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RPR practice questions

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Question 1Professional standards and ethics

A court reporter takes a deposition in a case that the judge later seals by court order. How should the reporter handle the transcript?

  1. Share it with any attorney who requests a copy
  2. Post excerpts on a professional blog
  3. Keep the transcript confidential as the court directs Correct answer.
  4. Provide copies to the news media if asked

Explanation

Confidentiality attaches to the content of proceedings and continues after the assignment ends. When a court seals a transcript, the reporter must honor that order and release the content only as the court allows.

Question 2Professional standards and ethics

What is the core duty of a court reporter during a deposition?

  1. Evaluate the credibility of witnesses
  2. Make an accurate and impartial record Correct answer.
  3. Summarize testimony for the judge
  4. Assist the attorney who retained the reporter

Explanation

The reporter's role is to preserve a verbatim, neutral record of what occurs. Serving one side or assessing truthfulness falls outside that function.

Question 3Professional standards and ethics

At a deposition, an attorney asks the reporter whether a witness's answer was legally sufficient. What should the reporter do?

  1. Advise the witness to refuse to answer.
  2. Decline, as legal advice is outside her role. Correct answer.
  3. Suggest a better question to the attorney.
  4. Offer an opinion, since the reporter is neutral.

Explanation

Court reporters may not give legal advice or comment on the legal sufficiency of testimony. Their duty is to record accurately and remain neutral.

Question 4Professional standards and ethics

Which statement best describes a court reporter's transcript obligation?

  1. Reproduce the proceedings accurately as spoken Correct answer.
  2. Silently correct grammatical errors and filler words
  3. Omit filler words to improve readability
  4. Paraphrase testimony that is unclear

Explanation

A transcript must be a verbatim, accurate record of what was said. Editing, omitting, or paraphrasing testimony distorts the official record.

Question 5Professional standards and ethics

An attorney who frequently hires a reporter gives her an expensive gift. How should the reporter respond?

  1. Accept it as a harmless personal courtesy from a client
  2. Accept it, but only after the case has ended
  3. Decline gifts that could sway her impartiality Correct answer.
  4. Accept it and reciprocate with a discount

Explanation

Accepting valuable gifts from those who hire her creates at least the appearance that her neutrality can be influenced. Ethical practice is to decline such gifts.

Question 6Professional standards and ethics

When advertising her services, what may a court reporter properly do?

  1. List only credentials she actually holds Correct answer.
  2. Use another reporter's sample transcripts as her own
  3. Claim certifications she is working toward
  4. Guarantee verbatim accuracy with no errors

Explanation

Advertising must be truthful. A reporter may state only those certifications and credentials actually earned, and may not misrepresent her work product.

Question 7Professional standards and ethics

When swearing in a witness before a deposition, what should the reporter do?

  1. Let the attorney administer it later
  2. Use any wording the witness prefers
  3. Swear the witness in as required by law Correct answer.
  4. Skip the oath if the witness objects

Explanation

The reporter administers the oath in the form required by law before testimony begins. The oath is foundational to the validity of the record.

Question 8Professional standards and ethics

When counsel announces that the discussion is off the record, what should the reporter do?

  1. Continue recording until told to stop
  2. Keep recording but mark the section confidential
  3. Record only the attorney's statements
  4. Stop recording until back on the record Correct answer.

Explanation

Off-the-record discussions are not part of the official record, and the reporter should suspend recording until the proceedings return to the record.

Question 9Professional standards and ethics

A court reporter is asked to report a case in which her spouse is a party. What is the proper course?

  1. Report only if the other side agrees
  2. Decline the assignment because of the conflict Correct answer.
  3. Report it but disclose the relationship on the record
  4. Report it without mentioning the relationship

Explanation

A close personal or financial interest in a case creates an impermissible conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety. The reporter should decline the assignment.

Question 10Professional standards and ethics

A reporter agrees to reduce her fee if the party who hired her wins the case. How should this arrangement be evaluated?

