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IL State Trooper practice questions

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Question 1Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper's report reads: "The subject fled on foot, he was apprehended two blocks later." Which revision best corrects the sentence structure for an official report?

  1. The subject fled on foot he was apprehended two blocks later.
  2. The subject fled on foot; apprehended two blocks later.
  3. The subject fled on foot, and he was apprehended two blocks later. Correct answer.
  4. The subject fled on foot, he was apprehended two blocks later, and.

Explanation

The original joins two independent clauses with only a comma, which is a comma splice. Joining them with a comma plus the coordinating conjunction "and" creates a grammatically complete compound sentence suitable for a report.

Question 2Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

In a narrative report, which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

  1. The suspect's vehicle was parked behind the officer's cruiser. Correct answer.
  2. The suspects vehicle was parked behind the officers cruiser.
  3. The suspects' vehicle was parked behind the officers cruiser.
  4. The suspect's vehicle was parked behind the officers' cruiser.

Explanation

A singular possessive noun takes an apostrophe before the s, so "suspect's" and "officer's" are correct for one suspect and one officer. Both possessives must be marked, not just one.

Question 3Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A report states: "The driver stated that he had consumed two beers." Why is this phrasing preferable to "The driver was drunk"?

  1. It reports the driver's own account rather than the officer's conclusion. Correct answer.
  2. It uses passive voice, which is required in reports.
  3. It avoids naming the driver for privacy reasons.
  4. It shortens the sentence to save space in the narrative.

Explanation

Attributing the statement to the driver keeps the report factual and distinguishes observed facts from conclusions. An officer's unsupported conclusion like "was drunk" can be challenged, while a reported statement is verifiable.

Question 4Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Which sentence from a patrol log uses the correct past tense of the verb?

  1. The trooper saw the vehicle run the stop sign. Correct answer.
  2. The trooper has saw the vehicle run the stop sign.
  3. The trooper seen the vehicle run the stop sign.
  4. The trooper had saw the vehicle run the stop sign.

Explanation

The simple past tense of "see" is "saw," which fits a completed action in a patrol log. "Seen" and "saw" cannot follow "had" or "has" in those forms.

Question 5Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper must write a report that will be read by a prosecutor, a defense attorney, and a jury. Which quality is most important in the writing?

  1. Use of specialized jargon to show expertise.
  2. Length to demonstrate thoroughness.
  3. Informal tone to seem approachable.
  4. Clarity so any reader can follow the sequence of events. Correct answer.

Explanation

A report reaches readers with varied backgrounds, so plain, clear language lets each of them follow the facts. Jargon, padding, and informality can obscure or undermine the account.

Question 6Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Which word best completes the sentence: "The trooper pursued the vehicle ___ it exited the highway"?

  1. until Correct answer.
  2. despite
  3. unless
  4. whereas

Explanation

"Until" signals the point in time at which the pursuit ended, matching the sequence described. The other choices express conditions or contrasts that do not fit the meaning.

Question 7Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper writes: "I observed a male subject wearing a red shirt standing near the entrance." Which element of clear report writing does this sentence best demonstrate?

  1. Use of technical jargon.
  2. Reliance on hearsay for context.
  3. Use of passive voice for neutrality.
  4. Specific, observable detail rather than opinion. Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence records what the officer directly observed, such as clothing and location, rather than offering a judgment. Concrete observable detail is the backbone of a factual report.

Question 8Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Which sentence correctly uses a colon in a report?

  1. The trooper noted: ice, fog, and debris on the road, which was icy.
  2. The trooper noted three hazards: ice, fog, and debris. Correct answer.
  3. The trooper noted: that the road was icy.
  4. The trooper noted, three hazards: ice, fog, and debris.

Explanation

A colon follows a complete independent clause and introduces a list that explains or expands it. Here "The trooper noted three hazards" is a full clause before the colon.

Question 9Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A report contains the sentence: "The subject ran from the vehicle and the trooper pursued him on foot and he was caught near the fence." What is the main problem with this sentence?

  1. It relies on passive voice.
  2. It uses too many commas.
  3. It includes an unclear pronoun reference.
  4. It strings three independent ideas together with "and," creating a run-on. Correct answer.

