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PA State Trooper practice questions

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Question 1Reading Comprehension

At 02:14, Trooper Reyes stopped a sedan for an expired registration. While speaking with the driver, she noticed a folded hunting knife on the passenger seat and a strong odor of alcohol. The driver admitted to drinking two beers. Reyes administered field sobriety tests and placed the driver under arrest for DUI. Which sentence best states the main idea of the report?

  1. Trooper Reyes found a hunting knife on the passenger seat.
  2. A traffic stop led to a DUI arrest after signs of impairment. Correct answer.
  3. Expired registration violations are a frequent reason that troopers initiate traffic stops during late-night patrols.
  4. The driver admitted to drinking two beers before the stop.

Explanation

The main idea must cover the whole report: the stop, the observations, and the arrest. The knife and the two beers are supporting details, and the remark about expired registration is a broad generalization not stated in the passage.

Question 2Reading Comprehension

The affidavit states that the defendant "eluded" the patrol unit for approximately three miles before stopping near the Route 30 interchange. As used in the affidavit, "eluded" most nearly means:

  1. avoided capture Correct answer.
  2. followed closely
  3. slowed for
  4. reported to

Explanation

"Eluded" in law enforcement usage means evaded or avoided apprehension, so "avoided capture" fits the affidavit's meaning. The other choices describe following, reporting, or slowing, none of which matches evading a patrol unit.

Question 3Reading Comprehension

Policy 4.12 requires troopers to activate their emergency lights and siren when responding to an emergency call. If road conditions are hazardous, the trooper may reduce speed but must still use emergency lights. The siren may be silenced only when the trooper believes it would compromise a tactical approach. According to the policy, under what condition may a trooper silence the siren?

  1. When the siren would compromise a tactical approach Correct answer.
  2. When reducing speed below the posted limit
  3. While responding to any call that is not classified as an emergency
  4. Whenever road conditions become hazardous and icy

Explanation

Policy 4.12 permits silencing the siren only when the trooper believes it would compromise a tactical approach. Hazardous roads allow a speed reduction, not siren silence, and non-emergency calls are outside the stated rule.

Question 4Reading Comprehension

A witness told the trooper that she saw a blue pickup truck leave the lot "right after the alarm sounded." She added that the truck's headlights were off and that it turned onto Maple Street without stopping at the sign. The trooper later located a blue pickup parked behind a closed garage three blocks away. Which conclusion is best supported by the witness's account and the trooper's later observation?

  1. The blue pickup is likely connected to the alarm incident. Correct answer.
  2. The witness knew the driver of the blue pickup.
  3. The truck was abandoned behind the garage because it had serious mechanical problems.
  4. The driver of the truck reported the alarm to authorities.

Explanation

The witness saw a blue pickup leave immediately after the alarm, and the trooper found a matching blue pickup nearby. That combination supports a likely connection, but it does not prove who drove, why the truck was parked, or that mechanical trouble caused abandonment.

Question 5Reading Comprehension

Memo to Patrol Division: Effective March 1, all traffic citations involving commercial vehicles must be submitted through the electronic portal within 24 hours. Paper citations will no longer be accepted at the district office. Supervisors will review late submissions and document any delay in the daily activity log. What is the primary purpose of this memo?

  1. To announce a change in citation submission procedures Correct answer.
  2. To describe the daily activity log format
  3. To criticize troopers who submit paper citations
  4. To explain how to conduct a commercial vehicle inspection

Explanation

The memo announces a new deadline and submission method for commercial vehicle citations and states that paper citations will no longer be accepted. Its purpose is procedural change, not inspection technique, log format, or criticism.

Question 6Reading Comprehension

Upon arriving at the scene, the trooper first secured the roadway with flares. Next, she interviewed the drivers separately. After collecting insurance information, she photographed the damage and measured skid marks. Finally, she completed the crash report and released both vehicles. Which action did the trooper perform immediately before photographing the damage?

  1. She completed the crash report.
  2. She secured the roadway with flares.
  3. She collected insurance information. Correct answer.
  4. She released both vehicles.

