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CJBAT practice questions

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Question 1Written Comprehension

Community policing assigns officers to regular beats so they can learn the neighborhoods they serve. Officers on foot or bicycle patrols talk with residents, hear concerns, and build trust. Over time, residents are more willing to report problems and share information. Departments using this approach often report better relationships with the public. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Community policing builds trust between officers and residents. Correct answer.
  2. Departments should hire more officers to handle reports and calls.
  3. Residents rarely speak with police officers about neighborhood problems.
  4. Foot patrols are harder work than patrols in cars.

Explanation

The main idea is the central point the whole passage supports: assigning officers to beats lets them build trust and gain cooperation. The other sentences contradict the passage or introduce ideas it never discusses.

Question 2Written Comprehension

An incident report should be written in the past tense and in the first person. It must include the date, time, and location of the event, the names of everyone involved, and a factual account of what happened. Opinions and guesses should be left out. According to the passage, which element must an incident report include?

  1. A prediction of how the case will end
  2. The date, time, and location of the event Correct answer.
  3. The writer's opinion of the suspect's character
  4. The names of officers who were off duty that night

Explanation

The passage lists the date, time, and location as required contents of an incident report. Opinions, guesses, and unrelated details are excluded by the passage itself.

Question 3Written Comprehension

The sergeant told the recruit to be concise during the briefing, so the recruit removed every detail that was not needed and kept the report to two minutes. As used in the passage, the word "concise" most nearly means:

  1. confusing
  2. disorganized
  3. brief Correct answer.
  4. lengthy

Explanation

The context clue is that the recruit removed unnecessary detail and kept the briefing to two minutes, which shows that concise means short and to the point. Confusing, lengthy, and disorganized all describe something different from what the sentence describes.

Question 4Written Comprehension

To process a visitor, the officer first checks a photo ID, then records the visitor's name in the log, and finally issues a visitor badge. Which step happens immediately after the officer checks a photo ID?

  1. Recording the visitor's name in the log Correct answer.
  2. Calling the visitor's contact person
  3. Escorting the visitor to the exit door
  4. Issuing a visitor badge

Explanation

The passage gives an order: check ID, then record the name, then issue a badge. The step that follows the ID check is therefore recording the name.

Question 5Written Comprehension

The lock on the rear door was broken when officers arrived that morning. The door frame was scratched in several places near the handle. The rear door was hung on two hinges and opened outward. The homeowner should have replaced that lock months ago, in my view. Which sentence from the passage is an opinion?

  1. The homeowner should have replaced that lock months ago, in my view. Correct answer.
  2. The rear door was hung on two hinges and opened outward.
  3. The door frame was scratched in several places near the handle.
  4. The lock on the rear door was broken when officers arrived that morning.

Explanation

An opinion expresses a judgment or belief that can be debated, signaled here by the phrase "in my view" and the word "should." The other sentences report observable conditions that could be verified.

Question 6Written Comprehension

When Officer Ruiz arrived, the front window was shattered from the outside, and the glass lay on the floor inside the room. The television was still in place. What can be inferred about the window?

  1. It was left open by the owner.
  2. It was broken by someone standing inside the room near the television set.
  3. It was broken by the television.
  4. It was broken by someone standing outside the house. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage says the window was shattered from the outside and the glass fell inward onto the floor, which supports the inference that the blow came from outdoors. The other choices conflict with those details or add facts the passage does not support.

Question 7Written Comprehension

Always approach a stopped vehicle from the passenger side, keep your hands visible, and watch the driver's hands. Report your location before you leave your patrol car. The author's main purpose is to:

  1. explain the steps for writing a traffic citation
  2. persuade readers that patrol cars are safer than foot patrols
  3. give safety directions for traffic stops Correct answer.
  4. describe how traffic stops have changed over the years

Explanation

The passage consists of instructions about how to approach a vehicle and when to radio in, so the purpose is to direct officers' safety behavior. It does not narrate history, argue a position, or explain paperwork.

