Written Comprehension & Expression Flashcards

Read the following excerpt from an incident report: "Upon arrival, Officer Reyes observed the front door of 412 Maple Drive standing open. No lights were on inside the residence. A neighbor, Ms. Cho, reported hearing glass breaking at approximately 0130 hours." Which of the following is a fact stated in the report (not an inference)?

Answer: The front door was open when Officer Reyes arrived.

The report directly states Officer Reyes observed the front door standing open; the other options are inferences not supported by the text.

Which sentence contains a grammatical error?

Answer: Neither the sergeant nor the detectives was available for comment.

"Neither…nor" with a plural noun closest to the verb requires the plural verb "were," not "was."

An officer writes: "The perpetuator fled the scene in a red vehicle." What is wrong with this sentence?

Answer: "Perpetuator" is not a real word; the correct term is "perpetrator"

The correct law enforcement term is "perpetrator," not "perpetuator."

Choose the sentence that best expresses the idea clearly and concisely.

Answer: The investigation is ongoing.

Option B conveys the same information without redundancy or unnecessary words.

Which of the following is the correct plural form for use in a report?

Answer: Witnesses

"Witnesses" is the correct plural form of "witness."

Read the following: "Officers were instructed to canvass the neighborhood and document any relevant observations." What does "canvass" mean in this law enforcement context?

Answer: To systematically go through an area interviewing people for information

In law enforcement, to "canvass" means to go through an area interviewing residents or witnesses to gather information.

Which sentence correctly uses the word "apprehend"?

Answer: Officers were able to apprehend the suspect near the bus station.

In law enforcement, "apprehend" correctly means to arrest or take a suspect into custody.