Explanation

The passage lists the actions in order: secure the roadway, interview drivers, collect insurance information, photograph damage, then complete the report and release vehicles. Collecting insurance information comes directly before photographing the damage.

Question 7Reading Comprehension

The quarterly report notes that collisions at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 12th Street rose from 14 to 22 after the traffic signal timing was changed. The report describes the new timing as "poorly designed" and recommends restoring the previous settings. Which statement from the passage is an opinion rather than a reported fact?

  1. Collisions at the intersection rose from 14 to 22.
  2. The traffic signal timing was changed.
  3. The new timing is poorly designed. Correct answer.
  4. The report recommends restoring previous settings.

Explanation

A factual statement can be verified, such as collision counts or a policy change. Calling the new timing "poorly designed" is a value judgment expressing the report writer's opinion rather than a measurable fact.

Question 8Reading Comprehension

Trooper's note: "I have reviewed the footage three times. The driver's hands are visible on the wheel at all times, and the vehicle maintains its lane. I cannot support a charge of distracted driving based on this recording alone." The tone of the trooper's note is best described as:

  1. cautious and objective Correct answer.
  2. angry and accusatory
  3. sarcastic and dismissive
  4. enthusiastic and approving

Explanation

The trooper repeatedly reviews evidence, notes specific facts, and declines to support a charge because the recording is insufficient. That language is measured and evidence-based, not sarcastic, enthusiastic, or angry.

Question 9Reading Comprehension

A department newsletter argues: "Because reported thefts from unlocked vehicles fell by 30 percent after we launched the 'Lock It or Lose It' campaign, the campaign must be the reason for the decline. Therefore, we should expand the campaign citywide." Which assumption is required for the newsletter's argument to hold?

  1. Theft from locked vehicles also declined during the same period.
  2. Every resident in the city owns at least one registered vehicle.
  3. The campaign was inexpensive to operate and easy to administer.
  4. No other factor caused the decline. Correct answer.

Explanation

The argument moves from a drop in thefts after the campaign to the claim that the campaign caused the drop. That inference requires ruling out other explanations, such as weather, patrol changes, or reporting shifts, so the assumption is that no other major factor caused the decline.

Question 10Reading Comprehension

Two witnesses gave statements about a hit-and-run. Witness A said the car was dark green and traveled north. Witness B said the car was black and traveled south. Both agreed the car had a damaged rear bumper and a loud exhaust. The trooper later found a black car with a damaged rear bumper and loud exhaust parked two blocks north of the scene. Which statement best explains how the trooper should weigh the witnesses' accounts?

  1. Both witnesses are equally reliable on every point because they agree about the bumper and exhaust.
  2. Witness B's entire statement should be discarded because the car was found north.
  3. Witness A is more reliable because the car was found north of the scene.
  4. The physical evidence supports Witness B on color but not direction. Correct answer.

Explanation

The physical evidence-a black car with a damaged rear bumper and loud exhaust-matches Witness B's color and the shared details, but the car was found north, matching Witness A's direction. The trooper should credit the corroborated parts and remain cautious about the uncorroborated direction.

Question 11Reading Comprehension

Read this sentence from a trooper's report: "The trooper noted that the driver's answers became increasingly evasive as the questions turned to the smell of marijuana in the vehicle." In this context, "evasive" most nearly means:

  1. Using a foreign language
  2. Avoiding direct answers Correct answer.
  3. Speaking in a loud voice
  4. Providing written documents

Explanation

In context, the trooper is describing answers that dodge the question rather than address it directly. "Evasive" means tending to avoid giving a clear or direct response, which fits the driver's shift when the topic turns to marijuana.

Question 12Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Station commanders will begin holding a ten-minute briefing at the start of every shift. The briefing will cover recent incidents, upcoming details, and any changes to department policy. Troopers are expected to arrive early enough to attend and to bring their assigned notebooks." What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Department policy changes only on weekends.
  2. Station commanders are required to work ten-hour shifts.
  3. Troopers must buy new notebooks for every shift.
  4. A new pre-shift briefing will cover key information. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage's central point is the new ten-minute briefing and what it will cover before patrol. The notebook instruction and commander role are supporting details, not the main idea.