Explanation

Chaining multiple independent clauses with repeated "and" creates an overlong run-on that is hard to follow. Splitting it into shorter sentences clarifies the sequence of events.

Question 10Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Which revision best improves this sentence for an official report: "The guy was acting weird and stuff when I pulled him over"?

  1. The dude was acting weird when the officer stopped him.
  2. The person acted in a weird and stuff manner during the stop.
  3. The individual was acting strangely and such when the trooper conducted the stop.
  4. The subject displayed unusual behavior during the traffic stop. Correct answer.

Explanation

Official reports call for precise, neutral wording; "subject," "displayed unusual behavior," and "traffic stop" replace slang and vague fillers. The revision is concise and professional.

Question 11Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper's narrative jumps from arriving at the scene to interviewing a witness to the arrest, then back to the arrival. What is the best fix for readability?

  1. Remove the witness interview to shorten the report.
  2. Reorder events into chronological order. Correct answer.
  3. Add more adjectives describing each event.
  4. Combine all events into one long paragraph.

Explanation

Narratives are easiest to follow when events appear in the order they occurred. Reordering into chronological sequence gives readers a clear timeline.

Question 12Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Which sentence uses "affect" and "effect" correctly?

  1. The weather had a negative affect on visibility.
  2. The weather's affect on visibility was affected.
  3. The weather did not effect the trooper's visibility.
  4. The weather did not affect the trooper's visibility. Correct answer.

Explanation

"Affect" is normally a verb meaning to influence, while "effect" is normally a noun meaning a result. Only the third sentence uses the verb form correctly.

Question 13Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A report states: "The witness appeared nervous." Which revision makes the report more verifiable?

  1. The witness seemed upset about something.
  2. The witness was obviously lying.
  3. The witness's hands were shaking and his voice trembled. Correct answer.
  4. The witness was acting suspicious.

Explanation

Describing observable behaviors such as shaking hands and a trembling voice lets readers judge for themselves. Conclusions like "lying" or "suspicious" are opinions that cannot be verified.

Question 14Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Which sentence correctly maintains parallel structure in a list of actions?

  1. The trooper approached the vehicle, identified himself, and asked for identification. Correct answer.
  2. The trooper approached the vehicle, identifies himself, and asking for identification.
  3. The trooper approaching the vehicle, identified himself, and asks for identification.
  4. The trooper approached the vehicle, identifying himself, and asked for identification.

Explanation

Items in a series should share the same grammatical form; here all three verbs are in the simple past tense. Mixing participles or tenses breaks parallelism and confuses the timeline.

Question 15Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper writes: "The vehicle failed to yield, the trooper activated emergency lights, the vehicle stopped." What is the most accurate description of this writing problem?

  1. It uses a semicolon incorrectly.
  2. It is a comma splice joining independent clauses. Correct answer.
  3. It uses an unclear antecedent.
  4. It contains a sentence fragment.

Explanation

Commas alone cannot join independent clauses; doing so creates a comma splice. Using semicolons or periods would correctly separate the three complete clauses.

Question 16Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

In a probable-cause affidavit, which sentence best conveys a fact rather than a conclusion?

  1. The driver slurred his speech and smelled of alcohol. Correct answer.
  2. The driver was obviously impaired.
  3. The driver was clearly intoxicated.
  4. The driver was too drunk to drive.

Explanation

Slurred speech and the odor of alcohol are sensory observations that a reader can evaluate. Statements like "intoxicated" or "impaired" are conclusions drawn from those observations.

Question 17Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Which sentence uses the pronoun reference most clearly?

  1. The trooper told the witness that it was his responsibility.
  2. The trooper told the witness to sign the statement. Correct answer.
  3. The trooper told the witness that he had signed it.
  4. The trooper told the witness that he needed to sign the statement.

Explanation

Replacing the ambiguous pronoun with the explicit noun "the witness" removes doubt about who must sign. Ambiguous pronouns can create confusion in legal records.

Question 18Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A report contains: "The suspect, who was wearing a dark hoodie, was detained near the alley, which was poorly lit." Which statement about the sentence is accurate?

  1. The sentence is a fragment because of the commas.
  2. The relative clauses add descriptive detail without breaking the main clause. Correct answer.
  3. The commas should be replaced with semicolons.
  4. The relative clauses make the sentence a run-on.

