California POST Test Reading Comprehension Strategies 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer reads: 'Do not enter the secured perimeter unless you have clearance from the incident commander or the senior officer on scene.' The officer has clearance from a patrol sergeant who is not the incident commander. May the officer enter?
- Yes, any sergeant's clearance is sufficient
- No, only the incident commander can grant clearance
- Yes, if the sergeant is the senior officer on scene (Correct answer)
- No, clearance must come from both listed officials
Correct answer: Yes, if the sergeant is the senior officer on scene
The directive offers clearance from either the incident commander OR the senior officer on scene — a sergeant who is senior on scene qualifies.
Question 2: A passage uses the phrase 'as a result' to connect two sentences. This phrase signals a:
- Contrast between two ideas
- Cause-and-effect relationship (Correct answer)
- Example being provided
- Definition being given
Correct answer: Cause-and-effect relationship
'As a result' is a transitional phrase indicating that the second idea is a consequence of the first.
Question 3: A report passage contains this sentence: 'Despite the darkness, the officer identified the suspect.' The word 'despite' indicates:
- The darkness helped the identification
- The darkness had no effect on identification
- The identification occurred in contradiction to the challenging condition (Correct answer)
- The officer used night vision equipment
Correct answer: The identification occurred in contradiction to the challenging condition
'Despite' signals contrast — something happened contrary to what the obstacle (darkness) might suggest.
Question 4: When re-reading a confusing passage, the most effective strategy is to:
- Read faster to complete the passage
- Identify unfamiliar terms and clarify them, then re-read the passage (Correct answer)
- Skip the passage and answer based on guessing
- Focus only on the last sentence for clarity
Correct answer: Identify unfamiliar terms and clarify them, then re-read the passage
Clarifying unfamiliar vocabulary before re-reading improves comprehension of the entire passage.
Question 5: A directive states: 'Officers shall complete cultural competency training by December 31 of each calendar year.' It is currently November. What does this directive require?
- Training must be completed immediately
- Training must be completed within approximately two months (Correct answer)
- Training is recommended but not mandatory
- Training applies only to new officers
Correct answer: Training must be completed within approximately two months
With a December 31 deadline and the current month being November, officers have approximately two months to comply.
Question 6: Which question is most useful for evaluating the credibility of information in a law enforcement text?
- Is this information interesting?
- Does the author provide verifiable sources or evidence to support the claims? (Correct answer)
- Is the passage long enough to be credible?
- Does the author use formal language?
Correct answer: Does the author provide verifiable sources or evidence to support the claims?
Credibility in any text depends on whether claims are supported by verifiable evidence or sourced references.
Question 7: A bulletin reads: 'Officers responding to mental health calls should, where possible, request a mental health co-responder.' The phrase 'where possible' suggests:
- Co-responders are always required on mental health calls
- Co-responders are never required
- Requesting a co-responder is mandatory only when feasible (Correct answer)
- Mental health calls should be avoided
Correct answer: Requesting a co-responder is mandatory only when feasible
'Where possible' qualifies the directive, indicating compliance is expected when circumstances allow but not as an absolute requirement.
California POST Test Reading Comprehension Strategies 5
An officer reads: 'Do not enter the secured perimeter unless you have clearance from the incident commander or the senior officer on scene.' The officer has clearance from a patrol sergeant who is not the incident commander.
May the officer enter?