SHRM-CP - PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
1) A specialized field which works on engineering the work environment is: A. industrial
existentialism. B. ergonomics. C. environmentalism. D. engineer
...
SHRM-CP - PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
1) A specialized field which works on engineering the work environment is: A. industrial
existentialism. B. ergonomics. C. environmentalism. D. engineering design ✔✔B. ergonomics.
2) A primary advantage of unstructured versus structured interviewing techniques is that: A.
structured interviews take less time B. in an unstructured interview, the interviewer can ask followup questions and pursue points of interest as they develop C. unstructured interviews are in
compliance with EEOC regulations, whereas structured interviews are not D. unstructured
interviews are more cost effective ✔✔B. in an unstructured interview, the interviewer can ask
follow-up questions and pursue points of interest as they develop
3) A common repatriation problem for international companies is that: A. repatriation usually
precipitates employee grievances B. there is usually high employee turnover following repatriation
C. repatriated employees usually demand significantly higher salaries D. repatriated employees
generally do not wish to return to the U.S. ✔✔B. there is usually high employee turnover following
repatriation
4) If an OSHA inspector shows up at the workplace, the first step an HR professional should take
is: A. check and verify the inspector's credentials B. close the workplace and send the employees
home C. deny any violation noted by the inspector D. secure all health and safety related company
records in a locked location ✔✔A. check and verify the inspector's credentials
5) Comparing the expense of a program versus its projected and identifiable results is using which
planning technique? A. Zero-based budgeting B. MBO C. Cost-benefit analysis D. Variable
budgeting ✔✔C. Cost-benefit analysis6) Frederick Taylor is noted for his contribution to: A. performance appraisal systems B.
"humanizing" the workplace C. Making the work process more efficient and less fatiguing D.
Pension reform ✔✔C. Making the work process more efficient and less fatiguing
7) An HR professional is investigating reasons for job turnover among company employees
moving from one job or department to another. Which data collection method would provide the
information without interdepartmental conflicts? A. Surveys to all employees who have changed
positions within the last year. B. Group interviews with employees and previous supervisors to
discuss reasons for job changes. C. Search through performance appraisal files and personnel
records to learn reasons for job turnover within the company. D. Questionnaires distributed only
to employees who have changed positions ✔✔C. Search through performance appraisal files and
personnel records to learn reasons for job turnover within the company.
8) Of the following, the weakest tool for predicting an applicant's job performance is the: A.
application form B. proficiency test C. interview D. prior work reference ✔✔C. interview
9) Keeping a record of all employees and listing significant successes and failures of each describe
which method? A. critical incident B. MBO C. Essay form D. Field review ✔✔A. critical incident
10) Which of the following pieces of federal legislation is considered pro management? A. Wagner
Act B. National Industrial Recovery Act C. Railway Recovery Act D. Taft-Hartley Act ✔✔D.
Taft-Hartley Act
11) The most important element in defending an organization's position in a disciplinary action is
to demonstrate that: A. the employee has been warned B. the employee knew the rules before the
infraction C. an example was needed to eliminate or reduce similar misbehavior D. progressive
discipline has been applied consistent with policy and past practice ✔✔D. progressive discipline
has been applied consistent with policy and past practice12) Which of the following would be considered nontaxable indirect compensation? A. Employee
discounts on employer goods or services B. Employer-paid group-term life insurance over $50,000
C. Personal use of a company car D. Severance pay ✔✔A. Employee discounts on employer goods
or services
13) The lowest dose level at which toxic effects of a material can be demonstrated is called: A. the
adverse impact level B. the toxicity level C. the lethal level D. the just-toxic amount ✔✔B. the
toxicity level
14) Which type of organizational structure creates a dual chain of command? A. Line and staff B.
