I85PREP
⌘ K
CHP Officer study materials
CHP Officer study resources

CHP Officer practice questions

One question at a time. Build your CHP Officer understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "Before approaching a vehicle stopped on the highway shoulder, an officer should position the patrol car offset to the left, activate emergency lights, and check traffic in the mirror. These steps protect the officer from passing vehicles and give room to react." What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Safety steps matter when stopping a car on a highway shoulder. Correct answer.
  2. Traffic stops should always be conducted during daylight hours.
  3. Passing drivers usually slow down when they see emergency lights.
  4. The offset position makes it easier for an officer to write citations.

Explanation

The passage lists positioning the patrol car, using emergency lights, and checking traffic as steps that protect the officer. The main point is the importance of those safety measures during a highway stop. The other choices introduce claims the passage never makes.

Question 2Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The department issued a recall for 1,200 patrol sedan radios after tests showed the battery could overheat. Officers were told to return the radios to the supply unit by Friday and use handheld units until replacements arrived." According to the passage, what were officers told to use until replacements arrived?

  1. Their personal cell phones
  2. Handheld radios Correct answer.
  3. Older battery packs
  4. Spare patrol sedans

Explanation

The passage states that officers should return the recalled radios and use handheld units until replacements arrived. The detail question asks only what was substituted, which the text names directly.

Question 3Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The witness's account was corroborated by a second driver, whose statement matched the first in every important detail." As used in the passage, "corroborated" most nearly means:

  1. supported Correct answer.
  2. contradicted
  3. recorded
  4. delayed

Explanation

Corroborated means supported or confirmed by additional evidence, and here a second driver's matching statement confirms the first. The context clue "matched ... in every important detail" signals agreement, not contradiction.

Question 4Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "After the collision, the officer first secured the scene by blocking the lane, then interviewed the drivers, and finally measured skid marks." Which action did the officer take last?

  1. Measuring skid marks Correct answer.
  2. Calling a tow truck
  3. Interviewing the drivers
  4. Blocking the lane

Explanation

The passage orders the actions with "first," "then," and "finally," placing measurement of skid marks last. Sequence words are the key signal for ordering events in a narrative.

Question 5Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "Drivers should move over a lane or slow down when passing a stopped emergency vehicle. This simple habit gives officers room to work and has prevented serious injuries." What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To argue that highways are poorly designed
  2. To describe the history of patrol cars
  3. To encourage a safe driving habit Correct answer.
  4. To explain how to obtain a license

Explanation

The passage recommends a driving habit and states its benefit, which is the purpose of encouraging safer behavior. It does not explain licensing, patrol car history, or road design.

Question 6Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The new dispatch protocol requires officers to confirm their unit number and location before receiving a call assignment. Confirmation lets dispatchers know the unit is ready and track response times." What must officers confirm before receiving a call assignment?

  1. Their radio's battery level
  2. Their supervisor's written approval
  3. Their unit number and location Correct answer.
  4. Their report number and shift

Explanation

The protocol names two items to confirm: unit number and location. The remaining details are not part of the stated requirement.

Question 7Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The officer noticed fresh tire tracks leading from the roadway to a damaged guardrail, along with fragments of a broken headlight on the shoulder." What most likely occurred?

  1. A headlight was stolen from a parked car.
  2. A guardrail was installed recently.
  3. A vehicle struck the guardrail. Correct answer.
  4. A vehicle was repaired on the shoulder.

Explanation

Fresh tire tracks leading to a damaged guardrail plus broken headlight fragments point to a vehicle striking the rail. The evidence is physical and recent, supporting a collision rather than repair or theft.

Question 8Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "A traffic report should record only what the officer observed or verified. Opinions and guesses belong in a separate section, if anywhere, because they can weaken the report if it is reviewed in court." What is the main point?

  1. Opinions make reports easier to understand.
  2. Reports should be written as quickly as possible.
  3. Court reviews rarely examine traffic reports.
  4. Reports should stick to observed facts. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage says a report should record only what was observed or verified and warns that opinions can weaken it. That makes factual accuracy the central point.

Question 9Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "When asked for his license, the driver stared at the dashboard, answered in a whisper, and handed over a card from a different state with an expired date." What can be inferred about the driver?

