California POST Test Identifying Writing Errors 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence contains a double negative? A) The witness couldn't recall any details. B) The suspect denied taking nothing from the store. C) The officer found no evidence at the scene. D) Neither party was present at the hearing.
- The witness couldn't recall any details.
- The suspect denied taking nothing from the store. (Correct answer)
- The officer found no evidence at the scene.
- Neither party was present at the hearing.
Correct answer: The suspect denied taking nothing from the store.
'Denied taking nothing' creates a double negative because 'denied' and 'nothing' both negate the action.
Question 2: Identify the sentence with incorrect apostrophe use: A) The officers' vehicle was damaged. B) The officer's report was thorough. C) The two suspect's alibis conflicted. D) The witnesses' statements matched.
- The officers' vehicle was damaged.
- The officer's report was thorough.
- The two suspect's alibis conflicted. (Correct answer)
- The witnesses' statements matched.
Correct answer: The two suspect's alibis conflicted.
'Suspect's' implies one suspect's alibis, but 'two suspects' requires 'suspects'' (plural possessive) to show joint ownership.
Question 3: Which word is misused in: 'The officer insured the scene was properly documented'?
- officer
- insured (Correct answer)
- scene
- properly
Correct answer: insured
'Insured' relates to insurance coverage; the correct word is 'ensured,' meaning made certain.
Question 4: Select the sentence that is NOT a run-on: A) The suspect fled police pursued him for three blocks. B) The suspect fled, and police pursued him for three blocks. C) The suspect fled police, pursued him for three blocks. D) The suspect fled police pursued him, for three blocks.
- The suspect fled police pursued him for three blocks.
- The suspect fled, and police pursued him for three blocks. (Correct answer)
- The suspect fled police, pursued him for three blocks.
- The suspect fled police pursued him, for three blocks.
Correct answer: The suspect fled, and police pursued him for three blocks.
Option B correctly joins two independent clauses with a comma and the coordinating conjunction 'and,' avoiding a run-on sentence.
Question 5: Which sentence uses passive voice where active voice would be clearer in a police report? A) Officer Smith arrested the suspect. B) The suspect was arrested by Officer Smith. C) Officer Smith identified the suspect. D) The suspect fled the scene.
- Officer Smith arrested the suspect.
- The suspect was arrested by Officer Smith. (Correct answer)
- Officer Smith identified the suspect.
- The suspect fled the scene.
Correct answer: The suspect was arrested by Officer Smith.
Passive voice ('was arrested by') obscures who took action; police reports should use active voice with the officer as the subject.
Question 6: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier? A) The detective carefully photographed the evidence. B) The officer almost drove to the wrong address. C) Nearly every witness had left before the team arrived. D) The suspect, who was armed, surrendered peacefully.
- The detective carefully photographed the evidence.
- The officer almost drove to the wrong address. (Correct answer)
- Nearly every witness had left before the team arrived.
- The suspect, who was armed, surrendered peacefully.
Correct answer: The officer almost drove to the wrong address.
'Almost drove' means the officer nearly drove (but didn't); the intended meaning is 'drove to almost the wrong address,' so the modifier is misplaced.
Question 7: Identify the error in: 'The sergeant told the officers to complete there reports by Friday.'
- 'sergeant' should be capitalized.
- 'there' should be 'their.' (Correct answer)
- 'complete' should be 'completing.'
- A comma is needed after 'officers.'
Correct answer: 'there' should be 'their.'
'There' indicates a place; 'their' is the possessive pronoun needed here to mean belonging to the officers.
California POST Test Identifying Writing Errors 3
Which sentence contains a double negative?
A) The witness couldn't recall any details.
B) The suspect denied taking nothing from the store.
C) The officer found no evidence at the scene.
D) Neither party was present at the hearing.