  1. Acceptable if the judge approves the arrangement
  2. Improper, since fees cannot depend on the outcome Correct answer.
  3. Proper, since it amounts to pro bono service
  4. Acceptable if it is disclosed in writing to both parties

Explanation

Ethical rules prohibit fees contingent on the outcome of litigation because such an arrangement undermines the reporter's neutrality. Fees should be set in advance and independent of results.

Question 11Professional standards and ethics

After certifying a transcript, a reporter discovers a typographical error. What is the correct action?

  1. Leave it, since certified transcripts cannot be altered
  2. Destroy the certified copy
  3. Issue a corrected transcript noting the change Correct answer.
  4. Quietly change the file

Explanation

Corrections must be transparent and documented so the record remains trustworthy. A corrected transcript with a notation preserves integrity.

Question 12Professional standards and ethics

When an exhibit is marked during a deposition, what should the reporter do?

  1. Ignore it, since exhibits are not testimony
  2. Copy it for each party and discard the original
  3. Note the exhibit's identification in the record Correct answer.
  4. Keep the exhibit and return it after trial

Explanation

Exhibits are part of the proceeding, and the reporter must accurately identify and track them in the record. Handling exhibits correctly preserves the integrity of the transcript.

Question 13Professional standards and ethics

During a break, a reporter overhears a privileged attorney-client conversation. What should she do?

  1. Tell the opposing counsel
  2. Report it to the judge
  3. Include it in the transcript
  4. Not disclose the content to anyone Correct answer.

Explanation

Privileged communications are protected, and a reporter must not reveal what she overheard. Disclosing privileged content would harm the parties and breach the duty of confidentiality.

Question 14Professional standards and ethics

During a readback, an attorney asks the reporter to read only the portion favorable to his client. What should the reporter do?

  1. Read the testimony accurately and completely Correct answer.
  2. Refuse to read anything at all
  3. Read only the requested portion
  4. Read the favorable part and summarize the rest

Explanation

Readbacks must accurately reflect the record and not be shaped to favor one side. Selective or editorialized reading distorts the testimony.

Question 15Professional standards and ethics

A reporter learns that a colleague routinely alters transcripts after certification. What should she do?

  1. Ignore it because it is not her case
  2. Confront the colleague's clients directly
  3. Report it through proper professional channels Correct answer.
  4. Post about it on social media

Explanation

Reporters have an obligation to uphold the integrity of the profession and to address known misconduct through proper channels. Public or confrontational responses are inappropriate.

Question 16Professional standards and ethics

When providing realtime translation, what is a reporter's paramount obligation?

  1. Showing every keystroke to the attorney
  2. Editing the feed for grammar as it appears
  3. An accurate feed, with uncertainties marked Correct answer.
  4. Speed above all other considerations

Explanation

Realtime output is part of the record and must be accurate. Where the reporter is uncertain, the feed should signal that uncertainty rather than guess.

Question 17Professional standards and ethics

Before accepting an assignment, what should a court reporter do regarding fees?

  1. Set rates after seeing the value of the case
  2. Disclose her rates and any charges in advance Correct answer.
  3. Charge whatever the market will bear without notice
  4. Wait until the transcript is delivered to quote a price

Explanation

Fee terms should be clear and disclosed up front so the hiring party can make an informed decision. Undisclosed or outcome-based charges undermine trust.

Question 18Professional standards and ethics

A reporter who is also a notary is asked to notarize a signature when the signer is not present. What should she do?

  1. Notarize it and note the signer's absence
  2. Refuse, since a notary must witness signing Correct answer.
  3. Notarize it if the signature looks genuine
  4. Ask a colleague to notarize it instead

Explanation

A notary must personally witness the signature being made. Notarizing without the signer present is a violation of notarial law and professional ethics.

Question 19Professional standards and ethics

Which statement best describes a reporter's confidentiality obligation?