  1. The driver did not speak English.
  2. The driver had recently moved to the state.
  3. The driver may be hiding something. Correct answer.
  4. The driver was unsure of the speed limit.

Explanation

Averted gaze, whispering, and an expired out-of-state license are behaviors consistent with nervousness or concealment. The passage gives no facts about a recent move, language ability, or knowledge of the speed limit.

Question 10Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "Officers may use emergency lights to stop a vehicle only when they have reasonable suspicion of a violation. A defective taillight qualifies; a hunch does not." An officer sees a car with a burned-out brake light. Under this rule, may the officer stop the car?

  1. Yes, but only with a supervisor's permission.
  2. No, because a taillight is a minor issue.
  3. Yes, because a defective light is a violation. Correct answer.
  4. No, because the officer has only a hunch.

Explanation

The rule permits a stop when there is reasonable suspicion of a violation and gives a defective light as an example of one. A burned-out brake light therefore meets the standard without extra approval.

Question 11Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The officer's report was terse, listing the time, location, and parties without any narrative description." As used in the passage, "terse" most nearly means:

  1. lengthy
  2. inaccurate
  3. brief Correct answer.
  4. confused

Explanation

Terse means brief and to the point, which fits a report that lists facts without narrative. The contrast with "without any narrative description" confirms conciseness.

Question 12Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "Driver A said the other car entered the intersection without stopping. Driver B said she had the green light and proceeded. The signal was later confirmed to be green for Driver B's direction." Which account is better supported?

  1. Neither, because the witnesses disagree
  2. Driver A's, because he spoke first
  3. Driver A's, because he described a stop
  4. Driver B's, because the signal data agree Correct answer.

Explanation

When accounts conflict, the one supported by independent evidence is stronger. Signal data confirming a green light for Driver B corroborate her version.

Question 13Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "Each item collected at a scene must be logged with the time, location, and name of the person who collected it. The log must follow the item from collection to storage without gaps." What must the log show?

  1. The estimated cost of replacing the item
  2. An unbroken record from collection to storage Correct answer.
  3. A photograph of the item's original position at the scene
  4. The officer's opinion of the item's value

Explanation

The passage requires the log to trace an item continuously from collection to storage with no gaps. That is the definition of an unbroken chain of custody.

Question 14Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The dispatch log showed three calls to the same address within one hour, each reporting a loud argument, and each time the callers hung up before giving a name." What do the calls suggest?

  1. A recurring dispute may be occurring there. Correct answer.
  2. The callers were making prank calls.
  3. The address is vacant.
  4. The phone line was faulty.

Explanation

Repeated calls about the same argument at the same address suggest an ongoing dispute. Hanging up does not by itself establish pranks, and nothing indicates a vacant address or faulty line.

Question 15Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "At highway speeds, a patrol car should maintain at least a three-second gap behind the vehicle ahead. In rain, the gap should be doubled." An officer is following a vehicle at highway speed in rain. What minimum gap should the officer keep?

  1. Six seconds Correct answer.
  2. One second
  3. Three seconds
  4. Nine seconds

Explanation

The rule sets a three-second baseline and says to double it in rain, which yields six seconds. Multiplying the stated minimum is the required application.

Question 16Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "A witness said the car was 'flying' down the road. The officer's radar reading later showed 62 mph in a 45 mph zone." How should the officer treat the witness's statement?

  1. As more reliable than the radar
  2. As proof the car exceeded 100 mph
  3. As useless because it is imprecise
  4. As consistent with the measured speed Correct answer.

Explanation

The word "flying" is informal and imprecise, but it is not inconsistent with a measured 62 mph in a 45 zone. The officer should treat it as a lay estimate that agrees broadly with the radar.

Question 17Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "Every contact with the public is a chance to build trust. A calm explanation of why a stop occurred often does more for cooperation than a citation does." What is the main idea?

  1. Calm explanations can improve cooperation. Correct answer.
  2. Trust is built only during emergencies.
  3. Citations are the best way to gain respect.
  4. Stops should be as short as possible.

Explanation

The passage contrasts a calm explanation with a citation and says the explanation often does more for cooperation. That makes improved cooperation through civil communication the main idea.

