California POST Test Sentence Clarity 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence structure is most appropriate for a police report?
- I went to the scene, and then I saw the suspect, and then I made the arrest.
- Upon arriving at the scene, I observed and subsequently apprehended the suspect.
- I arrived at the scene and observed the suspect, whom I then arrested. (Correct answer)
- The suspect was at the scene when I arrived and so I arrested him after that.
Correct answer: I arrived at the scene and observed the suspect, whom I then arrested.
Clear, professional reports state actions in a logical sequence without excessive conjunctions or overly formal language.
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- The officer searched the vehicle; and found a concealed weapon.
- The officer searched the vehicle; finding a concealed weapon.
- The officer searched the vehicle; she found a concealed weapon. (Correct answer)
- The officer searched the vehicle; because she suspected a weapon.
Correct answer: The officer searched the vehicle; she found a concealed weapon.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses; 'The officer searched the vehicle' and 'she found a concealed weapon' are both complete sentences.
Question 3: Which revision of the following sentence is most clear: 'The report was written by me after the suspect was booked'?
- I wrote the report after booking the suspect. (Correct answer)
- After the suspect was booked, I had written the report.
- Me writing the report happened after the suspect's booking.
- Following the booking of the suspect, the report was written by me.
Correct answer: I wrote the report after booking the suspect.
Using the active voice with a clear subject makes the sentence shorter and easier to understand.
Question 4: Which sentence is free of a run-on error?
- The suspect ran north on Main Street the officer pursued him on foot.
- The suspect ran north on Main Street, the officer pursued him on foot.
- The suspect ran north on Main Street; the officer pursued him on foot. (Correct answer)
- The suspect ran north on Main Street and then the officer he pursued him.
Correct answer: The suspect ran north on Main Street; the officer pursued him on foot.
A semicolon correctly joins two related independent clauses without creating a run-on sentence.
Question 5: Which sentence most clearly expresses conditionality?
- The officer detains the suspect, a weapon may be present.
- If the officer detects a weapon, the suspect should be detained. (Correct answer)
- The suspect being detained happens when a weapon is detected by the officer.
- Detaining the suspect, a weapon's presence is the reason.
Correct answer: If the officer detects a weapon, the suspect should be detained.
Using 'if…then' sentence structure clearly expresses a conditional relationship between detecting a weapon and detaining a suspect.
Question 6: Which version of this sentence is clearest: 'It is the policy of the department that officers are required to wear body cameras'?
- Officers are required by department policy to wear body cameras.
- Department policy requires officers to wear body cameras. (Correct answer)
- Wearing body cameras is something that is required of officers per policy.
- Officers, as per policy, are those who must wear body cameras.
Correct answer: Department policy requires officers to wear body cameras.
Eliminating the weak 'it is…that' construction produces the most concise and direct sentence.
Question 7: Which sentence avoids an unclear antecedent?
- The detective reviewed the photos with the witness, and she identified the suspect.
- Officers spoke to the managers and told them about the theft.
- When the car hit the pole, it caused significant damage.
- After the sergeant briefed the officers, they were dismissed. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: After the sergeant briefed the officers, they were dismissed.
In option D, 'they' clearly refers to the officers who were briefed and then dismissed.
California POST Test Sentence Clarity 4
Which sentence structure is most appropriate for a police report?