California POST Grammar and Punctuation Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?

Accepted Answer

The suspect was read his rights, he refused to speak without a lawyer.

Answer

After the suspect was read his rights, he refused to speak.

Answer

The suspect was read his rights; however, he refused to speak.

Answer

The suspect was read his rights and then he refused to speak.

Question 2

An officer writes the following in a report: 'The box of evidence files ______ placed on the property clerk's desk.' Which verb correctly completes the sentence?

Accepted Answer

is

Answer

are

Answer

have been

Answer

were

Question 3

Identify the sentence with the correct use of a possessive apostrophe.

Accepted Answer

The two officers' reports were filed simultaneously.

Answer

The two officer's reports were filed simultaneously.

Answer

The two officers report's were filed simultaneously.

Answer

The two officers reports were filed simultaneously.

Question 4

Which of the following sentences from a police report has a dangling modifier?

Accepted Answer

Running after the suspect, the officer's radio fell from its holster.

Answer

While running after the suspect, the officer dropped his radio.

Answer

The officer's radio fell from its holster as he was running after the suspect.

Answer

The officer was running after the suspect when his radio fell.

Question 5

An officer is writing a report and needs to choose the correct word. Which sentence uses 'its' and 'it's' correctly?

Accepted Answer

The K-9 unit is famous for its tracking ability; it's considered the best in the state.

Answer

The K-9 unit is famous for it's tracking ability; its considered the best in the state.

Answer

The K-9 unit is famous for its tracking ability; its considered the best in the state.

Answer

The K-9 unit is famous for it's tracking ability; it's considered the best in the state.

Question 6

Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?

Accepted Answer

Each of the witnesses was asked to describe what he or she saw.

Answer

Each of the witnesses was asked to describe what they saw.

Answer

Every witness were asked to describe what they saw.

Answer

The group of witnesses was asked to describe what they saw.