  1. It continues after the assignment ends Correct answer.
  2. It applies only if requested in writing
  3. It applies only to sealed proceedings
  4. It ends when the deposition ends

Explanation

Confidentiality is an ongoing duty that survives the end of the assignment and the delivery of the transcript. It covers the content of the proceedings regardless of whether they are sealed.

Question 20Professional standards and ethics

A reporter is assigned a proceeding in a specialized technical field beyond her competence. What should she do?

  1. Accept it and guess at technical terms
  2. Accept it and borrow another reporter's notes
  3. Decline or get help to produce an accurate record Correct answer.
  4. Accept it and omit unclear terms

Explanation

A reporter should undertake only work she can perform competently, or arrange support to ensure an accurate record. Guessing or omitting undermines the transcript.

Question 21Professional standards and ethics

A reporter's spouse owns a litigation-support company that regularly refers work to her. A firm that uses that company wants her for a deposition. What is the best course?

  1. Accept and offer a discount to the referring firm
  2. Disclose it and assess whether it creates a conflict Correct answer.
  3. Decline all work from the firm permanently
  4. Accept without disclosure because the business is unrelated

Explanation

Potential conflicts arising from business relationships must be disclosed and evaluated for the appearance of impropriety. A permanent refusal is not required if the relationship poses no actual conflict.

Question 22Professional standards and ethics

During a deposition, an attorney asks the reporter to sign a certificate stating the witness was sworn, but the oath was never administered. What should the reporter do?

  1. Refuse to certify a fact that did not occur Correct answer.
  2. Sign it to keep the record moving
  3. Sign, with a note that the oath was skipped
  4. Ask the witness to sign the certification instead

Explanation

Certifications must be truthful. A reporter may not certify an event that did not occur, since doing so would falsify the official record.

Question 23Professional standards and ethics

After a deposition, an attorney asks the reporter to delete a damaging exchange, claiming it should have been off the record. What should the reporter do?

  1. Delete only the attorney's questions
  2. Delete the exchange as the attorney requested
  3. Refuse, as the record cannot be altered Correct answer.
  4. Delete it but keep a private backup copy

Explanation

Material captured on the record must remain intact; a party cannot retroactively remove testimony it dislikes. Altering or selectively deleting the record is a serious ethical violation.

Question 24Professional standards and ethics

After a deposition is complete, how should the reporter treat her stenographic notes and digital files?

  1. As part of the record, retained as rules require Correct answer.
  2. As the property of the witness who testified
  3. As disposable once the transcript is delivered
  4. As the property of the attorney who hired her

Explanation

Notes and electronic files are part of the official record and must be preserved for the period required by applicable rules. They are not the personal property of any party, attorney, or witness.

Question 25Professional standards and ethics

In a jury trial, the judge and attorneys hold a bench conference that the jury cannot hear. How should the reporter treat it?

  1. Report the bench conference as part of the record Correct answer.
  2. Omit it because the jury cannot hear it
  3. Record only the judge's statements
  4. Summarize the conference in the transcript

Explanation

Bench conferences are part of the proceedings and should be reported unless the judge directs otherwise. Inaudibility to the jury is not a reason to exclude them.

Question 26Professional standards and ethics

During a deposition, an attorney asks the court reporter to explain a legal objection to the witness. What is the reporter's proper response?

  1. Tell the witness to answer and ignore the objection.
  2. Ask the witness whether he would like an explanation.
  3. Decline and note that legal explanations are outside the reporter's role. Correct answer.
  4. Explain the objection in simple terms so the witness understands.

Explanation

A court reporter records proceedings and does not give legal advice. Explaining an objection could confuse the witness and intrude on counsel's role. The reporter should remain impartial and refer the witness to counsel.

Question 27Professional standards and ethics

After a trial, an attorney offers the court reporter a $200 gift card. What should the reporter do?

  1. Ask whether the card can be shared with the whole office.
  2. Accept it because gifts after a case are harmless.
  3. Politely decline because gifts can create an appearance of favoritism. Correct answer.
  4. Accept it only if opposing counsel receives a similar gift.

