Free CPCA Reading Comprehension Question and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An employee's workstation, locker, or city-owned car may be searched at any time, with or without the employee's knowledge, according to city policy. An employee of the city has reported that the elected City Controller was seen smoking marijuana behind the city building and putting a baggie containing a green leafy substance in his desk about an hour ago. As a result of this report, Officer Randy is asked by his supervisor to search the City Controller's desk. Officer Randy presented the secretary with a documented copy of the city policy when she refused to permit the search on behalf of the City Controller. The City Controller was on a job site checking a city-owned warehouse when the secretary contacted him. He gave the secretary instructions to decline the search because he is an elected politician. Officer Randy pushed his way through the City Controller's desk, past the secretary. Nothing suspicious was discovered. The event resulted in the secretary breaking her arm. The city worker who complained to the city controller was well known to harbor strong feelings against the city controller because he had fired him the month before for being late. <br> <br> What legal justification does Officer Randy have for wanting to search the City Controller's desk?
- city policy (Correct answer)
- search warrant
- inherent police power
- imminent threat of the destruction of evidence
Correct answer: city policy
The passage explicitly states that 'An employee's workstation... may be searched at any time... according to city policy.' Officer Randy presented a documented copy of this city policy as his basis for wanting to conduct the search. Therefore, the city policy is the stated legal justification for his actions.
Question 2: An employee's workstation, locker, or city-owned car may be searched at any time, with or without the employee's knowledge, according to city policy. An employee of the city has reported that the elected City Controller was seen smoking marijuana behind the city building and putting a baggie containing a green leafy substance in his desk about an hour ago. As a result of this report, Officer Randy is asked by his supervisor to search the City Controller's desk. Officer Randy presented the secretary with a documented copy of the city policy when she refused to permit the search on behalf of the City Controller. The City Controller was on a job site checking a city-owned warehouse when the secretary contacted him. He gave the secretary instructions to decline the search because he is an elected politician. Officer Randy pushed his way through the City Controller's desk, past the secretary. Nothing suspicious was discovered. The event resulted in the secretary breaking her arm. The city worker who complained to the city controller was well known to harbor strong feelings against the city controller because he had fired him the month before for being late. <br> <br> Being an elected person, the City Controller declines to allow the search. Which of the following best expresses his position?
- There's nothing incriminating in his desk
- That he is not a city employee (Correct answer)
- He's done nothing wrong
- That the police officer has merely a copy of the policy, not the policy itself
Correct answer: That he is not a city employee
The City Controller's instruction to decline the search was explicitly stated as 'because he is an elected politician.' This indicates his position is that, as an elected official, he is not considered a 'city employee' and therefore not subject to the city's employee search policy.
Question 3: An employee's workstation, locker, or city-owned car may be searched at any time, with or without the employee's knowledge, according to city policy. An employee of the city has reported that the elected City Controller was seen smoking marijuana behind the city building and putting a baggie containing a green leafy substance in his desk about an hour ago. As a result of this report, Officer Randy is asked by his supervisor to search the City Controller's desk. Officer Randy presented the secretary with a documented copy of the city policy when she refused to permit the search on behalf of the City Controller. The City Controller was on a job site checking a city-owned warehouse when the secretary contacted him. He gave the secretary instructions to decline the search because he is an elected politician. Officer Randy pushed his way through the City Controller's desk, past the secretary. Nothing suspicious was discovered. The event resulted in the secretary breaking her arm. The city worker who complained to the city controller was well known to harbor strong feelings against the city controller because he had fired him the month before for being late. <br> <br> Based on the passage, which of the following statements is accurate?
- The city worker had a motive to harm the reputation of the City Controller (Correct answer)
- The city worker who reported the crime actually saw what he reported
- The city worker's report of a crime is reliable
- Before the officer inspected the drawer, the City Controller removed the bag of marijuana.
Correct answer: The city worker had a motive to harm the reputation of the City Controller
The passage clearly states that 'The city worker who complained to the city controller was well known to harbor strong feelings against the city controller because he had fired him the month before for being late.' This directly reveals a personal grudge and a motive for the worker to potentially harm the City Controller's reputation through the complaint.