Question 13Reading Comprehension

Read this excerpt from a citizen complaint: "On May 12, Trooper Lane stopped my car on Route 6. The stop lasted about 20 minutes. Lane was disrespectful and clearly enjoyed delaying me. The citation lists my speed as 68 mph in a 55 mph zone." Which statement from the complaint is an opinion rather than a fact?

  1. The stop occurred on May 12.
  2. The stop lasted about 20 minutes.
  3. The citation lists a speed of 68 mph in a 55 mph zone.
  4. Trooper Lane was disrespectful and clearly enjoyed delaying the driver. Correct answer.

Explanation

An opinion expresses a judgment or feeling that cannot be verified as true or false. "Disrespectful" and "clearly enjoyed delaying me" are evaluative characterizations, while dates, durations, and cited speeds can be checked against records.

Question 14Reading Comprehension

Read this dispatch log: "22:41 - caller reports a domestic disturbance at 14 Oak Street. 22:42 - call assigned to Unit 7. 22:49 - Unit 7 advises it is responding. 22:57 - Unit 7 arrives on scene." What can be inferred about Unit 7's response from the log?

  1. Unit 7 arrived before the call was assigned.
  2. Unit 7 reported responding seven minutes after assignment. Correct answer.
  3. Unit 7 was canceled at 22:49.
  4. The caller reported the disturbance at 22:57.

Explanation

The log shows assignment at 22:42 and Unit 7's response advisory at 22:49, a seven-minute gap. That gap supports an inference of delay between assignment and reporting, though the log does not explain the reason for the delay.

Question 15Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Training Bulletin 24-06 announces that all troopers must complete a four-hour course on responding to people in mental health crisis by September 30. The bulletin explains how to register, lists the dates of available sessions, and states that completion will be tracked by the training unit." What is the primary purpose of the bulletin?

  1. To criticize troopers who have not registered
  2. To describe the results of a completed training program
  3. To argue that mental health calls should be handled by other agencies
  4. To explain how troopers can meet a new training requirement Correct answer.

Explanation

The bulletin's stated function is to announce a mandatory course and tell troopers how to register and complete it. It does not evaluate the program or argue about who should handle such calls.

Question 16Reading Comprehension

Read this excerpt from a crash report: "The vehicle entered the exit ramp at approximately 70 mph. The ramp was wet and posted for 35 mph. The driver braked late, and the front tires lost traction. The vehicle rotated counterclockwise and struck the guardrail." According to the report, what most directly caused the vehicle to lose traction?

  1. The exit ramp was closed to traffic.
  2. The driver braked late on a wet ramp at excessive speed. Correct answer.
  3. The guardrail was already damaged before the crash.
  4. The vehicle had a flat rear tire before it entered the exit ramp.

Explanation

The report links the loss of traction to late braking while the vehicle was traveling about 70 mph on a wet ramp posted for 35 mph. Those facts combine speed and braking on a low-traction surface as the direct cause.

Question 17Reading Comprehension

Read this policy: "Department policy permits a vehicle pursuit only when the trooper has reasonable suspicion that the driver or occupant has committed a violent felony. Pursuits are prohibited for traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and property crimes. A supervisor must approve any pursuit that continues beyond the initial jurisdiction." A trooper sees a car run a red light. The driver does not stop. Under the policy, may the trooper pursue?

  1. No; the observed offense is a traffic infraction. Correct answer.
  2. Yes, because running a red light is a violent felony.
  3. No, because pursuits are allowed only for property crimes.
  4. Yes, because a supervisor will approve any pursuit.

Explanation

The policy limits pursuits to suspected violent felonies and expressly prohibits them for traffic infractions. Running a red light is a traffic infraction, so the policy does not authorize a pursuit on that basis alone.

