CHA Document Examination & Forensic Analysis 3

Question 1

Which analytical method is used to determine the age of ink on a document by measuring the rate of solvent evaporation?

Accepted Answer

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Answer

GC-MS can analyze ink solvent decay rates to help determine when an ink was applied to a document.

Question 2

In forensic handwriting analysis, 'fluency' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The smoothness and continuity of pen movement during writing

Answer

Fluency describes the natural, uninterrupted flow of pen movement that characterizes genuine, practiced handwriting.

Question 3

A forensic examiner finds that a document's paper contains optical brightening agents (OBAs) not commercially available until 1990, yet the document is dated 1975. This indicates:

Accepted Answer

The document may be backdated or fraudulent

Answer

The presence of OBAs in paper predating their commercial introduction is a strong indicator of backdating or document fraud.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a 'natural variation' in handwriting that an examiner must account for?

Accepted Answer

Minor differences in letter forms across multiple genuine signatures

Answer

Natural variation refers to the inherent, minor inconsistencies in genuine handwriting that occur across multiple samples from the same writer.

Question 5

What is the purpose of examining 'staple holes' in a multi-page document during forensic analysis?

Accepted Answer

To verify that pages have not been substituted or reordered

Answer

Misaligned or non-matching staple holes can reveal that pages were removed and reinserted, indicating possible fraud.

(CHA) Certified Handwriting Analyst Practice Test

(CHA) Certified Handwriting Analyst Practice Test

CHA Document Examination & Forensic Analysis 3