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[44] 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

[45] 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.

[46]

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.

[47]

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[48] 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[49] 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[50] 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[51] 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

printed address—with errors noted

theodore m. martin, foreman ^ water works,

high road, grand forks, north dakota.

written address—correct

printed address—with errors noted.

major ^ a. t. chandler,

fort thompson, alden county, alabama.