Question 18Reading Comprehension

Read this excerpt from a warrant affidavit: "A reliable confidential informant told me that drugs were sold from the apartment. The informant has provided correct information in two prior cases. I confirmed that the utility account is in the suspect's name." Which statement best describes the affidavit's support for probable cause?

  1. It relies solely on the suspect's criminal record.
  2. It combines an informant's tip with corroborating history and independent verification. Correct answer.
  3. It proves the informant personally purchased drugs in the apartment.
  4. It states that the utility account is in the informant's name.

Explanation

The affidavit does not rely on a single fact; it presents the tip, the informant's track record, and the trooper's utility check. Those together support probable cause, though the affidavit does not describe a controlled buy or claim that the informant purchased drugs there.

Question 19Reading Comprehension

Read this report narrative: "(1) I arrived at the residence and knocked on the front door. (2) The homeowner invited me inside and said her son had threatened her. (3) Before knocking, I observed a broken window on the porch. (4) I interviewed the son in the kitchen and noted a cut on his hand." Which change would best improve the chronological order of the narrative?

  1. Move sentence 4 before sentence 2.
  2. Move sentence 1 after sentence 4.
  3. Move sentence 3 before sentence 1. Correct answer.
  4. Move sentence 2 after sentence 4.

Explanation

A chronological narrative should place an observation made before knocking ahead of the knock itself. Moving sentence 3 before sentence 1 puts the porch observation in the correct time order.

Question 20Reading Comprehension

Read this summary: "A district commander reviewed traffic stops by three patrol sections for one month. Section A conducted 120 stops and issued 80 citations. Section B conducted 90 stops and issued 63 citations. Section C conducted 150 stops and issued 75 citations." Which statement best summarizes the citation rates shown?

  1. Section B had the highest proportion of stops resulting in citations. Correct answer.
  2. Section C issued the most citations overall.
  3. Section A had the highest proportion of stops resulting in citations.
  4. All three sections issued citations in the same proportion of stops.

Explanation

Divide citations by stops for each section: A is 80 of 120, B is 63 of 90, and C is 75 of 150. Section B's rate is the highest even though Section A issued the most citations overall.

Question 21Reading Comprehension

Read this sentence from a post commander's memorandum: "The post commander described the new scheduling system as provisional, explaining that it would remain in effect for ninety days while supervisors collected feedback from each shift." As used in the sentence, "provisional" most nearly means:

  1. Permanent
  2. Mandatory
  3. Temporary Correct answer.
  4. Complicated

Explanation

"Provisional" describes something arranged for the present time and subject to later change. The ninety-day period and the plan to collect feedback confirm that the scheduling system is temporary rather than final.

Question 22Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "A training memo reminds troopers that crash-scene interviews should be conducted separately whenever possible. The memo explains that separate interviews reduce the chance that one witness will influence another, and it directs troopers to record the time and location of each interview." Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?

  1. Recording the time of an interview is more important than its location.
  2. Troopers must interview only the drivers involved in a crash.
  3. Separate interviews help preserve independent witness accounts. Correct answer.
  4. Crash scenes require interviews before medical aid is provided.

Explanation

The passage's central point is that interviewing witnesses separately helps keep their accounts independent and uninfluenced by other witnesses. The instruction to record time and location is a supporting detail, not the main idea.

Question 23Reading Comprehension

Read this station order: "When a patrol vehicle is out of service for maintenance, the shift supervisor must assign a replacement vehicle before the start of the next shift. If no replacement is available, the supervisor must notify the patrol section commander by telephone." According to the order, what must the supervisor do if no replacement vehicle is available?

  1. Send the trooper home until a vehicle is available
  2. Notify the patrol section commander by telephone Correct answer.
  3. Request a replacement from a neighboring station
  4. Delay maintenance until the end of the shift

Explanation

The order directly states that when no replacement is available, the supervisor must telephone the patrol section commander. The other actions are not authorized by the cited station order.