Question 18Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The officer was exonerated after the review board found that his use of force complied with policy." As used in the passage, "exonerated" most nearly means:

  1. suspended
  2. reprimanded
  3. transferred
  4. cleared of blame Correct answer.

Explanation

To be exonerated is to be cleared of blame after review. The board's finding of policy compliance supports that meaning.

Question 19Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The alert system broadcasts descriptions of a suspect vehicle to highway signs, radio stations, and phones in the affected region. The goal is to place many trained eyes on the road quickly." Which is listed as a channel for the broadcast?

  1. Newspaper columns
  2. Highway signs Correct answer.
  3. Court records
  4. Social media ads

Explanation

The passage lists highway signs, radio stations, and phones as broadcast channels. Newspaper columns, court records, and social media ads are not mentioned.

Question 20Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The officer noticed a vehicle parked on the shoulder with its hood up, but the engine was cold and the driver was sitting in the passenger seat with a phone." What might the officer suspect?

  1. The car had just overheated.
  2. The driver was waiting for a tow.
  3. The driver had locked the keys inside.
  4. The breakdown may be staged. Correct answer.

Explanation

A cold engine, an open hood, and a seated driver on a phone are inconsistent with a fresh breakdown, which supports suspicion of a staged stop. The other explanations conflict with the cold engine or the driver's position.

Question 21Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "A report that says 'the driver appeared intoxicated' without describing slurred speech, odor, or unsteady balance invites challenge in court. A report that lists those observations lets a reader draw the conclusion independently." What is the underlying principle?

  1. Intoxication cases rarely reach court.
  2. Conclusions should be left out of all reports.
  3. Specific facts outweigh bare conclusions. Correct answer.
  4. Witnesses should write the report themselves.

Explanation

The passage contrasts a bare conclusion with specific observations that let a reader reach the conclusion independently. The principle is that concrete facts carry more weight than labels.

Question 22Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The sergeant read the two collision accounts side by side. One placed the impact before the crosswalk, the other after it. Both agreed on the direction of travel and the time." What remains in dispute?

  1. The time of the collision
  2. The identity of the drivers
  3. The direction of travel
  4. The location of the impact Correct answer.

Explanation

Both accounts agree on time and direction, but they differ on whether impact came before or after the crosswalk. The disputed fact is the impact location.

Question 23Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "An officer may search a vehicle without a warrant when probable cause exists that it contains evidence of a crime and the vehicle is readily mobile. A plain-view observation of contraband can supply that probable cause." During a lawful stop, an officer sees a bag of suspected narcotics on the back seat. What does the rule allow?

  1. A search of the driver's home.
  2. A vehicle search based on the plain view. Correct answer.
  3. Nothing, because a warrant is always required.
  4. A search only if the driver consents.

Explanation

The rule allows a warrantless vehicle search when probable cause exists and the vehicle is mobile, and plain-view contraband can supply that cause. Seeing suspected narcotics on the seat therefore supports a search of the vehicle.

Question 24Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "The collision report noted that the skid marks were 40 feet long on dry pavement. An investigator testified that a car traveling 35 mph typically leaves about 40 feet of skid on that surface." What does the comparison suggest?

  1. The speed was about 35 mph. Correct answer.
  2. The car was traveling well over 35 mph.
  3. The skid marks were measured incorrectly.
  4. The pavement was actually wet.

Explanation

The investigator's benchmark matches the measured skid length, so the evidence is consistent with about 35 mph. The comparison supports agreement, not a much higher speed or faulty measurement.

Question 25Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: "A good report does not include every detail an officer noticed; it includes every detail that matters to a reader who was not there. The test is relevance, not volume." What is the main idea?

  1. Longer reports are almost always more useful to readers.
  2. Officers should omit anything they noticed.
  3. Use relevant detail, not every detail. Correct answer.
  4. Readers prefer reports with no detail.

Explanation

The passage defines the test for inclusion as relevance to a reader who was not present. That means selecting meaningful details rather than maximizing length or omitting everything.

Question 26Reading Comprehension

Before each shift, Officer Reyes walks around her patrol vehicle with a checklist. She tests the emergency lights, checks the tires, and confirms that the radio reaches dispatch. Any defect is written on a form and handed to the fleet supervisor. She does not begin patrol until the items are cleared or a replacement vehicle is assigned. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Fleet supervisors repair vehicles.
  2. Emergency lights are the most important equipment.
  3. Officers inspect their vehicles before patrol. Correct answer.
  4. Officer Reyes dislikes paperwork.