Explanation

Reporters must avoid gifts that could influence or appear to influence their impartiality. Even after a case, accepting a substantial gift can undermine trust in the reporter's independence. Declining politely protects the integrity of the profession.

Question 28Professional standards and ethics

A reporter wants to post on social media about a high-profile deposition she just reported. What should she do?

  1. Post nothing about the deposition because confidentiality continues. Correct answer.
  2. Post a general comment if she does not name the parties.
  3. Post only the witness's name but no testimony.
  4. Post after asking a friend whether it is acceptable.

Explanation

Confidentiality obligations continue after the proceeding ends and apply to social media. Even indirect comments can reveal protected information. The safest course is not to discuss the case publicly.

Question 29Professional standards and ethics

What is a court reporter's professional obligation regarding continuing education?

  1. Complete continuing education to maintain professional competence. Correct answer.
  2. Complete it only when changing employers.
  3. Complete it only when a judge requests it.
  4. Complete it only if the state requires a license.

Explanation

Professional competence is an ongoing ethical duty, not a one-time requirement. Reporters should keep current with technology, procedures, and rules. Continuing education supports accurate and reliable reporting.

Question 30Professional standards and ethics

During a hearing, the reporter cannot understand a word spoken by a witness. What should she do?

  1. Ask the attorney to repeat the word later.
  2. Mark the word as inaudible rather than guessing. Correct answer.
  3. Guess the most likely word from context.
  4. Leave a blank space in the transcript.

Explanation

The transcript must accurately reflect what was said; guessing or leaving unexplained blanks compromises the record. Marking a word as inaudible honestly signals uncertainty to readers. The reporter should not alter the substance by speculation.

Question 31Professional standards and ethics

An attorney asks the court reporter to draft a legal argument for a motion. What should she do?

  1. Decline because drafting legal arguments is unauthorized practice. Correct answer.
  2. Draft it only for a case she reported.
  3. Draft it if the attorney reviews it later.
  4. Draft it only if she is not paid separately.

Explanation

Preparing legal arguments is the practice of law and must be done by licensed counsel. A court reporter's role is to create an accurate record, not to provide legal services. Accepting such work could harm the client and violate professional rules.

Question 32Professional standards and ethics

A reporter has not passed the RPR exam. How may she refer to herself?

  1. As a certified RPR pending results.
  2. As a court reporter, not as an RPR. Correct answer.
  3. As an RPR in training.
  4. As an RPR if her employer approves.

Explanation

The RPR designation may be used only by reporters who have earned and maintained it. Claiming certification before passing misrepresents qualifications. A non-certified reporter may accurately describe herself as a court reporter.

Question 33Professional standards and ethics

During a deposition, the attorneys make brief objections and then continue. What should the reporter record?

  1. All spoken proceedings, including objections and colloquy. Correct answer.
  2. Only the questions and answers, not the objections.
  3. Only the objections that the witness answers.
  4. Only the portions the attorneys later approve.

Explanation

The reporter must preserve a complete and accurate record of the proceeding. Objections and related colloquy are part of the record even when brief. The reporter does not decide which parts are important.

Question 34Professional standards and ethics

A reporter arrives at a deposition and recognizes the witness as her close friend. What should she do?

  1. Proceed if the friendship is not close enough to matter.
  2. Disclose the relationship so the parties can decide. Correct answer.
  3. Say nothing unless the witness mentions it.
  4. Withdraw immediately without explanation.

Explanation

A personal relationship with a witness can create an appearance of partiality. The reporter should disclose it promptly so the parties can assess any conflict. Withdrawing without explanation may be unnecessary and unhelpful.

Question 35Professional standards and ethics

A reporter accepts an assignment and later learns that her brother is one of the attorneys in the case. What is proper?

  1. Continue but avoid speaking with her brother.
  2. Continue because she was assigned before learning of the conflict.
  3. Disclose the conflict and withdraw if not waived. Correct answer.
  4. Ask her brother to handle all objections himself.

