THE EDUCATIONAL TEST.
Subjects and Weights and Specimens of Previous Questions Asked.
Examinations for the Postal Service are of the second grade. Any
person with a common school education should have no trouble in
passing them. The average candidate, however, has been some years
out of school and is very apt to be what we call “rusty.” In
other words, to have forgotten much that he was taught at school
concerning the subjects required. The wise thing for him to do,
when he has made up his mind to take the examination, no matter
whether the date of it is one month or six months away, the longer
the better, is to improve his knowledge of each subject as much
and as far as is possible. He must not content himself with just
getting on the list, many of which are cancelled while yet there
remain many names not reached for appointment, but do his utmost to
win the highest possible rating.
The government service to-day, particularly the postal branch, is
no place for indifferent, sluggish, or inefficient men. Though 70
per cent. is the passing mark to obtain a place on the list, it
is a poor recommendation of a man’s intelligence and efficiency,
or of his possible growth in these attainments. And really there
is no excuse for a man who can read and write getting so low a
percentage. It shows, more or less convincingly, that he was not
diligent, that there was little or no earnestness in his purpose,
and the average postmaster will not be over-eager to find a place
for him.
The questions in each subject are simple, and any man of ordinary
education can, unaided by outside instructors, fit himself to
obtain 90 per cent. with ease. A few simple text books, and steady,
pains-taking study during leisure hours are all that are necessary.
A postal card to THE CHIEF will promptly bring to you a list of
books covering each subject, each book prepared by an expert on
civil service.
Applicants are notified of the date and place of an examination at
least two weeks in advance of the time set.
Subjects of Examination.
The table given below indicates the subjects of the examination and
the weights given to each:
Weights.
1. Spelling 15
2. Arithmetic 20
3. Letter Writing 20
4. Penmanship 20
5. Copying from plain copy 15
6. Reading Addresses 10
---
Total 100
The following are specimen questions given at a previous
examination.
First Subject--Spelling.
Twenty words are dictated by the examiner. Each word is pronounced
and its definition given. The competitor is required to write only
the words and not their definitions, and to write them in the blank
spaces on the first sheet of the examination paper. All words
should be commenced with capital letters.
=Opponent=: One who opposes; as, a political opponent.
=President=: The Chief Executive of the United States.
=Conqueror=: One who conquers.
=Wholesome=: Healthful; as, wholesome food.
=Achieve=: To gain; as, to achieve success.
=Tranquil=: Quiet or peaceful.
=Detach=: To separate or remove; as, to detach a leaf from a book.
=Expensive=: Very costly.
=Decease=: Death; as, a person’s decease.
=Noticeable=: Worthy of notice; as, a noticeable occasion.
=Suspicious=: Exciting suspicion; as, a suspicious circumstance.
=Terrace=: A raised bank of earth.
=Rapping=: Making a number of quick blows.
=Language=: The speech of a people; as, the English language.
=Schedule=: A list or inventory; as, a schedule of prices.
=Tying=: Binding or fastening with a cord.
=Vulgar=: Low or mean.
=Course=: A way or track; as, a race course.
=Salary=: A stated allowance paid for services.
=Chicago=: A city in the United States.
Second Subject--Arithmetic.
In solving problems the processes should be not merely indicated,
but all the figures necessary in solving each problem should be
given in full. The answer to each problem should be indicated by
writing “Ans.” after it.
1. Add the following, and from the sum subtract 32,885,696 (here
will be given a short column of figures).
2. Multiply 7-2/25ths by 36.8, and divide the product by 1.92.
Solve by decimals.
3. A carrier can assort 43 letters or 37 papers in a minute. At
this rate, how many hours will it take him to assort 3,655 letters
and 185 pounds of papers, averaging 7 papers to the pound?
4. A lot which was 53 feet wide and 150 feet long sold for
$8,347.50, which was one-fourth more than it cost. What was the
cost per square foot?