Question 24Reading Comprehension

Read this excerpt from a trooper's field notes: "During a roadside interview, a driver told Trooper Malik that he had left his wallet at home. When asked for his name and date of birth, the driver provided both without hesitation, but he looked repeatedly toward the passenger seat and answered questions about his destination in short phrases." Which inference is best supported by the excerpt?

  1. The driver had genuinely forgotten his wallet at his home
  2. The driver was uneasy about the passenger area Correct answer.
  3. The driver had a valid driver's license in his possession
  4. The driver was running late for a scheduled appointment that morning

Explanation

The repeated glances toward the passenger seat and the short answers about his destination support an inference of unease about that area. The excerpt does not provide enough information to conclude why he forgot the wallet, whether he was late, or whether he had a license.

Question 25Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Bulletin 27-04 explains that troopers should use plain language in public advisories during severe weather. It notes that complex terms can slow comprehension and recommends short sentences, specific locations, and clear instructions such as 'avoid Route 9 northbound.'" The primary purpose of Bulletin 27-04 is to:

  1. Require troopers to direct traffic to Route 9 northbound
  2. Describe common weather patterns during severe storms
  3. Persuade troopers to stop issuing weather advisories
  4. Explain how to write clearer public advisories Correct answer.

Explanation

The bulletin offers guidance on using plain language, short sentences, specific locations, and clear instructions in public advisories. Its purpose is instructional rather than persuasive, descriptive of weather, or mandatory about a particular route.

Question 26Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "After stopping a vehicle for a burned-out headlight, Trooper Chen requested the driver's license and registration. She then returned to her patrol unit and checked the documents through dispatch. While waiting for the result, she noticed the passenger reaching under the seat. She asked the passenger to keep both hands visible and waited for backup before continuing the stop." Which action did Trooper Chen take immediately after checking the documents through dispatch?

  1. Return the license and registration to the driver
  2. Ask the driver to step out of the vehicle
  3. Wait for backup before continuing the stop
  4. Ask the passenger to keep both hands visible Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage says that while waiting for the dispatch result, Trooper Chen noticed the passenger reaching under the seat and then asked the passenger to keep both hands visible. Waiting for backup occurred after that request.

Question 27Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "Two post commanders described staffing during a winter storm. Commander Ellis kept the overnight shift at full strength and postponed nonemergency calls. Commander Novak split the overnight shift into two shorter rotations and assigned one unit to nonemergency calls when roads were passable. Both commanders required troopers to check in by radio every thirty minutes." How did Commander Ellis's approach differ from Commander Novak's?

  1. Novak canceled all radio check-ins during the storm
  2. Novak kept the overnight shift at full strength
  3. Ellis required radio check-ins every thirty minutes
  4. Ellis postponed nonemergency calls during the storm Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states that Ellis postponed nonemergency calls, while Novak assigned a unit to such calls when roads were passable. Radio check-ins were required by both commanders, so they do not distinguish the two approaches.

Question 28Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "A complaint alleges that Trooper Grant was discourteous during a traffic stop. The available records show that the stop lasted six minutes, the citation was issued for an expired inspection sticker, and the dashboard camera audio contains no raised voices. The complainant states that Trooper Grant 'sounded impatient' when explaining the citation." Which evidence most directly addresses whether Trooper Grant was discourteous?

  1. The expired inspection sticker citation
  2. The six-minute length of the traffic stop
  3. The dashboard camera audio from the stop Correct answer.
  4. The complainant's written statement about tone

Explanation

The dashboard camera audio directly records how Trooper Grant spoke during the stop, making it the most direct evidence of tone. The stop length and citation reason are contextual, and the complainant's statement is an allegation rather than a recording of the interaction.

Question 29Reading Comprehension

Read this passage: "A district review found that posts using a new online crash-report form submitted reports an average of two days faster than posts using the old paper form. The review also noted that the online posts had, on average, more clerical staff available during the study period." Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. The online crash-report form should be discontinued
  2. More clerical staff may have contributed to faster submissions Correct answer.
  3. The online form alone caused faster report submissions
  4. Paper crash reports are always less accurate than online reports

Explanation

The passage reports both faster submissions and greater clerical staffing at the online posts, so staffing is a plausible contributing factor. Because the review does not isolate the form from staffing differences, it cannot support a claim that the form alone caused the faster times.