Question 8Written Comprehension

The evidence log showed that the knife was placed in the locker at 9:15 p.m. The locker was sealed at 9:20 p.m. and was not opened again until the trial. Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. The locker was opened several times that night.
  2. The knife was never photographed by investigators.
  3. The knife stayed sealed until the trial. Correct answer.
  4. The knife was removed before the trial began.

Explanation

The passage states the locker was sealed shortly after the knife was logged and was not opened until the trial, which supports the conclusion that the knife remained sealed inside. The other options contradict the passage or add facts it does not contain.

Question 9Written Comprehension

The detective noted that the suspect's shoes were dry even though the parking lot was covered in deep puddles and it had been raining for an hour. The suspect claimed he had just walked in from his car. The detective's observation most likely suggests that:

  1. The suspect was carrying a bag when he arrived.
  2. The suspect may not have walked through the lot. Correct answer.
  3. The rain had stopped an hour before the interview.
  4. The suspect's car was a light color.

Explanation

The inference rests on a contrast: a person who had just crossed a flooded lot should have wet shoes. Dry shoes therefore cast doubt on the claim, and the remaining options have no bearing on that contrast.

Question 10Written Comprehension

The officer's testimony was supported by two security videos and by the store clerk, who described the same sequence of events. As used in the passage, the word "supported" most nearly means:

  1. questioned
  2. backed up by other evidence Correct answer.
  3. recorded
  4. ignored

Explanation

The sentence describes testimony being strengthened by videos and a witness, so the word means backed up or confirmed. The other choices either reverse the meaning or describe an unrelated action.

Question 11Written Comprehension

Most burglaries in the district occurred between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when many residents were at work. Entry was usually gained through a rear window or an unlocked sliding door. Few homes had alarm systems. Detectives concluded that the department should focus prevention efforts on daytime patrols and door-to-door education. Which detail supports the detectives' conclusion?

  1. The district had three elementary schools and two parks.
  2. Burglaries happened by day, when homes were empty. Correct answer.
  3. Alarm systems were installed in most homes.
  4. Few homes in the district had dogs.

Explanation

A conclusion about concentrating on daytime prevention is supported by the finding that most burglaries occurred in the daytime when homes were empty. The other choices are unrelated details or directly contradict the passage.

Question 12Written Comprehension

During the interview, the witness answered questions about the weather and the traffic in detail, but when asked to describe the driver's face, she paused, looked away, and said she could not remember. What is the most reasonable inference?

  1. The witness was never at the scene of the crash.
  2. The witness was angry with the interviewer.
  3. The witness remembered the weather better than the traffic.
  4. The witness may have had trouble recalling the driver's face. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts detailed answers about the surroundings with a pause and an admission of no memory about the driver's face, which supports the inference that recall of the face was difficult. The other choices read motives or facts into the account that are not present.

Question 13Written Comprehension

Body-worn cameras record officers' interactions with the public. Supporters say they discourage misconduct and provide clear evidence. Critics worry about privacy and the cost of storing footage. Many departments now use them with written policies that set rules for when cameras are turned on and how long recordings are kept. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Most officers dislike wearing body cameras because supervisors review the footage.
  2. Recording equipment is too expensive for most departments to buy and store.
  3. Body-worn cameras should be banned because they create serious privacy concerns for the public.
  4. Body cameras bring benefits and concerns, and policies govern their use. Correct answer.

Explanation

A summary must account for the whole passage, which presents benefits, concerns, and the policy response. The other choices state one-sided positions or facts the passage never asserts.

Question 14Written Comprehension

The new report takes three pages to say what any patrol officer could tell you in one sentence: response times matter. It buries a simple point under charts and jargon, and its recommendations repeat what the department already does. The author's tone toward the report is best described as:

  1. fearful
  2. dismissive Correct answer.
  3. enthusiastic
  4. neutral

Explanation

Word choices such as "buries" and "repeat what the department already does" show the author thinks little of the report, which makes the tone dismissive. Enthusiastic, neutral, and fearful do not match that critical language.