Explanation

A close family relationship with counsel is a significant conflict that must be disclosed. The parties may waive the conflict, or the reporter should withdraw to protect impartiality. Avoiding conversation does not cure the conflict.

Question 36Professional standards and ethics

A reporter owns stock in a company that is a party to a case she is assigned. What should she do?

  1. Ask another reporter to sit in but keep the fee.
  2. Disclose the interest and decline the assignment. Correct answer.
  3. Proceed if the stock value is small.
  4. Sell the stock after the deposition.

Explanation

A direct financial interest in a party can bias the reporter or appear to do so. Disclosure and withdrawal protect the integrity of the record. Selling after the proceeding does not remove the conflict during it.

Question 37Professional standards and ethics

An attorney offers a reporter $500 to lose a damaging page of the transcript. What should she do?

  1. Accept only if the page is truly damaging.
  2. Accept and donate the money to charity.
  3. Refuse but keep the offer confidential.
  4. Refuse and report the offer to the proper authority. Correct answer.

Explanation

Offering money to alter a transcript is an attack on the integrity of the record. The reporter must refuse and should report the attempt. Keeping it secret could allow further misconduct.

Question 38Professional standards and ethics

A litigation support company offers a reporter $50 for each client she refers. What is the proper response?

  1. Accept because referrals are common in business.
  2. Accept only if the fifty dollars is disclosed to clients.
  3. Accept if the company is owned by a friend.
  4. Decline because paying for referrals is unethical. Correct answer.

Explanation

Paying or accepting compensation for referrals can compromise independence and is prohibited by professional ethics. Disclosure to clients does not make the arrangement proper. Reporters should earn work on qualifications, not side payments.

Question 39Professional standards and ethics

While reporting a deposition, a reporter learns nonpublic information that will affect a company's stock price. What should she do?

  1. Trade on the information before it becomes public.
  2. Ask the attorney whether trading is permitted.
  3. Tell a family member to trade on the information.
  4. Not use or disclose the information for personal gain. Correct answer.

Explanation

Information learned during a proceeding is confidential and may not be exploited for personal advantage. Trading or tipping others would breach that duty and may violate securities laws. The reporter must keep the information confidential.

Question 40Professional standards and ethics

A newspaper reporter calls and asks a court reporter to comment on a high-profile case she reported. What should she do?

  1. Comment only if she does not give her name.
  2. Comment only on testimony already in open court.
  3. Decline to discuss the case. Correct answer.
  4. Comment if her employer gives permission.

Explanation

Reporters should not comment publicly on cases they have reported. Even testimony in open court can be misquoted or taken out of context. Confidentiality and impartiality require declining media requests.

Question 41Professional standards and ethics

After a deposition, an attorney asks the reporter to correct a witness's grammar in the transcript. What should she do?

  1. Correct only the grammar in questions, not answers.
  2. Refuse because the transcript must reflect the testimony as spoken. Correct answer.
  3. Correct the grammar and note the changes in a footnote.
  4. Make the corrections because they improve readability.

Explanation

The transcript is a verbatim record of the proceeding, not an edited document. Correcting grammar can change the speaker's words and meaning. Any corrections should follow proper errata procedures, not unilateral editing.

Question 42Professional standards and ethics

A person who is not a party to the case asks the reporter for a copy of the deposition transcript. What should she do?

  1. Provide it after removing the witness's name.
  2. Provide it if the person pays the fee.
  3. Release it only as authorized. Correct answer.
  4. Provide it because depositions are public records.

Explanation

Transcripts are not automatically available to anyone who asks. Release must comply with court rules, protective orders, and the parties' rights. The reporter should not decide unilaterally to distribute.

Question 43Professional standards and ethics

An attorney asks a reporter to date a certificate earlier than the day she signs it. What should she do?

  1. Backdate it if the deposition occurred earlier.
  2. Backdate it only by one day.
  3. Refuse to falsify the date on the certificate. Correct answer.
  4. Ask the notary to decide.

