How to Tackle Letter Repetition Questions

When tackling questions about letter repetition in words, like the one asking how many words contain letters that appear more than once, it’s important to approach it with a systematic mindset. It sounds simple, but some details can trip you up if you aren’t paying attention. In this article, let’s explore how to break down such questions effectively and ensure you’re prepared for the Civil Service Clerical Ability exam.

First, let's look at the question. It asks for a count of words that have letters repeating. On the surface, it seems straightforward, but it's these tiny nuances that can confuse even the best of exam-takers—so let's dissect it a little, shall we?

The sentence we’re analyzing is, “It is strongly recommended that you made a reservation prior to arriving at the restaurant.” Now, if we take our magnifying glass and closely examine each word, we can determine which words qualify based on our criteria—the letters that appear more than once.

1. Daunting, but not impossible: At first glance, words like "It," "is," and "you" may make you think, 'Okay, what’s the catch?' They don’t have repeated letters, so we can safely set those aside as we search for heavier hitters. This is crucial for managing your time during the exam. Clean and quick decisions are your best friends here!

2. Next! Moving on to "strongly," again we find no repetition; it’s a lone wolf. Now, "recommended" sneaks in with the letters ‘e’ and ‘o’ both wrapping their arms around two times—score! That’s one word in our tally. “That” is up next, chirping with the ‘t’ appearing twice, giving us a second win.

3. Running the race: As we parse through "reservation," the letter ‘r,’ ‘e,’ and ‘a’ each cuddle together at least twice. There you go! Three more points for our cause! "Prior" fits the mold with ‘r’ also appearing twice, and "arriving" strolls in as well, flaunting the letter ‘r’ once more. Don’t forget “restaurant,” adding to our count with ‘r’ and ‘a’ stepping up as well.

Now, you might wonder why we spent one paragraph dissecting each word when all we had to do was count up to six… But here’s the thing: every student developing their skills must learn to be meticulous. Think of it this way; each word we analyze opens the door to a deeper understanding of language patterns—an essential facet of the Civil Service exams.

4. A Quick Recap: To sum up, as we continued along the word by word journey, we managed to identify six words in the original sentence that contained letters appearing more than once: “recommended,” “that,” “reservation,” “prior,” “arriving,” and “restaurant.” So, the answer to our exam question is indeed 6.

5. Off to the Races: This kind of exercise not only aids in your clerical abilities but also sharpens your linguistic skills overall, something frequently underestimated. Through simple analyses, you develop a knack for discerning patterns in words—a skill that remains valuable not just for exams, but throughout your professional endeavors.

Going into the Civil Service Clerical Ability exam, practicing these kinds of questions will be invaluable. The world of language may seem filled with tricks and traps, but remember, every time you face a question, it’s just another chance to showcase your ability to solve problems quickly and accurately.

So, next time you encounter an analytical question, take a deep breath, break it down step by step, and let your skills shine! Ready to conquer? I thought so!