Question 15Written Comprehension

Department policy states that any use of force must be reported in writing before the end of the officer's shift. A supervisor must review the report within 24 hours. If the force resulted in injury, the report goes to the division commander as well. An officer uses force that causes a minor injury at 3 p.m. and finishes the shift at 11 p.m. According to the policy, what must happen?

  1. The officer writes the report and no further review by anyone is required.
  2. The report is written before 11 p.m. and goes to the supervisor and commander. Correct answer.
  3. The officer may wait until the next shift to write the report and notify a supervisor.
  4. The report goes only to the division commander, with no supervisor review.

Explanation

Applying the policy to the facts: the report is due before the shift ends at 11 p.m., a supervisor must review it, and because there was an injury it also goes to the commander. Each other option omits or violates one of those requirements.

Question 16Written Comprehension

The department replaced its radio system in March of last year. The new radios cost $400,000. Officers report that coverage in the north district has improved. The old system was clearly a waste of taxpayer money. Which statement is an opinion?

  1. The old system was clearly a waste of taxpayer money. Correct answer.
  2. The department replaced its radio system in March of last year.
  3. Officers report that coverage in the north district has improved.
  4. The new radios cost $400,000.

Explanation

A judgment about wastefulness cannot be proved or disproved by observation, so it is an opinion. The other statements describe events, prices, and reported observations that can be checked.

Question 17Written Comprehension

Before writing a report on a theft, Officer Lane gathered the complainant's statement, photographed the damaged door, and listed the stolen items. She then reviewed her notes, wrote the report, and submitted it for supervisory review. Which action did Officer Lane take immediately before writing the report?

  1. She photographed the damaged door.
  2. She gathered the complainant's statement.
  3. She listed the stolen items from the report.
  4. She reviewed her notes. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage places three actions in a later stage: review notes, write report, submit for review. The action directly preceding the writing is therefore reviewing her notes.

Question 18Written Comprehension

In 2019 the district recorded 240 vehicle break-ins, most in shopping center lots. After the department added directed patrols in those lots and businesses installed brighter lighting, the number fell to 140 in 2020. No other prevention program began that year. Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. The patrols and lighting were followed by fewer break-ins. Correct answer.
  2. Vehicle break-ins stopped completely in the district that year.
  3. The break-ins moved from shopping centers to residential streets.
  4. Brighter lighting caused break-ins to increase.

Explanation

The passage reports a drop from 240 to 140 after two changes were introduced and rules out other programs, which supports a careful conclusion that the drop followed those measures. The other choices misstate the numbers or invent outcomes.

Question 19Written Comprehension

Under state law, a person may be charged with trespass only after being warned not to enter or remain on the property. The warning may be given orally or in writing. A posted sign counts as a warning only if it is visible at the point of entry. A store owner points to a small sign hidden behind a bush and tells an officer the sign warned a man to stay out. Under the passage, what is the main issue with the owner's claim?

  1. Sign warnings are never valid under state law.
  2. A person can never be charged with trespass in this situation.
  3. The sign may not count because it was not visible. Correct answer.
  4. Oral warnings cannot be used in court.

Explanation

The passage makes visibility at the point of entry a condition for a posted sign to serve as a warning, and a sign hidden behind a bush fails that condition. The other options misstate the law, which allows written and oral warnings.

Question 20Written Comprehension

Interviewing a child witness requires patience. Children may give short answers, lose track of questions, or agree with an adult simply to please them. Interviewers should use simple words, avoid leading questions, and allow pauses for the child to think. The passage is mainly about:

  1. why children make unreliable witnesses in every case
  2. how to interview a child witness effectively Correct answer.
  3. the legal definition of a leading question
  4. how to write a report about a child witness

Explanation

The passage describes children's behavior in interviews and then gives techniques for handling it, so the main topic is effective interviewing of child witnesses. The other choices focus on narrow pieces or on topics the passage never covers.