Question 30Reading Comprehension

Read this excerpt from a training director's memo: "The revised defensive-driving module is not intended to replace field training. It is designed to reinforce decision-making that recruits already practice with their field training officers. Recruits who complete the module will still receive the same number of supervised patrol hours." The tone of the memo is best described as:

  1. Alarmed and urgent
  2. Apologetic and defensive
  3. Humorous and informal
  4. Clarifying Correct answer.

Explanation

The memo calmly explains what the module is and is not intended to do, especially by stating that field training and supervised hours remain unchanged. It uses neutral, factual language rather than alarm, humor, or apology.

Question 31Reading Comprehension

Read this station order: "Troopers shall identify themselves by unit number on every radio transmission. Nicknames and informal call signs are prohibited, including during emergencies." According to the order, how must a trooper identify themselves on the radio during an emergency?

  1. By badge number and surname
  2. By the informal call sign used at roll call
  3. By post designation and rank
  4. By unit number Correct answer.

Explanation

The order designates unit number as the required identifier and extends that requirement to emergencies by barring nicknames and informal call signs at all times. The text never mentions badge numbers, rank-and-post combinations, or roll-call call signs as acceptable substitutes.

Question 32Reading Comprehension

Read this excerpt from a review board finding: "The report was perfunctory: it listed the time, location, and charges but omitted the driver's statements and the facts supporting probable cause." As used in the finding, "perfunctory" most nearly means:

  1. Routine and showing little care Correct answer.
  2. Thorough and carefully detailed
  3. Copied from another trooper's report
  4. Deliberately dishonest

Explanation

The colon after "perfunctory" restates the word: the report covered only bare essentials and left out substantive narrative and justification, which is the mark of a routine, careless effort. Nothing in the excerpt alleges intentional falsehood or copying, so those readings go beyond the text.

Question 33Reading Comprehension

Read this narrative: "After stopping the vehicle, Trooper Reyes approached the passenger side, requested the driver's license and registration, returned to the patrol car to run a check, and then asked the driver to step out for a field sobriety test." What did Trooper Reyes do immediately after returning to the patrol car?

  1. Asked the driver to step out for testing
  2. Requested the driver's license and registration
  3. Ran a check on the driver's information Correct answer.
  4. Approached the passenger side

Explanation

The narrative orders events explicitly: approach, request documents, return to the patrol car to run a check, then request the driver exit. Running the check is therefore the action tied directly to the return, while the field sobriety request comes afterward.

Question 34Reading Comprehension

Read this training memo: "Troopers should activate body cameras before exiting the patrol vehicle. They must activate cameras before any use of force." What does the memo imply about camera activation?

  1. Cameras are to remain off during traffic stops
  2. Troopers may activate cameras after a use of force has ended
  3. Activation is expected earlier in encounters that may involve force Correct answer.
  4. Activation is optional in every type of encounter

Explanation

The memo uses "should" for the routine act of exiting the vehicle but "must" before force, so the mandatory trigger is further back in any encounter where force might occur. That means the expected activation point moves earlier when force is possible, not later.

Question 35Reading Comprehension

Read this bulletin: "Counseling is not discipline. A documented counseling session should be completed before, not after, a formal reprimand is issued." What is the primary purpose of the bulletin?

  1. To require supervisors to record all informal conversations
  2. To clarify when counseling must occur relative to discipline Correct answer.
  3. To describe the grievance and appeal process
  4. To announce new promotion criteria for supervisors

Explanation

The bulletin defines counseling as distinct from discipline and then fixes its place in the sequence preceding a reprimand. That is a clarification of timing and role, not an announcement of personnel policy or an appeals procedure.

Question 36Reading Comprehension

Read this comparison: "Over six months, Post A logged 40 DUI arrests with 3 refusals of chemical testing; Post B logged 25 arrests with 18 refusals." Which conclusion is best supported by the figures?

