California POST Test Analyzing Informational Passages 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patrol report states: 'The suspect fled northbound on Oak Street, turned east on Maple Avenue, then entered the parking structure at 400 Maple.' An officer responding from the south on Oak Street would first need to turn in which direction?
- Left (Correct answer)
- Right
- North
- South
Correct answer: Left
Coming from the south on Oak Street heading north, turning east (toward 400 Maple) requires a left turn when traveling northbound.
Question 2: A memo reads: 'Officers shall not conduct traffic stops within 500 feet of a school during school hours unless exigent circumstances exist.' Which scenario would be EXEMPT from this restriction?
- A vehicle with a broken taillight at 3:00 PM on a school day
- A vehicle running a red light in a school zone at 8:30 AM
- A vehicle suspected of carrying a kidnapping victim at 9:00 AM near a school (Correct answer)
- A vehicle with an expired registration sticker at 7:45 AM near a school
Correct answer: A vehicle suspected of carrying a kidnapping victim at 9:00 AM near a school
A kidnapping in progress constitutes an exigent circumstance, which is explicitly exempted from the proximity restriction.
Question 3: An incident report contains the following sentence: 'Neither the driver nor the passengers were wearing seatbelts.' How many people in the vehicle were not wearing seatbelts?
- One
- At least two (Correct answer)
- Exactly two
- Unknown from this statement
Correct answer: At least two
The sentence confirms the driver was not belted and that multiple passengers were not belted, meaning at least two total people were unrestrained.
Question 4: A bulletin states: 'Residents who observe suspicious activity should call the non-emergency line. If the activity involves an immediate threat to life or property, residents should call 911.' A resident sees someone she does not recognize slowly walking through neighbors' backyards at midnight. Which line should she call?
- 911, because it is an immediate threat to property
- The non-emergency line, because no threat is immediately confirmed (Correct answer)
- Either line is appropriate
- She should not call; this is not suspicious activity
Correct answer: The non-emergency line, because no threat is immediately confirmed
The behavior is suspicious but does not yet confirm an immediate threat to life or property, so the non-emergency line is appropriate per the bulletin.
Question 5: A policy states: 'Use of force reports must be submitted within 24 hours of the incident, unless the officer is on approved leave, in which case the report is due within 24 hours of return.' An officer used force on Monday, took approved sick leave Tuesday through Thursday, and returned Friday. When is the report due?
- Tuesday at the time of the incident
- Friday within 24 hours of return (Correct answer)
- Monday within 24 hours of the incident
- Saturday, 48 hours after return
Correct answer: Friday within 24 hours of return
The exception for approved leave means the report is due within 24 hours of the officer's return on Friday.
Question 6: A passage reads: 'The crime rate in District 4 decreased by 12% last year, while District 5 saw an 8% increase. Citywide, crime fell by 3%.' Which conclusion is best supported?
- District 4 had more crimes than District 5
- District 5 had more crimes than District 4
- Districts 4 and 5 together drove the citywide trend
- Other districts' data also affected the citywide average (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Other districts' data also affected the citywide average
A citywide decrease of only 3% while District 4 dropped 12% and District 5 rose 8% means other districts' data must also be factoring into the overall figure.
Question 7: A report states: 'Sergeant Torres reviewed all overtime requests submitted before the deadline. She approved those that met departmental guidelines and denied those that did not.' Which statement must be true?
- All overtime requests were approved
- No overtime requests were denied
- Requests submitted after the deadline were not reviewed by Sergeant Torres (Correct answer)
- Departmental guidelines were changed before the review
Correct answer: Requests submitted after the deadline were not reviewed by Sergeant Torres
The report only states Torres reviewed requests submitted before the deadline, implying late submissions were outside her review.
California POST Test Analyzing Informational Passages 2
A patrol report states: 'The suspect fled northbound on Oak Street, turned east on Maple Avenue, then entered the parking structure at 400 Maple.' An officer responding from the south on Oak Street would first need to turn in which direction?