Report Writing Flashcards

You are given the following information: A suspect was apprehended at 9:00 PM on July 18th for vandalism at 456 Oak Street. The suspect, Jane Smith, was caught spray painting graffiti on a wall by a witness, who immediately called the police. Which of the following sentences best summarizes the incident?

Answer: At 9:00 PM on July 18th, Jane Smith was apprehended for vandalizing a wall at 456 Oak Street after a witness reported seeing her spay painting graffiti.

Option C provides the most comprehensive and accurate summary by including all the critical details: the exact time and date, the suspect's full name, the specific crime (vandalizing a wall/spray painting graffiti), the precise location, and the crucial role of the witness in her apprehension. The other options omit significant pieces of information, making them less complete summaries.

Correct the following sentences for grammar and clarity: "The officer reported that the suspect has fled the scene before the backup arrived."

Answer: The officer reported that the suspect had fled the scene before the backup arrived.

The original sentence incorrectly uses the present perfect tense ('has fled') for an action that occurred in the past before another past action (the backup arrived). To correctly describe an action completed before another past action, the past perfect tense ('had fled') is required. Additionally, 'fleed' is an incorrect past participle; the correct form is 'fled'.

You are asked to write a brief report based on the following details: On August 5th, at 3:00 PM, John Doe was arrested for shoplifting at 123 Main Street. He was caught by the store manager attempting to leave with unpaid merchandise worth $50. Which of the following is the best report?

Answer: On August 5th at 3:00 PM, John Doe was arrested for shoplifting $50 worth of merchandise at 123 Main Street after being caught by the store manager.

The best report includes all essential details for clarity and completeness, presented concisely. Option B effectively synthesizes the date, time, suspect's name, specific charge (shoplifting), value of merchandise, location, and the circumstance of apprehension (caught by the store manager). This provides a full picture of the incident without unnecessary words.

Correct the following sentence: "The witness said that they seen the suspect leaving the store quickly."

Answer: The witness said that they saw the suspect leaving the store quickly.

The original sentence incorrectly uses 'seen' as the simple past tense. 'Seen' is the past participle and requires a helping verb (e.g., 'have seen' or 'had seen'). For a completed action in the past, the simple past tense form of 'to see' is 'saw'. Therefore, 'The witness said that they saw the suspect leaving the store quickly' is grammatically correct.

Based on the following details, write a brief and clear report: On September 12th, at 11:00 AM, a car accident occurred at the intersection of Pine Street and 7th Avenue. Two vehicles were involved. One driver, Sarah Lee, sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. The other driver, Mark Johnson, was unharmed. Which of the following is the best report?

Answer: There was a car accident on September 12th at 11:00 AM at Pine Street and 7th Avenue involving two vehicles. Sarah Lee was injured and taken to the hospital, while Mark Johnson was unhurt.

In medical terminology, the prefix "brady-" consistently means slow. For example, "bradycardia" refers to a slow heart rate, and "bradypnea" indicates slow breathing. Understanding this prefix is crucial for interpreting many medical terms related to decreased rates or speeds within the body.