Question 21Written Comprehension

The witness said the streetlight was on when she saw the man run past. Records from the utility company show that the light on that block was dark for repairs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. that night. The witness's statement places the man on the street at 10 p.m. The strongest conclusion from these facts is that:

  1. The witness's account conflicts with the utility records. Correct answer.
  2. The witness must have invented the entire story about seeing a man run past her.
  3. It is impossible that any man ran down that street at ten o'clock.
  4. The utility company records must be wrong about the repair schedule that night.

Explanation

The witness places the event at a time when the utility records say the light was dark, so the two accounts cannot both be right about the lighting. The other choices overreach by declaring the whole testimony false, dismissing the records, or denying the event itself.

Question 22Written Comprehension

If the department wants to reduce response times, it should stop assigning officers to write reports during peak call hours. Last month, three officers spent most of a busy Friday night typing reports while calls waited. The argument assumes that:

  1. report writing kept officers from answering calls Correct answer.
  2. response times were already acceptable before the change
  3. the department will hire more officers next year
  4. officers write far more reports than are strictly necessary

Explanation

An assumption is an unstated link the argument needs; here the recommendation only follows if report writing during peak hours pulls officers away from calls. The other choices are either irrelevant background or conclusions the argument does not depend on.

Question 23Written Comprehension

Two reports describe the same incident. Report A, written by the arresting officer, says the suspect dropped a bag while running. Report B, written by a bystander, says the suspect was carrying nothing. Both reports agree that the suspect ran east and was caught by the fence. A careful reader should conclude that:

  1. They differ about the bag and agree on the rest. Correct answer.
  2. Report B must be false because the bystander was not an officer.
  3. Both reports are unreliable in every detail of the incident.
  4. The suspect never ran east after leaving the store.

Explanation

Comparing the two accounts shows a single conflict about the bag and agreement on direction and capture. The other choices either discard an account because of the author's role or reject details both reports share.

Question 24Written Comprehension

The memo's language was so oblique that two supervisors read it and came away with opposite understandings of which unit was responsible for the search. As used in the passage, the word "oblique" most nearly means:

  1. official
  2. unclear Correct answer.
  3. insulting
  4. direct

Explanation

The context clue is that two readers reached opposite understandings, which shows the language was not clear. Direct is the opposite meaning, while insulting and official describe tone or format rather than ambiguity.

Question 25Written Comprehension

A canvass works best when it is done quickly. Memories fade, and residents who were home at the time of an incident may be away later. Officers who delay a canvass often find that the same doors that would have opened an hour after a crime stay closed a day later. Which statement best captures the author's reasoning?

  1. Canvasses should be conducted only at night, when residents are at home.
  2. Residents almost always refuse to speak with officers who knock on their doors.
  3. Timing is critical because witness availability declines as time passes. Correct answer.
  4. The speed of a canvass matters far less than the rank of the officer leading it.

Explanation

The passage links fading memories and departing residents to the value of a quick canvass, so the reasoning is that delay reduces the availability of information. The other options add scheduling rules, overstate refusals, or introduce a factor the passage never mentions.

Question 26Written Comprehension

For years the department assigned patrols evenly across the city, giving each neighborhood the same number of patrol hours. Last year analysts compared call records and found that two-thirds of violent calls came from six blocks near the transit station. The department now sends extra patrols to those blocks during evening hours and leaves other areas with fewer patrols than before. Which sentence best states the main idea?

  1. Analysts believe that equal patrol coverage is the fairest use of officers.
  2. Patrol assignments were revised to match where calls were concentrated. Correct answer.
  3. The transit station is the busiest location in the city during evening hours.
  4. Violent calls increased in every neighborhood over the past year.

Explanation

The passage explains a shift from equal coverage to coverage based on call records. The other choices either contradict the passage or focus on a detail.

Question 27Written Comprehension

Residents may register bicycles with the city at no cost. Registration requires the owner's name, the bicycle's serial number, and a description of the bike. Once registered, a bicycle that is recovered after being stolen can be returned to its owner more quickly. The program does not provide insurance and does not guarantee recovery. According to the passage, what information is required to register a bicycle?