Explanation

Nonrestrictive relative clauses set off by commas add detail while the main clause remains complete. The commas correctly bracket the extra information.

Question 19Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Which sentence uses the correct form of "their," "there," or "they're"?

  1. The suspects parked they're vehicle over there.
  2. The suspects parked there vehicle over their.
  3. The suspects parked there vehicle over they're.
  4. The suspects parked their vehicle over there. Correct answer.

Explanation

"Their" is the possessive form, and "there" indicates location. The second sentence uses each correctly, while the others confuse the homophones.

Question 20Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper must summarize a 400-word incident for a brief bulletin. Which approach best preserves essential information?

  1. Include only the who, what, when, where, and outcome of the incident. Correct answer.
  2. Copy the full report verbatim into the bulletin.
  3. Focus on the trooper's personal reactions to the event.
  4. Remove all names to protect privacy.

Explanation

A summary should capture the core facts: who was involved, what happened, when and where it occurred, and the result. Personal reactions and verbatim copying do not serve a brief bulletin.

Question 21Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Read this passage: "The trooper observed the vehicle drift across the center line twice. After the second drift, the trooper activated emergency lights. The vehicle slowed but did not stop for another quarter mile." Which inference is best supported?

  1. The driver was fleeing at high speed.
  2. The driver delayed before pulling over. Correct answer.
  3. The trooper made an improper stop.
  4. The driver was unaware of the emergency lights.

Explanation

The passage states the vehicle slowed but continued for another quarter mile, which supports the inference of a delayed stop. It does not establish the driver's awareness, speed, or any procedural error.

Question 22Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A narrative reads: "I approached the driver. The driver's eyes were bloodshot. I asked for his license. He fumbled through his wallet. I detected the odor of alcohol." Which critique best applies?

  1. The short, choppy sentences could be combined to improve flow. Correct answer.
  2. The paragraph uses too much passive voice.
  3. The paragraph lacks a clear main idea.
  4. The sentences are too long and should be combined.

Explanation

A series of very short sentences can read as choppy and obscure relationships between observations. Combining related observations improves flow while keeping the facts intact.

Question 23Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A report states: "Based on the driver's slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and admission of drinking, the trooper concluded that the driver was impaired." Why is this sentence defensible in a report?

  1. It avoids naming the driver to protect identity.
  2. It uses passive voice to remain neutral.
  3. It states a conclusion supported by specific observations listed in the same sentence. Correct answer.
  4. It relies on the driver's admission alone.

Explanation

A conclusion is defensible when it is tied to concrete observations that support it. Here the slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and admission provide the factual basis.

Question 24Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Two versions of a sentence appear in a draft: (A) "The trooper chased the suspect, who ran into the alley, and then the trooper caught him." (B) "The trooper chased the suspect into the alley and caught him." Which statement best compares them?

  1. Version A is clearer because it repeats the subject.
  2. Version A is preferable because it uses a relative clause.
  3. Version B is clearer because it removes redundancy and keeps the action sequence. Correct answer.
  4. Version B is incorrect because it omits the alley.

Explanation

Version B eliminates the repeated "the trooper" and the redundant "then" while preserving the sequence and location. Concise phrasing improves readability in reports.

Question 25Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper writes: "The subject, after being advised of his rights, which he acknowledged, agreed to speak." Which revision is clearest?

  1. The subject agreed to speak after being advised of his rights, which he acknowledged.
  2. The subject after being advised of his rights which he acknowledged agreed to speak.
  3. The subject, after being advised, of his rights which he acknowledged, agreed to speak.
  4. The subject, after being advised of his rights and acknowledging them, agreed to speak. Correct answer.

Explanation

The original stacks clauses awkwardly; the first revision smooths the structure by pairing "advised" and "acknowledging" cleanly. It keeps the sequence and removes the tangled relative clause.

Question 26Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper's report reads: "The driver stated he had two beers at 2100 hours, then drove home, then drank three more beers before leaving again." Which revision best clarifies the sequence of events for a reader reviewing the report?