Explanation

The passage describes a pre-shift inspection routine and states that patrol does not begin until problems are cleared or a replacement vehicle is provided. That makes the inspection the central point. The other details support this idea rather than replace it.

Question 27Reading Comprehension

When the officer asked whether she had seen the collision, the store clerk shook her head and stepped back. She answered in short phrases and kept glancing at the door. Her manner was reluctant, and the officer noted it in his report. As used in the passage, "reluctant" most nearly means:

  1. angry about the questions
  2. unwilling or hesitant Correct answer.
  3. eager to help
  4. confused about the facts

Explanation

The clerk's short answers, backward step, and glances at the door all suggest hesitation about participating. In context, "reluctant" describes that unwillingness. Nothing in the passage indicates eagerness, factual confusion, or anger.

Question 28Reading Comprehension

The collision occurred at 4:12 p.m. on a Tuesday. The report lists the location as the intersection of Oak Avenue and Second Street. The driver of the sedan was cited for failing to yield. The passenger in the pickup was taken to a clinic for a minor cut. According to the passage, who was taken to a clinic?

  1. the pickup driver
  2. the sedan driver
  3. the pickup passenger Correct answer.
  4. the reporting officer

Explanation

The passage states directly that the passenger in the pickup was taken to a clinic for a minor cut. The other people mentioned are not described as receiving medical transport. This is an explicit detail question.

Question 29Reading Comprehension

The store's front window was broken at 11:40 p.m. on Saturday. The alarm company called the owner at 11:42 p.m. that night. The owner arrived at the store at 11:55 p.m. and waited. The officer believed a careless driver caused the damage. Which sentence from the passage expresses an opinion or judgment rather than an observed fact?

  1. The owner arrived at the store at 11:55 p.m. and waited.
  2. The officer believed a careless driver caused the damage. Correct answer.
  3. The store's front window was broken at 11:40 p.m. on Saturday.
  4. The alarm company called the owner at 11:42 p.m. that night.

Explanation

A statement of belief about who caused damage is a judgment, not a directly observed fact. The times and actions in the other sentences can be verified by observation or records. The word "believed" signals that the conclusion is the officer's inference.

Question 30Reading Comprehension

The driver handed over an identification card that had been issued in another state. The photo matched the driver's face, but the card's expiration date had passed two years earlier. When the officer asked about a current license, the driver said he had left it at home and gave no address. What can the officer reasonably infer?

  1. The driver may lack a valid license. Correct answer.
  2. The driver currently lives in another state.
  3. The identification card is definitely a forgery.
  4. The driver has never held a license in any state.

Explanation

An expired card, an unavailable current license, and no address together support a cautious inference that the driver may not have a valid license. The passage supports a possibility, not a certainty. Stronger claims would require additional evidence.

Question 31Reading Comprehension

Officer Tran arrived at the scene at 9:05 p.m. She first set out cones to protect the lane, then spoke with the drivers, and after that measured the skid marks. The tow truck arrived while she was measuring. She completed her report after the vehicles were removed. Which action did Officer Tran perform first?

  1. set out cones Correct answer.
  2. spoke with the drivers
  3. completed her report
  4. measured the skid marks

Explanation

The passage uses the word "first" to identify setting out cones as the initial action. The remaining actions are introduced with "then," "after that," and "after." Sequence words are the key to ordering events.

Question 32Reading Comprehension

This bulletin reminds all patrol personnel that a vehicle stop is a seizure under the law. It begins the moment a reasonable person would not feel free to leave. Officers should therefore signal a stop clearly and should not use phrases that suggest the driver may simply drive away. What is the main purpose of the bulletin?

  1. to warn officers about the risks of pursuit
  2. to explain how to write a collision report
  3. to define when a stop begins Correct answer.
  4. to describe the history of traffic stops

Explanation

The bulletin explains the legal moment at which a vehicle stop becomes a seizure. Its instruction about clear signals follows from that definition. The passage is not about report writing, history, or pursuit hazards.