  1. A receipt showing where the bicycle was purchased
  2. A photograph of the bicycle taken by the city
  3. The owner's home insurance policy number
  4. The bicycle's serial number Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage lists the owner's name, the serial number, and a description as required. Insurance, receipts, and city photographs are not mentioned.

Question 28Written Comprehension

The witness's description of the getaway car was tenuous: she had seen it for only a second and could recall only that it was dark-colored. As used in the passage, the word "tenuous" most nearly means

  1. unreliable Correct answer.
  2. deliberate
  3. detailed
  4. lengthy

Explanation

In context, "tenuous" describes a description based on a one-second look, so it means weak or unreliable. The passage gives no sign that the description was detailed or lengthy.

Question 29Written Comprehension

To package a firearm for evidence, an officer first wears gloves and unloads the weapon. Next, the officer attaches a tag with the case number to the trigger guard. The officer then places the firearm in a box and seals the box with evidence tape. Finally, the officer writes the case number across the seal and initials it. According to the passage, what should an officer do immediately after attaching the tag?

  1. Unload the weapon
  2. Write the case number across the seal
  3. Place the firearm in a box Correct answer.
  4. Wear gloves

Explanation

The passage gives the order: unload and wear gloves, attach the tag, place the firearm in a box, then seal and initial. Placing the firearm in the box comes immediately after tagging it.

Question 30Written Comprehension

A homeowner reported that a silver watch was missing on Monday morning. The only person who had visited over the weekend was a repairman, who arrived Saturday at 1 p.m. and left at 1:40 p.m. The homeowner's security camera shows the repairman carrying a small box when he left. When questioned, the repairman said he had never seen a watch in the house. Which statement is best supported by the passage?

  1. The camera shows the watch inside the box.
  2. The repairman admitted taking the watch.
  3. The watch was lost before Saturday.
  4. The repairman was the only weekend visitor. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states that the repairman was the only person who visited over the weekend. The camera shows a box, not the watch, and the repairman denied seeing the watch.

Question 31Written Comprehension

The attached schedule reduces the number of officers on duty between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and adds two officers between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Call data for the past year show that the highest volume of calls occurs in the late afternoon, while the overnight hours have the fewest calls. The change should allow the department to answer calls more quickly without adding staff. What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To explain why a schedule change is justified Correct answer.
  2. To compare the department with neighboring agencies
  3. To describe how officers are trained for night shifts
  4. To argue that the department should hire more officers

Explanation

The memo presents call data and then recommends a schedule change, so its purpose is to justify that change. It does not ask for more staff or compare agencies.

Question 32Written Comprehension

The department's new report states that 62 percent of traffic stops last year involved warnings rather than citations. It also says that warning stops were, on average, four minutes shorter than citation stops. The report concludes that warnings are a more efficient use of patrol time. Which sentence from the passage is an opinion rather than a fact?

  1. "62 percent of traffic stops last year involved warnings rather than citations."
  2. "Warnings are a more efficient use of patrol time." Correct answer.
  3. "Warning stops were, on average, four minutes shorter than citation stops."
  4. "The department's new report states that 62 percent of traffic stops last year involved warnings rather than citations."

Explanation

A fact can be verified, while an opinion expresses a judgment. Calling warnings "a more efficient use of patrol time" is a judgment about efficiency, not a measurable statistic.

Question 33Written Comprehension

After the city installed brighter lights in the parking garage, the number of reported thefts from vehicles in the garage fell by half. At the same time, the garage began charging a fee to enter, and many drivers who had parked there began using a nearby lot instead. The number of cars parked in the garage each night also dropped by about 40 percent. Which statement best explains why theft reports in the garage declined?

  1. The nearby lot had more thefts than the garage.
  2. Drivers preferred to pay the new fee rather than use the lot.
  3. Fewer cars were parked there, reducing theft opportunities. Correct answer.
  4. Brighter lights were the only change made to the garage.

Explanation

The passage reports several changes at once, including the new fee and a large drop in the number of cars parked in the garage. Fewer cars means fewer opportunities for theft, so the decline cannot be credited to the lights alone.