  1. Refusal counts cannot be compared between posts
  2. Post B handled more impaired drivers overall
  3. Post A recorded more arrests and a much lower refusal rate than Post B Correct answer.
  4. Post A conducted fewer impaired-driving stops than Post B

Explanation

Post A has the higher arrest count and only 3 refusals against Post B's 18, so both the volume and the proportion of refusals favor Post A. The refusal counts are stated in the same terms for both posts, which makes the comparison valid.

Question 37Reading Comprehension

Read this policy: "Troopers must log every traffic stop in the CAD system before clearing the call. Supervisors may audit those logs at any time." Under the policy, which action is left to a supervisor's discretion?

  1. Recording each stop in the system at all
  2. Logging a traffic stop in the CAD system
  3. Entering the stop before clearing the call
  4. Auditing a trooper's CAD log entries Correct answer.

Explanation

The word "must" makes logging the stop mandatory, while "may" makes auditing permissive and therefore discretionary. Only the audit is described with language that leaves the decision to the supervisor.

Question 38Reading Comprehension

Read this summary: "The complainant said the stop lasted forty minutes. The in-car video shows nine minutes. Neither party disputes that the trooper issued a warning and released the driver." Which statement is best supported?

  1. The length of the stop is disputed, but its outcome is not Correct answer.
  2. The trooper failed to issue a warning
  3. The complainant's account is fully corroborated by the video
  4. The stop lasted forty minutes

Explanation

The passage sets two conflicting durations against each other while stating that both sides agree on the warning and release. The only conclusion supported without choosing a side is that duration is contested and the result is not.

Question 39Reading Comprehension

Read this remark by a commander: "The use-of-force review process, while thorough, has grown longer than the incidents it examines. Troopers should not mistake delay for rigor." What does the commander suggest about the review process?

  1. It takes too long relative to the value it adds Correct answer.
  2. It should be eliminated entirely
  3. It is misunderstood by line troopers
  4. It is not thorough enough to be trusted

Explanation

The commander concedes thoroughness but argues the process now outlasts the incidents themselves, and the warning against confusing delay with rigor implies length is being mistaken for quality. That is a criticism of proportionality, not of thoroughness or of the process's existence.

Question 40Reading Comprehension

Read this email from Sgt. Doyle: "Our post answered 312 calls last month, sixty more than in March. Response times are still unacceptable." Which statement from the email is an opinion rather than a verifiable fact?

  1. The post answered 312 calls last month.
  2. Response times are still unacceptable. Correct answer.
  3. The total was sixty more than in March.
  4. The email was sent by Sgt. Doyle.

Explanation

A statement is verifiable when records could confirm or refute it, which applies to the call count, the month-to-month difference, and the sender's identity. Judging response times "unacceptable" is an evaluative claim that depends on a standard the writer has not stated.

Question 41English Grammar and Usage

While drafting the narrative section of a crash report, a trooper must ensure that each verb agrees with its subject. Which sentence is grammatically correct?

  1. The list of witnesses was attached to the report. Correct answer.
  2. The list of witnesses were attached to the report.
  3. The list of witnesses have been attached to the report.
  4. The list of witnesses are attached to the report.

Explanation

The subject is 'list,' which is singular, so the verb must be 'was.' The prepositional phrase 'of witnesses' does not change the number of the subject.

Question 42English Grammar and Usage

A trooper is reviewing a use-of-force report for pronoun clarity. Which sentence uses the correct pronoun?

  1. The supervisor asked the trooper and myself to review the footage.
  2. The supervisor asked the trooper and me to review the footage. Correct answer.
  3. The supervisor asked the trooper and mine to review the footage.
  4. The supervisor asked the trooper and I to review the footage.

Explanation

The pronoun follows the verb 'asked' and serves as an object, so the objective case 'me' is required. 'Myself' is reflexive and needs a matching subject; 'I' is subjective; 'mine' is possessive.

