals from locked vehicles and abusive or negligent conditions. 2. C. The passage states that Extra-Help Deputies are people who want to serve their community. 3. D. The passage states that the Grand Jury examines the operations of various government agencies within the County. 4. B. The passage provides two clues to indicate that unclaimed items are sold to the public. First, it states that surplus property is available for sale to the public. Second, it states that the surplus property includes unclaimed property. 5. A. The passage clearly states establishing Beale Air Force Base as a Point of Dispensing. 4

5 Practice Exam 2 DIRECTIONS: The following questions are designed to measure your ability to read and understand written material. Each reading passage is followed by a question about the material you have read. Base your answers only on the material you have read and not on any prior knowledge you may have. 1. The Agricultural Commission/Weights & Measures Department routinely conducts price verification inspection at retail locations to confirm that prices charged to consumers are the same as those posted or advertised. On a typical visit to a store, the inspector will select up to 10 items and then take them to the register for payment. When the items bar codes are scanned, the price showing at the register must match what is posted on the shelf or advertised. If the prices do not match, the store will receive a notice of violation and the case may be turned over to the District Attorney s Office or local city attorney for prosecution. A. an inspector will usually find a pricing error when 10 items are being purchased. B. an item costing less than the announced price will not be considered a violation. C. a store receives a violation when the shelf or advertised price does not match the charged price. D. price violation cases are automatically turned over to the appropriate jurisdiction s attorney office. 2. The Criminal Grand Jury attends hearings brought by the District Attorney s Office. The objective of this jury is to determine, on the basis of evidence presented by the District Attorney s Office, whether certain persons should be charged with crimes and required to stand trial in Superior Court. The Criminal Grand Jury is an accusatory body and not a trial jury; therefore, the burden of proof is much lower. Specifically, the Criminal Grand Jury must decide if there is a strong suspicion the individual committed the alleged crime. A. the burden of proof is held to a stricter standard during the review of evidence. B. the District Attorney presents its case to the Criminal Grand Jury in Superior Court. C. when a strong suspicion is determined, the Grand Jury recommends the charged individuals punishment. D. the Criminal Grand Jury is responsible for deciding if the alleged perpetrator of a crime should stand trial. 3. The Tobacco Control Program (TCP) is administered by the Health Division of the Health and Human Services Department. It was established as a result of the tobacco tax initiative of 1988, Proposition 99/AB75, in December of The goal of TCP is to establish policies, health services, public education, and media conditions that support the reduction of tobacco use in the County and the associated disease, disability and mortality. From the passage, it can be inferred that A. the regulation of the production of tobacco products is covered by the TCP. B. Proposition 99/AB75 added more regulations to the tobacco tax initiative. C. the tobacco tax initiative was a measure to reduce taxes on tobacco products. D. television advertisements discussing health concerns related to smoking could be an example of a TCP initiative. 5

6 4. Exempt employees are paid to work the amount of time required to fully perform their duties which may require a workweek in excess of 40 hours without additional compensation. In most cases, a workweek is defined as Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; however, some departments may determine a different workweek depending upon the needs of the department and the services offered to the public. Generally, an exempt employee is expected to be at the work site and/or providing service to the County during the workweek. Acceptance of an exempt position with the County constitutes acknowledgement that job responsibilities may require a workweek in excess of 40 hours without additional compensation. Successful performance as an exempt employee is based on the work product, not on the amount of time worked. From the passage, it can be inferred that: A. Exempt employees are paid overtime. B. Exempt employees are not automatically required to work more than 40 hours in a given week. C. Without exception exempt employees must work Monday through Friday; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. D. Exempt employees are required to work on weekends. 5. It is the intent of the Legislature that all persons qualified for jury service shall have an equal opportunity to be considered for service as criminal grand jurors in the county in which they reside, and that they have an obligation to serve when summoned for that purpose. All persons selected for the Criminal Grand Jury shall be selected at random and shall be reasonably representative of a cross section of the population that is eligible for jury service in the county. For this reason, there is no mileage limitation for the Criminal Grand Jury and no excuse will be granted because of the distance from the courthouse or inconvenience to the juror. Based on the information provided, A. eligible jurors have a responsibility to serve on juries in their county of residence. B. civil grand jurors follow the same jury selection procedures as criminal grand jurors. C. random selection of jurors has been the proven method of increasing juror participation. D. jurors who are unable to travel to the main courthouse may be given the option of serving at an alternate courthouse. 6

7 Practice Exam 2 - Solutions 1. C. The passage states that a store will receive a violation if the price showing at the register does not match what is posted on the shelf or advertised. 2. D. The passage states that the Criminal Grand Jury weighs evidence to determine whether certain persons should be required to stand trial in the Superior Court. 3. D. The passage states that the goal of TCP is to establish media conditions that support the reduction of tobacco use and associated disease, disability, and mortality. 4. B. The passage states that exempt employees are paid to work the amount of time required to fully perform their duties and while it goes on to state may require a workweek in excess of 40 hours the use of the word may, in tandem with the former statement implies that this will not always be the case. 5. A. The passage states that all persons qualified for jury service have an equal opportunity to be considered for service in the County in which they reside, and that they have an obligation to serve when summoned for that purpose. 7