Question 4: An employee's workstation, locker, or city-owned car may be searched at any time, with or without the employee's knowledge, according to city policy. An employee of the city has reported that the elected City Controller was seen smoking marijuana behind the city building and putting a baggie containing a green leafy substance in his desk about an hour ago. As a result of this report, Officer Randy is asked by his supervisor to search the City Controller's desk. Officer Randy presented the secretary with a documented copy of the city policy when she refused to permit the search on behalf of the City Controller. The City Controller was on a job site checking a city-owned warehouse when the secretary contacted him. He gave the secretary instructions to decline the search because he is an elected politician. Officer Randy pushed his way through the City Controller's desk, past the secretary. Nothing suspicious was discovered. The event resulted in the secretary breaking her arm. The city worker who complained to the city controller was well known to harbor strong feelings against the city controller because he had fired him the month before for being late. <br> <br> How many individuals are referred to in the passage?
- three
- four
- five (Correct answer)
- six
Correct answer: five
The passage refers to five distinct individuals: Officer Randy, his supervisor, the elected City Controller, the secretary, and the city worker who made the complaint. Each of these roles represents a unique person mentioned in the narrative.
Question 5: Read the situation below and respond to the questions. <br> <br> An ordinance is passed and signed by the mayor that prohibits certain-size trucks from entering the city limits, with the exception of delivery trucks that must drop off or pick up goods or other materials from nearby businesses or residences. This is done in an effort to reduce traffic and air pollution in the town's center. Delivery vehicles must first get a special permit from the Office of Licenses and Permits, show it on the front windshield, and then enter the city. According to the ordinance, any truck in the city without a permit is subject to a fine. <br> <br> Officer Jackson observed a truck pass him on May 2nd in the town without a permit being visible. He stopped the truck and interrogated the driver. The motorist claimed to be from outside the area and was unaware of the law. The driver was issued a warning by Officer Jackson, who also advised him to leave the city if he was making a delivery or to go to the Office of Licenses and Permits to obtain a permit. Driving out of the town, the motorist complied. Officer Jackson observed the same truck and driver in the town on May 10th, once more without the necessary permit. The motorist apologized and claimed he was unaware that he was inside the city limits. Officer Jackson gave the driver a ticket. <br> <br> A hearing was placed in the city on May 28th after the motorist contested his citation. As there was a sign notifying of the city limit just down the street that the motorist had passed when approaching the city limits, the judge was not sympathetic to the driver's explanation. Officer Jackson observed the motorist had parked his truck in a lot across the street as he was exiting the courthouse. Officer Jackson was shocked to see that the truck was not in possession of the necessary authorization. After writing a ticket on the truck's front windshield, Officer Jackson continued with his day.<br> <br> Why did Officer Jackson issue the first ticket to the driver?
- The officer wanted to teach the driver a lesson
- The driver parked his vehicle outside the courthouse without the required permit
- The driver ignored the warning that was given the first time
- The driver did not have the required permit (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The driver did not have the required permit
The city ordinance clearly states that 'any truck in the city without a permit is subject to a fine.' On May 10th, Officer Jackson observed the driver's truck 'once more without the necessary permit' and subsequently issued a ticket. The absence of the required permit was the direct reason for the citation.
Question 6: Read the situation below and respond to the questions. <br> <br> An ordinance is passed and signed by the mayor that prohibits certain-size trucks from entering the city limits, with the exception of delivery trucks that must drop off or pick up goods or other materials from nearby businesses or residences. This is done in an effort to reduce traffic and air pollution in the town's center. Delivery vehicles must first get a special permit from the Office of Licenses and Permits, show it on the front windshield, and then enter the city. According to the ordinance, any truck in the city without a permit is subject to a fine. <br> <br> Officer Jackson observed a truck pass him on May 2nd in the town without a permit being visible. He stopped the truck and interrogated the driver. The motorist claimed to be from outside the area and was unaware of the law. The driver was issued a warning by Officer Jackson, who also advised him to leave the city if he was making a delivery or to go to the Office of Licenses and Permits to obtain a permit. Driving out of the town, the motorist complied. Officer Jackson observed the same truck and driver in the town on May 10th, once more without the necessary permit. The motorist apologized and claimed he was unaware that he was inside the city limits. Officer Jackson gave the driver a ticket. <br> <br> A hearing was placed in the city on May 28th after the motorist contested his citation. As there was a sign notifying of the city limit just down the street that the motorist had passed when approaching the city limits, the judge was not sympathetic to the driver's explanation. Officer Jackson observed the motorist had parked his truck in a lot across the street as he was exiting the courthouse. Officer Jackson was shocked to see that the truck was not in possession of the necessary authorization. After writing a ticket on the truck's front windshield, Officer Jackson continued with his day.<br> <br> Why did the driver's justification not convince the judge?
