Free SHERIFF Reading Comprehension Skills Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following passage and answer the question below. 'General Order 34.5 stipulates that an officer involved in a traffic collision with a department vehicle must immediately notify their direct supervisor. The supervisor is then responsible for responding to the scene, conducting a preliminary investigation, and ensuring all required reports are completed before the end of the shift. If the collision involves a serious injury or fatality, the supervisor must also contact the on-call Traffic Division investigator and the Watch Commander. The preliminary report must detail the road conditions, witness statements, and include a hand-drawn diagram of the scene. Failure to complete these steps can result in disciplinary action.' According to General Order 34.5, which of the following is the immediate first step an officer must take after being involved in a traffic collision in a department vehicle?
- Contact the on-call Traffic Division investigator.
- Complete all required reports before the end of the shift.
- Notify their direct supervisor. (Correct answer)
- Create a hand-drawn diagram of the scene.
Correct answer: Notify their direct supervisor.
The first sentence of the passage explicitly states that the officer's immediate responsibility is to 'notify their direct supervisor.' The other actions are responsibilities of the supervisor or later steps in the process.
Question 2: Read the following witness statement and determine the main idea. 'The suspect was a male, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and faded jeans. He had a tattoo of a spider web on his left hand. He ran south on Elm Street after grabbing the purse from the victim. I noticed he had a slight limp in his right leg as he fled. The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 PM, just as the streetlights were beginning to flicker. I was sitting on the park bench directly across the street when it happened.' What is the primary purpose of this passage?
- To describe the weather and time of day.
- To provide a detailed physical and clothing description of a suspect for identification. (Correct answer)
- To explain the victim's reaction to the crime.
- To document the malfunction of the streetlights on Elm Street.
Correct answer: To provide a detailed physical and clothing description of a suspect for identification.
The majority of the sentences in the passage are dedicated to describing the suspect's appearance, clothing, and distinguishing features (tattoo, limp) to help law enforcement identify him. While other details are mentioned, they are secondary to the description of the suspect.
Question 3: A deputy is reviewing an incident report that states: 'The vehicle, a 2018 silver Honda Civic, was reported stolen on March 15th from the 1200 block of North Main Street. The owner, Jane Doe, stated she had parked it at 8:00 AM and discovered it missing at 5:00 PM the same day. The vehicle was later recovered on March 17th in a neighboring county with minor damage to the front bumper. There were no signs of forced entry. The keys were not left in the vehicle. The estimated value of the car is $15,000, and the estimated damage is $500.' Based on the report, which statement is a fact rather than an inference?
- The thief was a professional who knew how to bypass the car's security.
- The vehicle was recovered in a neighboring county on March 17th. (Correct answer)
- The owner likely forgot where she parked the car.
- The damage to the bumper occurred during the theft.
Correct answer: The vehicle was recovered in a neighboring county on March 17th.
The report explicitly states the date and location of the vehicle's recovery. This is a verifiable fact presented in the text. The other options are inferences or assumptions that are not directly stated or supported by the facts in the passage.
Question 4: Read the following directive and answer the question. 'When responding to a domestic disturbance call, deputies shall, upon arrival, attempt to separate the involved parties to conduct individual interviews. The primary objective is to ensure the safety of all individuals present and to determine if a crime has been committed. If there is evidence of physical injury, the responding deputy must photograph the injuries and request medical assistance if necessary. A report must be filed for every domestic disturbance call, regardless of whether an arrest is made. The report should document the statements of all parties and any independent witnesses.' Which of the following is NOT a required action for a deputy responding to a domestic disturbance call, according to this directive?
- Making an arrest if a crime has been committed. (Correct answer)
- Filing a report for every call.
- Separating the parties for interviews.
- Photographing visible physical injuries.
Correct answer: Making an arrest if a crime has been committed.
The directive states the deputy's job is to 'determine if a crime has been committed,' but it does not mandate that an arrest must be made. It only requires a report to be filed. The other three options are explicitly required actions mentioned in the text.
Question 5: A deputy reads a memo about a new evidence handling procedure. The memo is detailed, uses complex legal terminology, and outlines a 12-step process. To ensure proper understanding and recall, what is the MOST effective strategy the deputy should use?
- Read the memo once quickly to get the general idea.
- Memorize the title and the first and last sentences of the memo.
- Scan the document for keywords without reading the full text.
- Read the memo carefully, take notes, and summarize the key steps in their own words. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Read the memo carefully, take notes, and summarize the key steps in their own words.
For complex and detailed information, active reading strategies are most effective. Reading carefully, taking notes, and summarizing are proven methods for improving comprehension and retention of critical information, which is essential for following procedures correctly.
Question 6: Read the paragraph below. 'Community-oriented policing is a strategy that focuses on building ties and working closely with members of the community. The core idea is that police can draw on the knowledge and support of the community to help prevent and solve crime. This approach requires police to be proactive problem-solvers, rather than just reacting to incidents. It involves regular, positive interaction with citizens, attending community meetings, and establishing partnerships with local organizations. The goal is to create a sense of mutual trust, which can lead to better information sharing and a reduction in crime rates.' Based on the passage, the primary goal of community-oriented policing is to:
- Increase the number of arrests made each month.
- Assign more officers to patrol high-crime areas.
- Reduce response times for emergency calls.
- Build trust and partnerships between police and the community to prevent crime. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Build trust and partnerships between police and the community to prevent crime.
The passage explicitly states that the goal of community-oriented policing is to 'create a sense of mutual trust' and build 'partnerships' to 'help prevent and solve crime.' The other options describe different policing strategies that are not the main focus of the community-oriented model described.
Free SHERIFF Reading Comprehension Skills Questions and Answers
Read the following passage and answer the question below.
'General Order 34.5 stipulates that an officer involved in a traffic collision with a department vehicle must immediately notify their direct supervisor.
The supervisor is then responsible for responding to the scene, conducting a preliminary investigation, and ensuring all required reports are completed before the end of the shift.
If the collision involves a serious injury or fatality, the supervisor must also contact the on-call Traffic Division investigator and the Watch Commander.
The preliminary report must detail the road conditions, witness statements, and include a hand-drawn diagram of the scene.
Failure to complete these steps can result in disciplinary action.'
According to General Order 34.5, which of the following is the immediate first step an officer must take after being involved in a traffic collision in a department vehicle?