Functional C. Matrix D. Vertical ✔✔C. Matrix
15) The use of an aptitude test in the selection process best predicts: A. skill level B. job knowledge
C. manual dexterity D. training performance ✔✔D. training performance
16) A company is in the process of establishing formal compensation policies and practices. This
company is in which phase of the organizational cycle? A. Introduction B. Transition C. Growth
D. Maturity ✔✔D. Maturity
17) The first step in the job analysis process entails: A. deciding how the organization will use the
information collected B. writing new job descriptions for all current employees C. comparing old
job descriptions with new job specifications D. replacing job descriptions with job specifications
✔✔A. deciding how the organization will use the information collected
18) A process that aims to improve the performance and interaction within a specific group of
employees is: A. teambuilding B. a Scanlon plan C. human factors engineering D. survey research
✔✔A. teambuilding
19) Which of the following is a primary advantage of a balanced scorecard? A. It separates
business strategy from day-to-day activities. B. It relates performance of business functions to theorganization's mission. C. It focuses on financial measurements and hard data results. D. It tracks
progress against goals without raising accountability issues. ✔✔B. It relates performance of
business functions to the organization's mission.
Use the following information to answer questions 20 through 22)
A manufacturing facility purchases new equipment so that it can increase productivity. Employees
are trained on the new equipment. In anticipation of the increased productivity, the piece-rate
standards for the workers are increased. However, the operations manager has noticed that the
volume and quality of its products has actually declined.
20) What is the FIRST thing the operations manager should do?
A. Talk to employees about the situation.
B. Return to the original compensation plan.
C. Send employees to refresher training.
D. Lower the expected production volume. ✔✔A. Talk to employees about the situation.
A manufacturing facility purchases new equipment so that it can increase productivity. Employees
are trained on the new equipment. In anticipation of the increased productivity, the piece-rate
standards for the workers are increased. However, the operations manager has noticed that the
volume and quality of its products has actually declined.
21) The manager determines that the decline is a result of both the new equipment and the
compensation policy. Because some of the employees are not yet proficient on the equipment, they
believe that the higher productivity goals are not achievable. What is the next thing the manager
should do?
A. Reinstate the original compensation plan. B. Provide a breather period before instituting the
new compensation incentives. C. Threaten to reprimand all workers who are falling belowstandards. D. Provide retraining and coaching for all workers who are below standard. ✔✔D.
Provide retraining and coaching for all workers who are below standard.
A manufacturing facility purchases new equipment so that it can increase productivity. Employees
are trained on the new equipment. In anticipation of the increased productivity, the piece-rate
standards for the workers are increased. However, the operations manager has noticed that the
volume and quality of its products has actually declined.
22) The attitude that the employees are exhibiting can be explained by:
A. Theory X and Theory Y. B. Vroom's expectancy theory. C. equity theory. D. Maslow's
hierarchy of needs theory ✔✔B. Vroom's expectancy theory.
23) Which of the following questions to job applicants is LEGAL under the ADA?
A. How many times were you absent due to illness in the last two years? B. Have you ever filed
for workers' compensation? C. I see you are wearing a cast on your arm. How did you hurt
yourself? D. Describe any problems you would have lifting a 50-pound dog onto an examination
table ✔✔D. Describe any problems you would have lifting a 50-pound dog onto an examination
table
24) Which of the following situations that lead to workplace violence can be controlled by an
organization?
A. unstable economy B. pressure for increased productivity C. domestic problems D. low selfesteem ✔✔B. pressure for increased productivity
25) The key to a successful expatriate experience is:A. foreign language competency. B. sending single managers. C. cultural familiarity. D. cultural
flexibility and adaptability. ✔✔D. cultural flexibility and adaptability.
26) The concept of reliability refers to:
A. how difficult it is for applicants to "fake out" of a test. B. consistency with which a test measures
an item. C. how well the test measures what it is supposed to measure. D. the environmental
conditions present when the test is given ✔✔B. consistency with which a test measures an item.
27) If one supervisor interprets performance standards differently from another supervisor, what
type of appraisal error is most likely to occur?
A. recovery problem B. rater bias C. halo effect D. rater pattern error ✔✔D. rater pattern error
28) The basic premise underlying the Scanlon Plan is that: A. profits should be shared by all
employees. B. efficiency depends on teamwork and plant-wide cooperation. C. employees are
more motivated if they share ownership of the firm. D. unions inhibit profitability. ✔✔B.
efficiency depends on teamwork and plant-wide cooperation.
