California POST Test Identifying Writing Errors 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' vs. 'less'? A) There were less officers on the night shift. B) The report contained less errors than expected. C) Fewer witnesses came forward than anticipated. D) The investigation took less days than planned.
- There were less officers on the night shift.
- The report contained less errors than expected.
- Fewer witnesses came forward than anticipated. (Correct answer)
- The investigation took less days than planned.
Correct answer: Fewer witnesses came forward than anticipated.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns like 'witnesses,' while 'less' is used with uncountable quantities.
Question 2: Choose the option that correctly identifies the error: 'The jury reached their verdict after deliberating for two days.' A) 'jury' is plural, so 'their' is wrong — use 'its.' B) There is no error; collective nouns can take plural pronouns. C) 'deliberating' should be 'deliberated.' D) A comma is needed after 'verdict.'
- 'jury' is plural, so 'their' is wrong — use 'its.' (Correct answer)
- There is no error; collective nouns can take plural pronouns.
- 'deliberating' should be 'deliberated.'
- A comma is needed after 'verdict.'
Correct answer: 'jury' is plural, so 'their' is wrong — use 'its.'
In formal American English, collective nouns like 'jury' are treated as singular, so the pronoun should be 'its,' not 'their.'
Question 3: Which sentence has a parallel structure error? A) The officer secured the perimeter, interviewed witnesses, and filed the report. B) The suspect was charged with theft, assault, and resisting arrest. C) The recruits were trained to observe, to listen, and report accurately. D) Officers must be honest, diligent, and professional.
- The officer secured the perimeter, interviewed witnesses, and filed the report.
- The suspect was charged with theft, assault, and resisting arrest.
- The recruits were trained to observe, to listen, and report accurately. (Correct answer)
- Officers must be honest, diligent, and professional.
Correct answer: The recruits were trained to observe, to listen, and report accurately.
The list mixes infinitives ('to observe,' 'to listen') with a base form ('report'), breaking parallel structure.
Question 4: Identify the correctly punctuated sentence: A) The officer, asked the suspect, where he had been. B) The officer asked the suspect where he had been. C) The officer asked the suspect, where he had been. D) The officer asked, the suspect where he had been.
- The officer, asked the suspect, where he had been.
- The officer asked the suspect where he had been. (Correct answer)
- The officer asked the suspect, where he had been.
- The officer asked, the suspect where he had been.
Correct answer: The officer asked the suspect where he had been.
An indirect question ('where he had been') is embedded in the sentence and does not require a comma or question mark.
Question 5: Which word choice error appears in: 'The principle reason for the delay was the missing evidence log.'
- 'reason' should be 'rational.'
- 'principle' should be 'principal.' (Correct answer)
- 'delay' should be 'delayed.'
- There is no error in the sentence.
Correct answer: 'principle' should be 'principal.'
'Principle' is a noun meaning a rule or belief; 'principal' is the adjective meaning main or primary.
Question 6: Which sentence uses 'affect' and 'effect' correctly? A) The new policy will effect how officers file reports. B) The arrest had a lasting affect on the community. C) Stress can affect an officer's decision-making. D) The medication had no affect on the suspect's behavior.
- The new policy will effect how officers file reports.
- The arrest had a lasting affect on the community.
- Stress can affect an officer's decision-making. (Correct answer)
- The medication had no affect on the suspect's behavior.
Correct answer: Stress can affect an officer's decision-making.
'Affect' is most commonly a verb meaning to influence, which is used correctly in option C.
Question 7: Which sentence contains a comma splice? A) The investigation was ongoing, and officers were advised not to comment. B) Officers canvassed the neighborhood, they found no new witnesses. C) After the search warrant was approved, the team entered the building. D) The suspect denied involvement; however, evidence contradicted his alibi.
- The investigation was ongoing, and officers were advised not to comment.
- Officers canvassed the neighborhood, they found no new witnesses. (Correct answer)
- After the search warrant was approved, the team entered the building.
- The suspect denied involvement; however, evidence contradicted his alibi.
Correct answer: Officers canvassed the neighborhood, they found no new witnesses.
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with only a comma and no coordinating conjunction; option B is an example.
California POST Test Identifying Writing Errors 4
Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' vs. 'less'?
A) There were less officers on the night shift.
B) The report contained less errors than expected.
C) Fewer witnesses came forward than anticipated.
D) The investigation took less days than planned.