Question 33Reading Comprehension

Witness A said the blue car was in the left lane when it turned. Witness B said the blue car was in the right lane. Both agreed the car turned without signaling and that the light was red. Which detail do the two accounts disagree about?

  1. the color of the traffic light
  2. the color of the car
  3. the lane the car was in Correct answer.
  4. whether the car signaled

Explanation

The witnesses give different lanes for the blue car, so that is the disputed detail. The passage says both agreed on the missing signal, the car's color, and the red light. Comparing the two accounts isolates the single point of conflict.

Question 34Reading Comprehension

The road had been resurfaced the previous week, and loose gravel still covered the shoulder. As the motorcycle entered the curve, its front tire slid. The rider was thrown from the bike and landed on the gravel. According to the passage, what most directly caused the motorcycle's front tire to slide?

  1. the curve's posted speed limit
  2. the new resurfacing schedule
  3. loose gravel on the road Correct answer.
  4. the rider's lack of a helmet

Explanation

The passage links the sliding tire to the loose gravel that remained after resurfacing. The resurfacing is background, while the gravel is the immediate condition described at the moment of the slide. The other choices are not presented as causes.

Question 35Reading Comprehension

The department's new community meeting program sends officers to neighborhood gatherings once a month. Officers listen to concerns, explain how calls are prioritized, and follow up on recurring problems. The program does not replace patrol; it adds a way for residents to speak with officers outside an emergency. Which statement best summarizes the passage?

  1. The program is held only during declared emergencies.
  2. It adds monthly meetings for residents and officers. Correct answer.
  3. The program replaces regular patrol duties throughout the city.
  4. The program teaches residents how to make arrests safely.

Explanation

A summary should capture the central idea without adding claims. The passage describes a monthly addition that lets residents talk with officers, not a replacement for patrol. It also explicitly says the meetings occur outside emergencies.

Question 36Reading Comprehension

The memo notes that the officer failed to activate his camera, missed the required check-in, and filed his report three days late. It concludes that these were isolated lapses and that no further action is needed beyond a reminder of policy. What is the tone of the memo's conclusion?

  1. sarcastic and dismissive
  2. uncertain and confused
  3. harsh and punitive
  4. calm and corrective Correct answer.

Explanation

The conclusion treats the problems as isolated and prescribes a reminder rather than punishment. That is a calm, corrective tone. It is neither harsh nor sarcastic, and it reaches a clear decision rather than expressing confusion.

Question 37Reading Comprehension

A resident called to report a suspicious vehicle parked in front of her house for six hours. The vehicle had no plates, and the windows were covered with newspaper. When the officer arrived, the hood was still warm. What conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. The resident was mistaken about the time.
  2. The vehicle had been abandoned long ago.
  3. Someone had recently used the vehicle. Correct answer.
  4. The vehicle belonged to a neighbor.

Explanation

A warm hood indicates that the vehicle had been operated shortly before the officer arrived. That detail supports recent use. The passage gives no evidence about abandonment, the resident's accuracy, or ownership.

Question 38Reading Comprehension

Two officers describe the same suspect. One writes that the suspect was "about six feet tall and wearing a dark hooded jacket." The other writes that the suspect was "average height and wore a light-colored jacket with the hood up." Neither officer recorded the lighting conditions at the time of the observation. Which information would best help resolve the disagreement about the jacket's color?

  1. the time the report was written
  2. the number of officers at the scene
  3. the lighting at the time Correct answer.
  4. the suspect's exact height and weight

Explanation

Color perception depends heavily on lighting, and the passage specifically notes that lighting was not recorded. Knowing the light conditions would help explain why one officer saw a dark jacket and the other saw a light one. Height and report timing do not address color.

Question 39Reading Comprehension

An officer receives two tips about a stolen car. The first comes from a caller who gives a precise location, describes the car's dented rear door, and asks to remain anonymous. The second comes from a caller who says only that the car is "somewhere on the east side" and cannot recall the color. Both callers claim to have seen the car within the hour. Which tip is more useful for locating the car, and why?

  1. the second, because the east side is a small area
  2. the second, because anonymous callers are usually more careful
  3. the first, because the caller is not anonymous
  4. the first, because it gives specific, checkable details Correct answer.