5. In a certain mail there are 294 pounds 14 ounces of newspapers
weighing at the rate of 3 papers to every 7 ounces. How many papers
are there in the mail? 16 ounces equals one pound.
Problems In Earlier Examinations.
If a railroad car runs 41-1/2 miles per hour, how far would it go
in 12 days running 10-1/2 hours per day?
If paper is worth 40 cents per pound, what is the cost of one sheet
of paper weighing six pounds to the ream? (480 sheets equals one
ream.)
An office uses 98 pounds of twine per year in tying packages.
Allowing 178 yards to the pound, how many packages are tied if
each requires an average of 1-1/2 feet?
Multiply 696.6 by 785.09 and divide the product by 25.
A carrier makes 4 trips a day, carrying 64 letters and 32 papers
each trip. The letters average in weight 1/4 oz. each, and the
papers 2 oz. each. How many pounds of mail does he deliver in a
day? (16 oz. to the pound.)
Multiply 26.32 by 3, and to the product add 2.04.
Three gross of lead pencils are divided equally among the clerks in
a post office, giving to each clerk eleven and leaving a remainder
of fourteen pencils. How many clerks are there in the office.
Third Subject--Letter Writing.
The competitor is given his choice of one of two subjects on
which to write a letter of not less than 125 words. One year the
subjects were on the advantages of city and of country life. At
another time the candidates were required to tell what they thought
of our colonial expansion in Porto Rico and the Philippines. In
a recent test one of the subjects was “Give your views as to the
advantages derived from free public libraries in the principal
cities of your State.” The object of this exercise is to test the
candidate’s skill in writing an intelligent letter. Errors in form
and address, in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, syntax and
style, count against the competitor. The rules for rating will be
found under a separate chapter.
Fourth Subject--Penmanship.
The rating on penmanship will be determined by legibility,
rapidity, neatness, and general appearance and by correctness and
uniformity in the formation of words, letters, and punctuation
marks in the exercise of the subject of copying from plain copy. No
particular style of penmanship is preferred.
Fifth Subject--Copying From Plain Copy.
Candidates are required to make an exact copy of a piece of
composition. All omissions and mistakes, change of paragraphs,
spelling, capitals and punctuation, count against the competitor.
The following was given in a previous examination:
No recommendation of an applicant, competitor, or eligible
involving any disclosure of his political or religious opinions
or affiliations shall be received, filed or considered by the
Commission, by any board of examiners, or by any nominating or
appointing officer. In making removals or reductions or in imposing
punishment for delinquency or misconduct, penalties like in
character shall be imposed for like offenses, and action thereupon
shall be taken irrespective of the political or religious opinions
or affiliations of the offenders. A person holding a position on
the date said position is classified under the civil service act
shall be entitled to all the rights and benefits possessed by
persons of the same class or grade appointed upon examination under
the provisions of said act.
Sixth Subject--Reading Addresses.
This exercise consists of the reading of a number of written
addresses, which are photolithographed on one sheet. A second sheet
is furnished, which contains the same addresses, these addresses
being printed and containing errors of omission, substitution or
insertion. The competitor is required to indicate the errors in
each printed address by underscoring with a pencil thus, ____,
any portion of a printed address which is not a correct copy of
the written address, and by a caret, thus ^, any omitted words,
figures or initials. Words abbreviated in the written address, but
printed in full in the printed address, are regarded as correct,
if the correct words are printed. Differences in punctuating or
capitalization are not regarded as errors. The time allowed will
be limited, and the rating will be determined on accuracy only.
The following are illustrations of the method which should be
pursued in indicating errors.
WRITTEN ADDRESS--CORRECT
[Illustration: PRINTED ADDRESS--WITH ERRORS NOTED
++Theodore M.++ Martin, Foreman ^ Water Works,
High ++Road++, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
]
WRITTEN ADDRESS--CORRECT
[Illustration: PRINTED ADDRESS--WITH ERRORS NOTED.
Major ^ A. ++T.++ Chandler,
Fort ++Thompson, Alden++ County, Alabama.
]