29) The Equal Pay Act of 1963: A. prohibits wage discrimination based on sex. B. requires equal
pay for jobs of comparable worth. C. prohibits pay differentials based on race, religion, color, sex
or national origin. D. is now expired. ✔✔B. requires equal pay for jobs of comparable worth.
30) Which of the following tactics would be identified as an unfair labor practice by management?
A. Tell the employees the high cost of union dues. B. Promise employees pay increases if they
vote against a union. C. Forbid distribution of union literature during work hours in work areas.
D. Show employees negative articles about unions ✔✔B. Promise employees pay increases if they
vote against a union.31) The constitutional guarantee of due process: A. prevents dismissal of just cause. B. encourages
constructive discharge C. gives one the opportunity to defend oneself against charges D. required
fair and impartial investigations ✔✔C. gives one the opportunity to defend oneself against charges
32) In equity theory, a person's reference for comparing inputs and outcomes is known as: A.
comparison other. B. alternate person. C. reference group. D. preferred employee. ✔✔A.
comparison other.
33) The grapevine: A. cuts across formal channels of communication. B. is rarely accurate. C. is
controlled largely by management. D. is slower than formal communication. ✔✔A. cuts across
formal channels of communication.
34) Job enlargement is: A. moving an employee from job to job. B. increasing the number of tasks
for which an employee is responsible. C. concerned with increasing employee autonomy. D. is
part of MBO practices. ✔✔B. increasing the number of tasks for which an employee is responsible.
35) The concept of broad banding has been developed in order to: A. limit the autonomy of line
managers. B. reduce employee mobility within the organization. C. work with flatter
organizational structures. D. provide narrower salary ranges. ✔✔C. work with flatter
organizational structures.
36) A job function is usually considered essential if it: A. can be performed by many employees.
B. is performed infrequently. C. is at least 5-10% of the job. D. requires highly specialized skills.
✔✔D. requires highly specialized skills.
37) Which of the following base-pay systems links pay to the number of skills a worker can
perform? A. Time-based. B. Productivity-based. C. Person-based. D. Performance-based. ✔✔C.
Person-based.38) What is the most important requirement for a qualified benefit plan in order to be eligible for
favorable tax status? A. The plan must integrate with Social Security. B. The plan must not
discriminate in favor of highly compensated executives. C. The plan must shift income to postworking retirement years. D. The plan must provide some type of retirement annuity. ✔✔B. The
plan must not discriminate in favor of highly compensated executives.
39) Which type of data is generally unavailable to an HR manager in evaluating the effectiveness
of an external Employee Assistance Program? A. Initial diagnosis category B. Referral source C.
Vitalization percent D. Treatment outcome ✔✔D. Treatment outcome
40) Comparing specific measures of performance gains data on those measures in "best practice"
organizations is known as: A. utility analysis. B. HR auditing. C. performance surveying. D.
benchmarking ✔✔D. benchmarking
41) A specialized approach to organizational change in which the employees themselves formulate
the change that is required and implement it, often with the assistance of a trained consultant, is
called: A. organizational development. B. skills training. C. employee orientation. D. sensitivity
training. ✔✔A. organizational development.
42) Which of the following laws imposed significant restrictions on unions in the U.S.? A. The
Landrum-Griffin Act. B. The Norris-LaGuardia Act. C. The Wagner Act. D. The National Labor
Relations Act ✔✔A. The Landrum-Griffin Act.
43) The ability to inspire and motivate followers to achieve envisioned goals that are selfrewarding is called: A. participative management. B. attribution leadership. C. transactional
leadership. D. transformational leadership. ✔✔D. transformational leadership.
44) A major provision of the Civil Rights Acts of 1991 is that: A. it limits compensatory and
punitive damages for employers found liable for discriminatory practices. B. it places the burden
of proof back on employers and permits the awarding of compensatory and punitive damages. C.it permits the awarding of compensatory damages but now punitive damages. D. it permits the
awarding of punitive damages but not compensatory damages ✔✔B. it places the burden of proof
back on employers and permits the awarding of compensatory and punitive damages.
45) Which type of group is most susceptible to groupthink? A. A formal group. B. An informal
group. C. A highly cohesive group. D. A leaderless group ✔✔C. A highly cohesive group.
46) The best way to deal with dangerous work situations is to: A. reengineer the wo
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