Explanation

A certificate must be truthful, including its date. Backdating is falsification even if the deposition occurred earlier. The reporter should refuse and explain the legal and ethical problem.

Question 44Professional standards and ethics

A reporter is asked to sign a certificate for a transcript prepared by a different reporter. What should she do?

  1. Sign only after reading the entire transcript.
  2. Sign if the other reporter is unavailable.
  3. Refuse unless she prepared or verified the transcript. Correct answer.
  4. Sign and add a note that she did not prepare it.

Explanation

A certification represents personal knowledge that the transcript is accurate. A reporter cannot certify work she did not prepare or properly verify. Reading alone may not provide the basis for certification.

Question 45Professional standards and ethics

During a multi-attorney deposition, the reporter cannot tell which attorney is speaking. What should she do?

  1. Omit the statement from the transcript.
  2. Identify the speaker as unidentified or ask for clarification. Correct answer.
  3. Assign the statement to the attorney who speaks most often.
  4. Attribute it to the witness.

Explanation

Accuracy requires not guessing about who spoke. The reporter should seek clarification or mark the speaker as unidentified. Attributing statements incorrectly can distort the record.

Question 46Professional standards and ethics

A reporter's spouse is a court clerk in the same courthouse, and the reporter is assigned to a trial in that courtroom. What is the proper approach?

  1. Ask the judge to reassign the spouse.
  2. Proceed because the spouse's role is administrative only.
  3. Withdraw only if the spouse will handle the exhibits.
  4. Disclose the relationship and assess any appearance of impropriety. Correct answer.

Explanation

An appearance of impropriety can arise even without actual bias. A spouse working in the same courtroom may raise concerns about confidentiality and favoritism. The reporter should disclose and assess the situation with the parties.

Question 47Professional standards and ethics

A reporter is also a notary. She is asked to notarize an affidavit for a party in a case she reported that same day. What is proper?

  1. Notarize it because notary duties are separate.
  2. Notarize it if the party signs in her presence.
  3. Decline because the simultaneous roles create a conflict. Correct answer.
  4. Notarize it and disclose the dual role in the certificate.

Explanation

Serving as both reporter and notary for a party in the same case can create a conflict and appearance of partiality. The notary acknowledgment should be handled by an independent notary. Disclosure does not remove the conflict.

Question 48Professional standards and ethics

A reporter is served with a subpoena for a transcript in a case where a protective order has been entered. What should she do?

  1. Ignore the subpoena because of confidentiality.
  2. Produce the transcript immediately because a subpoena is mandatory.
  3. Notify the court and parties and follow the protective order. Correct answer.
  4. Provide it only to the attorney who issued the subpoena.

Explanation

A subpoena does not override a protective order or confidentiality obligations. The reporter should notify the court and parties so the dispute can be resolved properly. Producing or ignoring without guidance risks violating the order.

Question 49Professional standards and ethics

A reporter learns that an attorney has been offering bonuses to reporters for favorable transcripts. What is the proper action?

  1. Discuss it with other reporters but take no action.
  2. Confront the attorney and demand a share.
  3. Ignore it because it does not affect her own work.
  4. Report the conduct to the appropriate disciplinary authority. Correct answer.

Explanation

Professional ethics require reporters to uphold the integrity of the record and report serious misconduct. Ignoring or gossiping about unethical conduct allows harm to continue. Demanding a share would itself be improper.

Question 50Professional standards and ethics

An attorney who ordered a transcript asks the reporter to delay delivery to opposing counsel until the attorney reviews it. What should the reporter do?

  1. Delay delivery as the attorney requested.
  2. Treat all parties equally under the applicable rules. Correct answer.
  3. Deliver to opposing counsel after the attorney approves.
  4. Refuse to provide the transcript to anyone.

Explanation

A reporter must remain impartial and treat all parties fairly. Transcript delivery should follow applicable rules, not one attorney's tactical request. Giving one side early access can compromise the appearance of fairness.