Census-taker tests given at Center

The U.S. Census Bureau is administering tests to prospective 2010 Census enumerators Mondays at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center.

Enumerators will work on a temporary, part-time basis this spring by going door-to-door assisting households who have not yet returned the 10-question Census form. More than 1,000 enumerators will be hired in the five-county Census district: Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Newberry and Saluda.

Around 20 people filled Room 1 at the center Monday around 1 p.m. They had finished the basic skills test and were waiting to receive their scores.

The next test was to be administered at 2:30 p.m. Testing will take place between roughly 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

"We'd like to have as many people as possible doing the test, especially in the Aiken, Edgefield and Saluda areas because they are big population areas," said Earl Sasser, manager of the West Columbia Census Office.

The test generally has 28 multiple choice questions that gauge the taker's number skills, organizational skills and reading comprehension.

Sarah Sullivan, a retired educator from Jackson who took the test Monday, said it was not what she expected.

"It was not near as easy as I expected. It was kind of mind boggling," she said. "I really want to do this (be an enumerator). I like people."

If a person does not receive a score to qualify them to work as an enumerator the first time, they can take the test as many times as they want afterward.

Sasser said the test process takes anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half to finish.

A person must provide a valid U.S. passport or two other forms of identification like a Social Security card or valid driver's license when taking the test.

Walk-ins are welcome, but Sasser said it is preferable that persons interested in applying and testing call either (866) 861-2010 or (803) 233-1550 to put their name on the list.

Enumerators will be offered flexible hours, paid training and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses such as mileage.

According to The Associated Press, residents can expect to receive letters in early March notifying them that census forms will arrive between March 15-17. Residents who don't respond will get a follow-up postcard. Those who still don't respond can expect a visit from an enumerator by early May.

Census information is crucial in determining how much of more than $400 billion in federal money is allocated to each state.

In 2000, the last year the Census was conducted, 59 percent of Aiken County residents mailed in the form. Only 59 percent of the state's residents mailed the form back. South Carolina was the second worst state in terms of mail-in responses in 2000, behind only Alaska.

South Carolina Census researchers believe that if more people respond this year, the state could gain a seventh Congressional district.

For more information, visit www.census.gov/2010census/.

Breakout

Practice Questions for 2010 Census Field Employee Positions

(1) Choose the number that does not fit the pattern: ... 40, 140, 239, 340 ...

A) 40

B) 140

C) 239

D) 340

(2) Choose the answer that best fits the meaning of the word transcribe.

A) to transport

B) to copy

C) to repeat

D) to exchange

(3) Alphabetize the following names of people. Last names are given last.

1) Lydia Jameson

2) James Alberts

3) Allan Jameson

4) Alfred Johnson

5) Lydia Moreno

A) 2 - 1 - 3 - 4 - 5

B) 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 5

C) 2 - 3 - 1 - 4 - 5

D) 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 5

(4) The Field Operations Supervisor (FOS) will issue one identification card to each Crew Leader. Crew Leaders will issue one identification card to each enumerator. Clerks will be issued identification cards by the FOS only if necessary for them to work outside the office on special tasks and in contact with the general public. All identification cards issued to Crew Leaders and enumerators must be turned in to the Field Operations Supervisor upon completion of work, separation, termination, or resignation. The FOS is responsible for seeing that all returned cards are destroyed. Which of the following is NOT a true statement?

A) The overall responsibility for identification cards rests with the Field Operations Supervisor.

B) Clerks may not always be provided with identification cards.

C) Enumerators who resign turn their identification cards in to their supervisor, the Crew Leader, who destroys them.

D) A Crew Leader's identification card is destroyed when he/she resigns.

(5) 2610.0 miles - 2554.8 miles = ??

A) 55.2 miles

B) 56.2 miles

C) 165.2 miles

D) 552 miles

(6) The number of questions to be asked in the 2010 Census approximates the number asked in 2000 and 1990, and is less than was asked in 1970 and 1980. The Census questionnaires contain questions relating to housing characteristics and questions relating to population characteristics. Choose the statement that explains the above paragraph in the simplest, most complete way.

A) There will be fewer questions asked in 2010 than 30 years ago, and they relate to population and housing characteristics.

B) The number of questions has not changed in over 40 years, and all questionnaires have both population and housing questions.

C) Questionnaires in 2010 will have the same number of questions relating to population as in 1990 and 2000.

D) Questionnaires in 2010 will have more questions than in 1970, but fewer than in 2000.

(7) Ms. Jones can't remember the year of her birth but she knows that she was born in the month of September. If it is now May 2010, and Ms. Jones tells you she is 78 years old, in what year was she born?

A) 1931

B) 1932

C) 1930

D) None of these

Answer key: (1) A (2) B (3) C (4) C (5) A (6) A (7) A