- The driver parked the truck outside the courthouse without the required permit
- The driver had sufficient notice of the city limit (Correct answer)
- The driver ignored the first warning given by the police officer
- None of the above
Correct answer: The driver had sufficient notice of the city limit
The passage explicitly states that the judge was 'not sympathetic to the driver's explanation' because 'there was a sign notifying of the city limit just down the street that the motorist had passed when approaching the city limits.' This indicates the judge believed the driver had sufficient visual notice of the city limits and should have been aware of the ordinance.
Question 7: Read the situation below and respond to the questions. <br> <br> An ordinance is passed and signed by the mayor that prohibits certain-size trucks from entering the city limits, with the exception of delivery trucks that must drop off or pick up goods or other materials from nearby businesses or residences. This is done in an effort to reduce traffic and air pollution in the town's center. Delivery vehicles must first get a special permit from the Office of Licenses and Permits, show it on the front windshield, and then enter the city. According to the ordinance, any truck in the city without a permit is subject to a fine. <br> <br> Officer Jackson observed a truck pass him on May 2nd in the town without a permit being visible. He stopped the truck and interrogated the driver. The motorist claimed to be from outside the area and was unaware of the law. The driver was issued a warning by Officer Jackson, who also advised him to leave the city if he was making a delivery or to go to the Office of Licenses and Permits to obtain a permit. Driving out of the town, the motorist complied. Officer Jackson observed the same truck and driver in the town on May 10th, once more without the necessary permit. The motorist apologized and claimed he was unaware that he was inside the city limits. Officer Jackson gave the driver a ticket. <br> <br> A hearing was placed in the city on May 28th after the motorist contested his citation. As there was a sign notifying of the city limit just down the street that the motorist had passed when approaching the city limits, the judge was not sympathetic to the driver's explanation. Officer Jackson observed the motorist had parked his truck in a lot across the street as he was exiting the courthouse. Officer Jackson was shocked to see that the truck was not in possession of the necessary authorization. After writing a ticket on the truck's front windshield, Officer Jackson continued with his day.<br> <br> What conclusions may be drawn from the passage based on the driver's actions following the warning?
- The driver was not making a delivery within the city limits (Correct answer)
- From the passage, it is impossible to tell whether the driver was making a delivery inside the city borders.
- The driver was making a delivery within the city limits
- None of the above
Correct answer: The driver was not making a delivery within the city limits
After the initial warning, Officer Jackson advised the driver to either leave the city if making a delivery or obtain a permit. The driver 'complied' by driving out of town. This action suggests that the driver was not making a delivery within the city limits, as he chose to exit rather than secure a permit to continue a delivery.
Free CPCA Reading Comprehension Question and Answers
An employee's workstation, locker, or city-owned car may be searched at any time, with or without the employee's knowledge, according to city policy.
An employee of the city has reported that the elected City Controller was seen smoking marijuana behind the city building and putting a baggie containing a green leafy substance in his desk about an hour ago.
As a result of this report, Officer Randy is asked by his supervisor to search the City Controller's desk.
Officer Randy presented the secretary with a documented copy of the city policy when she refused to permit the search on behalf of the City Controller.
The City Controller was on a job site checking a city-owned warehouse when the secretary contacted him.
He gave the secretary instructions to decline the search because he is an elected politician.
Officer Randy pushed his way through the City Controller's desk, past the secretary.
Nothing suspicious was discovered.
The event resulted in the secretary breaking her arm.
The city worker who complained to the city controller was well known to harbor strong feelings against the city controller because he had fired him the month before for being late.
What legal justification does Officer Randy have for wanting to search the City Controller's desk?
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Sources & references
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- knowledgebase.policeapp.com — Passing score, score release · verified Oct 2026
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