  1. The driver stated he drank two beers, drove home, drank three more beers, and left again at 2100 hours.
  2. The driver stated he drank two beers at 2100 hours, drove home, and then drank three more beers before leaving again. Correct answer.
  3. The driver stated he had two beers at 2100 hours, then drove home, then drank three more beers before leaving again, in that order.
  4. The driver stated he had two beers at 2100 hours; the driver drove home; the driver drank three more beers; the driver left again.

Explanation

Clear sequencing requires each action to be attached to the correct time marker and connected so the reader can follow cause and order without ambiguity. Option 0 keeps the 2100 hours time stamp with the first drinking episode and uses parallel verbs to show the later actions. The other versions either add redundant wording, fragment the flow, or misplace the time reference.

Question 27Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper needs to condense a long narrative into a short supplement. Which sentence states the central event most precisely?

  1. A traffic stop on Route 9 led to the arrest of the driver for driving while license suspended.
  2. After a traffic stop on Route 9, the trooper arrested the driver for driving while license suspended. Correct answer.
  3. There was a traffic stop on Route 9 and an arrest happened for driving while license suspended.
  4. The driver was arrested after a traffic stop on Route 9 for driving while license suspended.

Explanation

A precise summary names the actor, the action, and the location in a single unambiguous clause. Option 1 identifies the trooper as the arresting officer and keeps the stop and the arrest in clear sequence. The other versions either obscure who acted or leave the connection between the stop and the arrest vague.

Question 28Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper writes: "The subject was combative and resisted and would not comply with commands." Which revision best removes redundancy while preserving meaning?

  1. The subject resisted and would not comply with commands and was combative.
  2. The subject was combative and resisted commands. Correct answer.
  3. The subject was combative, resisted, and would not comply with commands.
  4. The subject was combative and would not comply with commands.

Explanation

"Combative," "resisted," and "would not comply" describe overlapping conduct, so a concise report should consolidate them. Option 3 keeps the essential idea of active resistance while dropping the repeated phrasing. The other options either retain the redundancy or create a choppy string of clauses.

Question 29Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

A trooper drafts: "The suspect fled on foot. The suspect was apprehended two blocks away. The suspect was transported to the county jail." Which revision best improves flow for an official report?

  1. The suspect fled on foot and the suspect was apprehended two blocks away and the suspect was transported to the county jail.
  2. The suspect fled on foot; the suspect was apprehended two blocks away; the suspect was transported to the county jail.
  3. The suspect fled on foot. He was apprehended two blocks away. He was transported to the county jail.
  4. The suspect fled on foot, was apprehended two blocks away, and was transported to the county jail. Correct answer.

Explanation

Repeating the full noun in every short sentence creates a choppy, list-like feel; combining the actions with a shared subject and parallel verbs improves flow. Option 1 uses one subject with three coordinated verbs, which reads as a single continuous account. The alternatives either keep the repetition, overuse punctuation, or rely on vague pronouns.

Question 30Reading Comprehension and Written Communication

Read this passage: "The trooper stopped a vehicle for a burned-out headlight. During the stop, the driver produced an expired license and admitted his privileges had been suspended. The trooper confirmed the suspension through dispatch and took the driver into custody." Which statement best captures the logical relationship among the facts?

  1. The burned-out headlight alone justified taking the driver into custody.
  2. The expired license was the sole basis for the custodial arrest.
  3. The traffic violation led to the stop, and the confirmed suspension supported the arrest. Correct answer.
  4. The driver's admission was the only fact the trooper relied on to make the arrest.

Explanation

The passage shows a chain: a traffic violation prompted the stop, and the confirmed license suspension supported the custodial arrest. Option 2 accurately reflects that the arrest rested on verified facts, not a single element. The other options overstate one fact as sufficient on its own.

Question 31Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

In a trooper's incident report, which sentence uses the correct past-tense form of the verb to describe an action already completed before another past action?

  1. The driver has fled the scene before backup units arrived.
  2. The driver have fled the scene before backup units arrived.
  3. The driver had flee the scene before backup units arrived.
  4. The driver had fled the scene before backup units arrived. Correct answer.

Explanation

The past perfect tense is formed with 'had' plus the past participle 'fled' and is used for an action completed before another past event. 'Backup units arrived' is the later past event, so the earlier flight requires 'had fled.'

