911 Operator Test Reading Comprehension and Clarity 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A policy reads: 'Officers must be notified of any call involving a weapon within two minutes of receipt.' A weapons call comes in at 14:07. By what time must officers be notified?
- 14:05
- 14:09 (Correct answer)
- 14:17
- 14:27
Correct answer: 14:09
Two minutes added to 14:07 equals 14:09, the notification deadline.
Question 2: Which of the following call summaries contains an ambiguous pronoun that could cause confusion?
- Caller, John Smith, reports his neighbor threw a rock through his window.
- Caller reports a rock thrown through a window at 55 Pine St by the neighbor.
- Caller John Smith at 55 Pine St reports his neighbor broke his window with a rock. (Correct answer)
- Neighbor dispute at 55 Pine St; caller alleges property damage by neighbor.
Correct answer: Caller John Smith at 55 Pine St reports his neighbor broke his window with a rock.
In option C, 'his window' is ambiguous because it's unclear whether it refers to the caller's or the neighbor's window.
Question 3: A dispatcher receives a text-to-911 message: 'Cant talk. Man in house. 88 Walnut.' What should the dispatcher do first?
- Disregard the message as it lacks sufficient detail
- Dispatch units to 88 Walnut and attempt to reply via text (Correct answer)
- Call the number back and leave a voicemail
- Wait for a follow-up message before acting
Correct answer: Dispatch units to 88 Walnut and attempt to reply via text
Text-to-911 messages indicating danger must be taken seriously; dispatching and attempting a reply ensures both safety and further communication.
Question 4: In a dispatch log, what is the purpose of recording exact timestamps on every entry?
- To meet minimum word count requirements for reports
- To create a verifiable chronological record of all actions taken (Correct answer)
- To track how long each dispatcher spends on calls
- To satisfy caller expectations for documentation
Correct answer: To create a verifiable chronological record of all actions taken
Exact timestamps establish an auditable timeline that can be reviewed for accountability, legal purposes, and quality assurance.
Question 5: A supervisor's memo reads: 'Dispatchers should avoid using jargon that callers may not understand.' Which dispatcher response best follows this guidance?
- 'I'm issuing a CAD entry for a Code 4 at your 10-20.'
- 'I'm sending officers to your location right now.' (Correct answer)
- 'Units are en route; maintain radio silence until arrival.'
- 'A 10-78 has been dispatched; stand by for further comms.'
Correct answer: 'I'm sending officers to your location right now.'
Plain language ('sending officers to your location right now') is immediately clear to a civilian caller without requiring knowledge of codes.
Question 6: A caller describes a vehicle as 'a big, dark car — kind of like a truck but not really.' How should the dispatcher document this?
- Dark-colored pickup truck
- Large dark-colored vehicle, possibly an SUV or truck — caller unsure of exact type (Correct answer)
- Vehicle: unknown
- Dark car or truck, description unreliable
Correct answer: Large dark-colored vehicle, possibly an SUV or truck — caller unsure of exact type
Accurate documentation reflects what was actually said, including the caller's uncertainty, rather than guessing or dismissing the description.
Question 7: Which reading comprehension skill is most important when a dispatcher must quickly scan a multi-page protocol guide during a live call?
- Reading every word from start to finish
- Using headings, keywords, and index to locate relevant sections rapidly (Correct answer)
- Memorizing the entire guide before taking calls
- Asking a supervisor to read the guide aloud
Correct answer: Using headings, keywords, and index to locate relevant sections rapidly
Skimming using structural cues (headings, keywords, index) allows rapid location of needed information under time pressure.
911 Operator Test Reading Comprehension and Clarity 3
A policy reads: 'Officers must be notified of any call involving a weapon within two minutes of receipt.' A weapons call comes in at 14:07.
By what time must officers be notified?