Free USPS Error Detection Test Omission and Insertion Errors Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When comparing two address lines, which of the following pairs demonstrates an omission error in the second line?
- Line 1: 123 N OAK AVE APT 4B | Line 2: 123 N OAK AVE AP 4B (Correct answer)
- Line 1: 123 N OAK AVE APT 4B | Line 2: 123 N OAK AVE APT 4C
- Line 1: 123 N OAK AVE APT 4B | Line 2: 132 N OAK AVE APT 4B
- Line 1: 123 N OAK AVE APT 4B | Line 2: 123 N OAK AVE APTT 4B
Correct answer: Line 1: 123 N OAK AVE APT 4B | Line 2: 123 N OAK AVE AP 4B
An omission error occurs when one or more characters are missing from the data. In this case, the letter 'T' has been omitted from the unit designator 'APT' in the second line.
Question 2: A data entry operator is keying addresses and accidentally types an extra character in a street name. For example, the correct address '4550 HICKORY ST' is entered as '4550 HICKORRY ST'. This type of mistake is classified as what kind of error?
- A substitution error
- A transposition error
- An insertion error (Correct answer)
- An omission error
Correct answer: An insertion error
An insertion error happens when an extra character is added to the data string. In 'HICKORRY', an extra 'R' was inserted.
Question 3: A mailpiece is addressed to '7801-3445 NW 15TH ST'. Which of the following entered addresses contains an omission error?
- 7801-3445 NW 15TH STT
- 7801-3454 NW 15TH ST
- 7801-3445 NW 15 ST (Correct answer)
- 7801-3445 NE 15TH ST
Correct answer: 7801-3445 NW 15 ST
The correct answer contains an omission error because the letters 'TH' are missing from the end of '15TH' in the street name.
Question 4: During a data review, you compare an original ZIP+4 code to what was entered into the system. Which pair below demonstrates an insertion error in the 'Entered' line?
- Original: 80204-5519 | Entered: 80204-551
- Original: 80204-5519 | Entered: 80204-55199 (Correct answer)
- Original: 80204-5519 | Entered: 80204-5159
- Original: 80204-5519 | Entered: 80204-5591
Correct answer: Original: 80204-5519 | Entered: 80204-55199
An insertion error occurs when an extra character is added. In this case, an extra '9' has been inserted into the '+4' portion of the ZIP code, making it five digits instead of four.
Question 5: A correct address is `9500 GILMAN DR MB 102`. A data processing machine reads the address but fails to capture the mail building designator, recording it as `9500 GILMAN DR 102`. What is the most accurate description of this error?
- Character substitution
- Numeric transposition
- Data insertion
- Omission of an address element (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Omission of an address element
The address element 'MB' (Mail Building) was completely left out of the recorded address. This is an omission error, where part of the required data is missing.
Question 6: In the context of data entry, an insertion error is defined as the addition of one or more extraneous characters. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates this type of error?
- Entering 'PO BOX 150' as 'PO BOX 510'
- Entering 'PO BOX 150' as 'PO BOX 15O'
- Entering 'PO BOX 150' as 'PO BOX 1500' (Correct answer)
- Entering 'PO BOX 150' as 'PO BOX 15'
Correct answer: Entering 'PO BOX 150' as 'PO BOX 1500'
This is a clear example of an insertion error, where an extra '0' has been added to the end of the box number, changing '150' to '1500'.
When comparing two address lines, which of the following pairs demonstrates an omission error in the second line?