Question 32Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

A trooper writes: 'The suspect, along with two passengers, ___ asked to step out of the vehicle.' Which verb form correctly completes the sentence?

  1. were
  2. have been
  3. was Correct answer.
  4. are

Explanation

The subject is the singular noun 'suspect.' The phrase 'along with two passengers' is a parenthetical interrupter and does not change the number of the subject, so the singular verb 'was' is required.

Question 33Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which word is spelled correctly as it would appear in an official patrol log describing a person who repeatedly breaks the law?

  1. recidivist Correct answer.
  2. recidavist
  3. reccidivist
  4. residivist

Explanation

The correct spelling is 'recidivist,' meaning a person who relapses into criminal behavior. It derives from the Latin 'recidivus,' and the double-c and single-d pattern is standard.

Question 34Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

In the sentence 'The trooper pursued the fleeing suspect cautiously,' which word functions as an adverb?

  1. fleeing
  2. pursued
  3. cautiously Correct answer.
  4. suspect

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. 'Cautiously' modifies the verb 'pursued,' describing how the pursuit occurred, which makes it the adverb in this sentence.

Question 35Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly in a report about equipment belonging to several officers?

  1. The officers radios' were inspected before the shift.
  2. The officers' radios were inspected before the shift. Correct answer.
  3. The officer's radios were inspected before the shift.
  4. The officers's radios were inspected before the shift.

Explanation

For a plural noun ending in s, the possessive is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the s. 'Officers' is the plural of 'officer,' so the possessive is 'officers'.'

Question 36Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The suspect was ___ to flee when the patrol car approached'?

  1. liable
  2. likely Correct answer.
  3. libel
  4. likable

Explanation

'Likely' means probable and fits the construction 'likely to flee.' 'Liable' can mean likely but carries a legal-obligation sense and is less precise here; the intended meaning is probability.

Question 37Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon in a trooper's narrative report?

  1. The vehicle was reported stolen; however, the plates matched a different car. Correct answer.
  2. The vehicle was reported stolen however; the plates matched a different car.
  3. The vehicle was reported stolen, however; the plates matched a different car.
  4. The vehicle was reported stolen; and however the plates matched a different car.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two independent clauses, and a conjunctive adverb such as 'however' is followed by a comma. Placing the semicolon before 'however' and the comma after it correctly separates the clauses.

Question 38Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Choose the sentence in which the pronoun reference is clear and unambiguous.

  1. The officer told the witness he needed to file a statement.
  2. The officer told the witness to file a statement. Correct answer.
  3. The officer told the witness that he needed to file a statement.
  4. The officer told the witness that they needed to file a statement.

Explanation

Ambiguous pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one antecedent. Rewriting with an infinitive ('to file') removes the pronoun entirely and makes clear who must act.

Question 39Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which word is spelled correctly as used in a report describing evidence that supports a charge?

  1. corroburate
  2. coreborate
  3. corroborate Correct answer.
  4. coroborate

Explanation

'Corroborate' means to confirm or support with evidence and is spelled with double r and a single b after the o. This is the standard spelling used in investigative writing.

Question 40Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

In the sentence 'Having secured the perimeter, the sergeant briefed the arriving units,' what does the introductory phrase modify?

  1. the briefing
  2. the perimeter
  3. the arriving units
  4. the sergeant Correct answer.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase modifies the subject of the main clause. The subject here is 'the sergeant,' so the phrase indicates that the sergeant secured the perimeter before briefing the units.

Question 41Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which sentence uses 'affect' and 'effect' correctly?

  1. The new policy will have an affect on how troopers file reports.
  2. The new policy will affect how troopers file reports. Correct answer.
  3. The new policy will effect how troopers file reports.
  4. The new policy will affective how troopers file reports.

Explanation

'Affect' is typically a verb meaning to influence, while 'effect' as a noun means a result. The sentence needs the verb 'affect' to express influence on reporting.

Question 42Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which sentence maintains parallel structure in a list of trooper duties?

  1. Troopers are responsible for patrolling highways, to investigate crashes, and assisting motorists.
  2. Troopers are responsible for patrolling highways, investigating crashes, and to assist motorists.
  3. Troopers are responsible for patrol highways, investigating crashes, and assist motorists.
  4. Troopers are responsible for patrolling highways, investigating crashes, and assisting motorists. Correct answer.