Explanation

A tip's usefulness depends on how specific and verifiable its details are. The first caller provides a precise location and a distinctive feature that officers can check. The second caller offers only a broad area and no identifying detail.

Question 40Reading Comprehension

A review of 100 vehicle stops found that 70 percent involved cars with a broken taillight. The same review found that cars with a broken taillight make up only 10 percent of all cars on the road. The report cautions that the finding does not prove that broken taillights cause stops. Why does the report caution against drawing a causal conclusion?

  1. because a sample of 100 stops is too small to be counted
  2. because broken taillights are legal equipment in most states
  3. because the review did not record the time of day or weather
  4. because a high share among stops does not prove cause Correct answer.

Explanation

A high proportion of a feature among stops shows an association, not the reason the stops occurred. Officers may notice broken taillights for other reasons, and the review does not establish causation. The caution is about the logic of the comparison, not the sample size or equipment law.

Question 41Vocabulary

In the sentence "Observe the intersection carefully," the word "observe" most nearly means:

  1. Ignore
  2. Watch Correct answer.
  3. Enter
  4. Block

Explanation

"Observe" means to look at or pay attention to something. In this context, an officer is being told to watch the intersection carefully. The other choices describe different actions and do not match the meaning of "observe."

Question 42Vocabulary

Which word is the opposite of "prohibited"?

  1. Delayed
  2. Required
  3. Allowed Correct answer.
  4. Forbidden

Explanation

"Prohibited" means banned or not permitted. Its opposite is "allowed," which means permitted. "Forbidden" is a synonym, not an antonym.

Question 43Vocabulary

The prefix "pre-" in the word "preliminary" most nearly means:

  1. After
  2. Before Correct answer.
  3. Again
  4. Against

Explanation

The prefix "pre-" comes from Latin and means "before." A preliminary step comes before the main action. The other prefixes listed mean after, again, or against.

Question 44Vocabulary

The word "adjacent" most nearly means:

  1. Next to Correct answer.
  2. Inside
  3. Far apart
  4. Above

Explanation

"Adjacent" means lying next to or adjoining something. For example, an adjacent lane is the lane beside the current one. It does not mean far away or inside.

Question 45Vocabulary

Choose the correct word: "The driver was traveling _____ fast for the wet road."

  1. Two
  2. To
  3. Too Correct answer.
  4. Tow

Explanation

"Too" is an adverb meaning excessively. The sentence requires the meaning "excessively fast," so "too" is correct. "To" is a preposition or part of an infinitive, "two" is a number, and "tow" means to pull a vehicle.

Question 46Vocabulary

A person who sees a crime happen is called a:

  1. Witness Correct answer.
  2. Victim
  3. Suspect
  4. Officer

Explanation

A witness is someone who sees or observes an event, such as a crime. A suspect is a person believed to have committed the crime, and a victim is the person harmed.

Question 47Vocabulary

Which word is a synonym of "rapid"?

  1. Quick Correct answer.
  2. Calm
  3. Slow
  4. Loud

Explanation

"Rapid" means happening quickly or at high speed. "Quick" has the same meaning. "Slow" is an antonym, while "loud" and "calm" describe unrelated qualities.

Question 48Vocabulary

The suffix "-less" in the word "careless" most nearly means:

  1. Without Correct answer.
  2. Before
  3. Again
  4. Full of

Explanation

The suffix "-less" means "without" or "lacking." Careless therefore means lacking care. It does not mean full of, before, or again.

Question 49Vocabulary

"The officer was cordial during the stop, speaking politely and calmly." In this sentence, "cordial" most nearly means:

  1. Nervous
  2. Silent
  3. Rude
  4. Friendly Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase "speaking politely and calmly" is a context clue that "cordial" means warm or friendly. Cordial behavior is courteous and pleasant. The other choices conflict with the clue.

Question 50Vocabulary

Choose the correct word: "The new law will _____ how officers conduct traffic stops."

  1. Effect
  2. Affect Correct answer.
  3. Affective
  4. Effective

Explanation

"Affect" is normally a verb meaning to influence or change something. "Effect" is usually a noun meaning a result. The blank needs a verb, so "affect" is correct.