Question 34Written Comprehension

Paper evidence bags allow moisture to escape, which helps prevent mold, but they tear easily and offer little protection from tampering. Plastic evidence bags resist tearing and can be sealed securely, but they trap moisture and can cause biological samples to degrade. For a wet item, most labs recommend paper; for a dry item that needs secure sealing, plastic is often preferred. According to the passage, which is an advantage of paper bags over plastic bags?

  1. They resist tearing.
  2. They can be sealed securely.
  3. They protect against tampering.
  4. They allow moisture to escape. Correct answer.

Explanation

Paper bags are described as letting moisture escape, which plastic bags do not. Tearing resistance and secure sealing are listed as advantages of plastic.

Question 35Written Comprehension

The first officer on scene should secure the area, check for injuries, and request medical help if needed. Once the scene is safe, the officer should identify witnesses and separate them so they do not discuss what they saw. Only after these steps should the officer begin collecting physical evidence. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Physical evidence is the most important part of any investigation.
  2. Collect evidence before speaking with witnesses.
  3. Allow witnesses to compare their accounts before officers arrive.
  4. Secure the scene and separate witnesses before evidence collection. Correct answer.

Explanation

A summary should capture the main steps in the order the passage gives them. The passage emphasizes securing the scene, helping the injured, and separating witnesses before collecting evidence.

Question 36Written Comprehension

Over three weeks, six homes in the same neighborhood were entered through rear windows between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. In every case, small electronics were taken and jewelry was left untouched. All six homes had a rear window facing an alley. No vehicle was seen at any of the homes. Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. The burglar was interested only in jewelry.
  2. The burglar knew the residents of all six homes.
  3. The burglaries were committed during the night.
  4. The burglar likely approached on foot through the alley. Correct answer.

Explanation

The pattern shows repeated entry through rear windows facing an alley and no vehicle at any scene. That supports an approach on foot through the alley, but it does not show what the burglar knew or wanted.

Question 37Written Comprehension

It is difficult to understand why the department waited six months to repair the radio tower. During that time, officers in the eastern district reported repeated failures, including one during a foot pursuit. The delay was not caused by budget limits, since the funds had been approved in January. The tone of the passage is best described as

  1. neutral
  2. sympathetic
  3. amused
  4. critical Correct answer.

Explanation

The author questions the delay and points out that funding was available, which signals disapproval. Words like "difficult to understand" are not neutral or amused.

Question 38Written Comprehension

The store's inventory records show that the jacket was received on March 3 and sold on March 10. The customer who reported the jacket stolen said she bought it on March 12 and wore it for the first time on March 14. She provided a receipt dated March 12. The store manager insists the records are accurate. Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. The receipt conflicts with the store's inventory record. Correct answer.
  2. The jacket was never in the store.
  3. The customer bought the jacket on March 3.
  4. The store manager is lying about the records.

Explanation

The inventory record says the jacket was sold on March 10, but the customer's receipt is dated March 12. Those two dates conflict, and the passage does not prove which record is wrong.

Question 39Written Comprehension

The city should install speed bumps on Oak Street. Since speed bumps were installed on Maple Street, crashes on Maple have fallen by 30 percent, and Oak Street has a similar layout and traffic volume. Therefore, speed bumps will reduce crashes on Oak Street. Which statement best describes a weakness in the argument?

  1. It assumes the speed bumps caused the decline, rather than another factor. Correct answer.
  2. It compares Oak Street to Maple Street.
  3. It provides no evidence that Maple Street has crashes.
  4. It ignores whether speed bumps are expensive.

Explanation

The argument compares two streets and concludes that speed bumps caused the decline on Maple. It overlooks other possible causes, so the comparison alone does not prove the speed bumps will work on Oak.

Question 40Written Comprehension

Officer Bell told Sergeant Ortiz that she had reviewed the footage. Ortiz later told the detective that Bell had reviewed it, but Bell had actually asked another officer to review it. When the detective asked Bell about the footage, Bell said she had not watched it herself but had relied on the other officer's summary. Which statement best resolves the confusion in the passage?