Explanation

Parallel structure requires items in a series to share the same grammatical form. All three items here are gerunds ('patrolling,' 'investigating,' 'assisting'), which keeps the list balanced.

Question 43Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

A report states: 'Neither the driver nor the passengers ___ willing to provide identification.' Which verb correctly completes the sentence?

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

Explanation

With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject. The nearer subject is the plural 'passengers,' so the plural past verb 'were' is correct in this past-tense narrative.

Question 44Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which sentence uses a colon correctly in a law-enforcement context?

  1. The trooper carried: a radio, a flashlight, and a citation book.
  2. The trooper carried three items; a radio, a flashlight, and a citation book.
  3. The trooper carried three items, a radio: a flashlight, and a citation book.
  4. The trooper carried three items: a radio, a flashlight, and a citation book. Correct answer.

Explanation

A colon introduces a list after a complete independent clause. 'The trooper carried three items' is a complete clause, so the colon before the list is correctly placed.

Question 45Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which sentence correctly uses 'who' or 'whom' according to formal grammar?

  1. The detective asked whom was interviewed by the trooper at the scene.
  2. The detective asked who the trooper had interviewed at the scene.
  3. The detective asked whom the trooper had interviewed at the scene. Correct answer.
  4. The detective asked who had the trooper interviewed at the scene.

Explanation

'Whom' is the objective case and functions as the object of the verb 'had interviewed.' 'Who' would be used only when the pronoun is the subject of a clause.

Question 46Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The trooper must ___ the vehicle's registration before issuing a citation'?

  1. verefy
  2. verafy
  3. verify Correct answer.
  4. varify

Explanation

'Verify' means to confirm the truth or accuracy of something and is spelled v-e-r-i-f-y. The other options alter the vowels and are not standard spellings.

Question 47Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

In the sentence 'The evidence that the trooper collected was inconclusive,' what is the grammatical function of the clause 'that the trooper collected'?

  1. It is a relative clause modifying 'evidence.' Correct answer.
  2. It is an independent clause joined by a conjunction.
  3. It is an adverbial clause modifying 'inconclusive.'
  4. It is a noun clause acting as the subject.

Explanation

The clause 'that the trooper collected' begins with the relative pronoun 'that' and describes which evidence is meant, so it functions as a relative (adjective) clause modifying the noun 'evidence.'

Question 48Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which revision best corrects the dangling modifier in 'After reviewing the dashcam footage, the citation was issued by the trooper'?

  1. After reviewing the dashcam footage, the citation had been issued by the trooper.
  2. After reviewing the dashcam footage, the trooper issued the citation. Correct answer.
  3. After the dashcam footage being reviewed, the citation was issued by the trooper.
  4. After reviewing the dashcam footage, the citation was issued by the trooper.

Explanation

A dangling modifier occurs when the introductory phrase's implied subject does not match the main clause's subject. Making 'the trooper' the subject ensures the trooper is the one reviewing footage and issuing the citation.

Question 49Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which sentence uses 'lie' and 'lay' correctly in a description of evidence placement?

  1. The trooper lied the evidence bag on the table and it lay there until photographed.
  2. The trooper laid the evidence bag on the table and it laid there until photographed.
  3. The trooper laid the evidence bag on the table and it lay there until photographed. Correct answer.
  4. The trooper lay the evidence bag on the table and it laid there until photographed.

Explanation

'Lay' is a transitive verb meaning to place something and takes an object; its past tense is 'laid.' 'Lie' is intransitive meaning to recline, with past tense 'lay.' The sentence correctly uses 'laid' for placing the bag and 'lay' for its resting state.

Question 50Grammar, Vocabulary, and Spelling

Which sentence avoids a comma splice while correctly conveying two related ideas in a trooper's report?

  1. The road was flooded, the trooper rerouted traffic.
  2. The road was flooded the trooper rerouted traffic.
  3. The road was flooded, and rerouted traffic by the trooper.
  4. The road was flooded; the trooper rerouted traffic. Correct answer.

Explanation

A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma. A semicolon correctly separates closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, which fixes the splice.