Question 43English Grammar and Usage

In the opening line of a criminal complaint, which sentence uses commas correctly?

  1. After securing, the scene the trooper interviewed the witness.
  2. After securing the scene the trooper interviewed the witness.
  3. After, securing the scene the trooper interviewed the witness.
  4. After securing the scene, the trooper interviewed the witness. Correct answer.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase is set off from the main clause by a comma. The comma must follow the complete phrase 'After securing the scene,' not interrupt it.

Question 44English Grammar and Usage

A trooper drafts a narrative that shifts between past and present tense. Which revision keeps the tense consistent with standard report-writing practice?

  1. The driver states that he travels north when the vehicle struck the barrier.
  2. The driver states that he was traveling north when the vehicle strikes the barrier.
  3. The driver stated that he was traveling north when the vehicle struck the barrier. Correct answer.
  4. The driver stated that he is traveling north when the vehicle struck the barrier.

Explanation

Report narratives conventionally maintain past tense for completed events. Only the sentence with 'stated,' 'was traveling,' and 'struck' keeps all verbs in the past.

Question 45English Grammar and Usage

In the 'Actions Taken' section, which sentence presents the items in parallel grammatical form?

  1. The trooper secured the perimeter, interviewing the witnesses, and photographed the vehicle.
  2. The trooper secured the perimeter, interviewed the witnesses, and photographed the vehicle. Correct answer.
  3. The trooper secured the perimeter, witness interviews, and photographed the vehicle.
  4. The trooper secured the perimeter, to interview the witnesses, and photographed the vehicle.

Explanation

Items in a series should share the same grammatical form. 'Secured,' 'interviewed,' and 'photographed' are parallel past-tense verbs; the other options mix verb forms or insert a noun phrase.

Question 46English Grammar and Usage

A report sentence begins with a participial phrase. Which version avoids a dangling modifier?

  1. After stopping the vehicle, the trooper checked the driver's license. Correct answer.
  2. After stopping the vehicle, the driver's license was checked by the trooper.
  3. After stopping the vehicle, it was time to check the driver's license.
  4. After stopping the vehicle, the license check was conducted.

Explanation

A participial opener must modify the subject of the main clause. Only 'the trooper' performs the stopping, so the phrase correctly attaches to that noun.

Question 47English Grammar and Usage

A trooper refers to statements given by multiple witnesses. Which phrase uses the possessive correctly?

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

Explanation

When multiple witnesses possess something, the plural noun ends in -s and takes an apostrophe after the s. 'Witnesses' statements' is the correct plural possessive form.

Question 48English Grammar and Usage

In a direct quotation inside an interview report, which sentence uses who or whom correctly?

  1. The witness identified the man who she saw near the vehicle.
  2. The witness identified the man whom was near the vehicle.
  3. The witness identified the man whom she saw near the vehicle. Correct answer.
  4. The witness identified the man who she spoke with near the vehicle.

Explanation

Use 'whom' when the pronoun functions as the object of a verb or preposition. In 'whom she saw,' the pronoun is the object of 'saw'; 'who' would be the subject form.

Question 49English Grammar and Usage

A trooper summarizes two related events in an incident report. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

  1. The trooper secured the scene; waiting in the patrol car.
  2. The trooper secured the scene; because the witness waited in the patrol car.
  3. The trooper secured the scene, the witness waited in the patrol car.
  4. The trooper secured the scene; the witness waited in the patrol car. Correct answer.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses. The other choices create a fragment, a comma splice, or attach a dependent clause after the semicolon.

Question 50English Grammar and Usage

In a report, a trooper must choose the precise word. Which sentence uses the correct word?

  1. The loud music had a noticeable effect on the driver's attention. Correct answer.
  2. The loud music effected a noticeable affect on the driver's attention.
  3. The loud music had a noticeable affect on the driver's attention.
  4. The loud music affected a noticeable effect on the driver's attention.

Explanation

'Effect' is usually a noun meaning result, while 'affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence. The sentence needs the noun 'effect' after 'noticeable.'