LEAB Written Expression and Grammar Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer is writing a report and needs to state that the lead investigator and two other officers arrived first. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
- The lead detective, along with two junior officers, were first to arrive.
- The lead detective, as well as two junior officers, were the first ones to arrive on scene.
- The lead detective, along with two junior officers, was first to arrive. (Correct answer)
- First to arrive were the lead detective, in addition to two junior officers.
Correct answer: The lead detective, along with two junior officers, was first to arrive.
The correct answer is 'The lead detective, along with two junior officers, was first to arrive.' The subject of the sentence is 'The lead detective,' which is singular. The phrase 'along with two junior officers' is a parenthetical phrase that does not change the subject. Therefore, the singular verb 'was' is required to agree with the singular subject.
Question 2: An officer needs to document observing a suspect discarding an item. Which of the following sentences is the most clear, concise, and professional for an incident report?
- It was observed by me that the suspect, while he was running away, discarded an object.
- The suspect, he discarded a small object, and I saw him do it as he fled.
- A small object was discarded by the suspect, which I observed as he was fleeing the scene.
- I observed the suspect discard a small object as he fled. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: I observed the suspect discard a small object as he fled.
The sentence 'I observed the suspect discard a small object as he fled' is the best choice. It uses the active voice ('I observed'), which is direct and clear. The other options are either wordy, use the passive voice ('was discarded'), or have a conversational and unprofessional tone ('he...and I saw him do it').
Question 3: A draft of an incident report contains the following sentence: 'The victim refused medical attention, he stated he would see his own doctor.' What is the primary grammatical error in this sentence?
- Spelling error
- Comma splice (Correct answer)
- Incorrect capitalization
- Subject-verb disagreement
Correct answer: Comma splice
The sentence contains a comma splice. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined together with only a comma. 'The victim refused medical attention' is a complete sentence, and 'he stated he would see his own doctor' is also a complete sentence. They should be joined by a period, a semicolon, or a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., 'and,' 'but').
Question 4: Which of the following sentences, intended for a police report, contains a spelling error?
- The suspect's vehicle was immediately recognizable.
- Officers proceeded to the address to conduct surveillance.
- The witness provided a description that was definately helpful. (Correct answer)
- It is necessary to acquire a search warrant.
Correct answer: The witness provided a description that was definately helpful.
The word 'definately' is misspelled in the sentence. The correct spelling is 'definitely.' The other sentences are spelled correctly.
Question 5: A departmental memo states, 'The new patrol strategy is intended to _______ a reduction in property crime.' Which word correctly completes the sentence?
- affect
- effect (Correct answer)
- assure
- except
Correct answer: effect
The correct word is 'effect.' In this context, 'effect' is a verb meaning 'to bring about' or 'to cause.' 'Affect' is a verb meaning 'to influence.' While the strategy influences crime, its direct purpose is to bring about (effect) a reduction. 'Assure' means to state with confidence, and 'except' is a preposition, neither of which fits the sentence's meaning.
Question 6: The initial draft of a report reads: 'The suspect was described as a tall man with a beard wearing a green jacket.' This sentence is ambiguous. Which of the following revisions is the most clear?
- A tall man with a beard, the suspect was described as wearing a green jacket.
- The suspect was described as a tall man wearing a green jacket with a beard.
- The suspect, a tall man, was described as having a beard and wearing a green jacket. (Correct answer)
- Wearing a green jacket, the suspect was described as a tall man with a beard.
Correct answer: The suspect, a tall man, was described as having a beard and wearing a green jacket.
The original sentence contains a misplaced modifier, making it sound like the green jacket has a beard. The clearest revision is 'The suspect, a tall man, was described as having a beard and wearing a green jacket.' This structure clearly separates the suspect's physical attributes (tall, has a beard) from the clothing he was wearing, eliminating any confusion.
LEAB Written Expression and Grammar Questions and Answers 1
An officer is writing a report and needs to state that the lead investigator and two other officers arrived first.
Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?