  1. The detective reviewed the footage before speaking with Bell.
  2. Ortiz personally watched the footage.
  3. Bell relied on another officer's summary of the footage. Correct answer.
  4. Bell told Ortiz that she had watched the footage.

Explanation

The pronoun "she" in Ortiz's report is ambiguous, but Bell later clarifies that she did not watch the footage herself. She relied on the other officer's summary.

Question 41Written Expression

Neither the sergeant nor the deputies ___ available to comment on the arrest.

  1. is
  2. has been
  3. was
  4. were Correct answer.

Explanation

When 'neither...nor' joins two subjects, the verb agrees with whichever subject is closer to it. The closer subject here is the plural 'deputies,' so the plural verb 'were' is required.

Question 42Written Expression

The witnesses told the officer that ___ willing to testify.

  1. they're Correct answer.
  2. there
  3. they'd
  4. their

Explanation

'They're' is the contraction of 'they are,' which provides the verb the clause needs after 'that.' The other choices are a possessive determiner, a word showing place, and a contraction of 'they would.'

Question 43Written Expression

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

  1. When the shift ended the officers completed their reports.
  2. When the shift ended; the officers completed their reports.
  3. When the shift ended, the officers, completed their reports.
  4. When the shift ended, the officers completed their reports. Correct answer.

Explanation

An introductory dependent clause is set off from the main clause by a comma. A semicolon is reserved for joining two independent clauses, and a comma should never separate a subject from its verb.

Question 44Written Expression

All three ___ statements were recorded by the investigator.

  1. witnesses' Correct answer.
  2. witnesses's
  3. witness's
  4. witnesses

Explanation

A plural noun ending in -s forms the possessive by adding only an apostrophe after the s. Because the sentence refers to three witnesses, the plural possessive 'witnesses'' is correct.

Question 45Written Expression

Which word is spelled correctly?

  1. judgment Correct answer.
  2. recieve
  3. seperate
  4. occured

Explanation

'Judgment' is the standard spelling in legal and general American usage. The other forms each break a familiar spelling pattern: doubled consonants in 'occurred,' an a in the middle of 'separate,' and i before e except after c in 'receive.'

Question 46Written Expression

The department updated ___ policy on body cameras last year.

  1. its'
  2. it's
  3. it is
  4. its Correct answer.

Explanation

'Its' is the possessive form of 'it' and is the only choice that can modify 'policy.' The apostrophe forms are either a contraction or a nonstandard spelling.

Question 47Written Expression

Which of the following is a complete sentence?

  1. The deputy secured the perimeter. Correct answer.
  2. Running from the scene at a high rate of speed.
  3. Although the evidence was inconclusive.
  4. Because the witness refused to answer.

Explanation

A complete sentence needs a subject, a finite verb, and a complete thought. Only 'The deputy secured the perimeter' supplies all three; the others are dependent clauses or verbless phrases.

Question 48Written Expression

Which sentence is written correctly?

  1. The officer stopped the vehicle she smelled alcohol on the driver's breath.
  2. The officer stopped the vehicle; she smelled alcohol on the driver's breath. Correct answer.
  3. The officer stopped the vehicle; and she smelled alcohol on the driver's breath.
  4. The officer stopped the vehicle, she smelled alcohol on the driver's breath.

Explanation

Two independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction must be separated by a semicolon. A comma alone creates a comma splice, and omitting punctuation altogether creates a run-on.

Question 49Written Expression

The position requires typing reports, answering phone calls, and ___.

  1. file case documents
  2. documents are filed
  3. filing case documents Correct answer.
  4. to file case documents

Explanation

Items in a series must share the same grammatical form. The first two items are gerunds, so the third must also be a gerund: 'filing case documents.'

Question 50Written Expression

The new scheduling policy will ___ how overtime is assigned.

  1. effectuate
  2. effect
  3. affective
  4. affect Correct answer.

Explanation

'Affect' is normally a verb meaning to influence or change something, which is what the sentence requires. 'Effect' is usually a noun meaning result.