LEAB Reading and Written Comprehension 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following sentences is written most clearly and correctly for an official police report?
- The suspect, him and his friend, runned away from the officer.
- The two suspects fled the scene on foot heading northbound on Oak Street. (Correct answer)
- Me and the suspect had a altercation near the store's entrance at night.
- Both of the suspects, they escaped before officers could apprehend them at that location.
Correct answer: The two suspects fled the scene on foot heading northbound on Oak Street.
The second option uses correct grammar, provides specific directional detail, and is written in clear, professional language.
Question 2: Read this report sentence: 'The officer observed the vehicle driving erratically and it's brake lights was not working.' What are the TWO errors in this sentence?
- 'erratically' is misspelled; 'was' should be 'were'
- 'it's' should be 'its'; 'was' should be 'were' (Correct answer)
- 'observed' should be 'seen'; 'brake' should be 'break'
- 'vehicle' should be 'car'; 'erratically' should be 'erratic'
Correct answer: 'it's' should be 'its'; 'was' should be 'were'
'It's' (it is) should be the possessive 'its,' and 'was' should be 'were' to agree with the plural subject 'brake lights.'
Question 3: A report states: 'At approximately 1430 hours, this officer responded to a call at the intersection of Pine and Elm. The caller stated that a male subject was acting in a disorderly manner. Upon arrival, I contacted the subject and identified him as John Doe, DOB 01/15/1990.' What is the main purpose of this report paragraph?
- To justify the officer's use of force
- To establish the timeline, location, and initial contact with the subject (Correct answer)
- To describe the outcome of the investigation
- To document witness statements from bystanders
Correct answer: To establish the timeline, location, and initial contact with the subject
The paragraph establishes when and where the officer responded, the nature of the call, and the initial identification of the subject.
Question 4: Which sentence contains the most precise and objective language suitable for a law enforcement report?
- The guy seemed really angry and I thought he would do something bad.
- The suspect appeared agitated, clenching his fists and raising his voice. (Correct answer)
- He was in a mood and looked like trouble from the very beginning of our encounter.
- The individual, clearly disturbed, made me feel unsafe during this whole situation.
Correct answer: The suspect appeared agitated, clenching his fists and raising his voice.
The second option uses objective behavioral observations (clenching fists, raising voice) rather than assumptions or subjective feelings.
Question 5: A training manual states: 'Reports should be written in the first person, past tense, and should describe events in chronological order unless otherwise required by the reporting format.' Which report opening best follows these guidelines?
- This officer will respond to the location and will contact the subject.
- Officers are responding to the scene to gather information.
- On 06/15/2026, I responded to 301 Harbor Drive in reference to a burglary report. (Correct answer)
- The report covers events that took place over the course of the evening shift.
Correct answer: On 06/15/2026, I responded to 301 Harbor Drive in reference to a burglary report.
The third option uses first person ('I'), past tense ('responded'), and begins with a specific date and location — all consistent with the stated guidelines.
Question 6: Read the following: 'The victim stated she heard glass breaking around midnight. She did not see anyone but called police immediately.' Which inference is best supported by this statement?
- The victim knows who broke the glass
- The victim's call was made after midnight
- The victim was asleep when the incident occurred
- The victim reported the sound promptly after hearing it (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The victim reported the sound promptly after hearing it
The statement says she 'called police immediately' after hearing the glass break, directly supporting that she reported it promptly.
Question 7: An evidence log entry reads: 'Item #4 — One (1) black semi-automatic handgun, serial number filed off, recovered from the center console of the vehicle.' Which detail about this item is NOT included in the log entry?
- The location where it was found
- The color of the firearm
- The caliber of the firearm (Correct answer)
- The description of the serial number
Correct answer: The caliber of the firearm
The log describes the firearm's color (black), type (semi-automatic), and serial number condition, but does not state the caliber.
LEAB Reading and Written Comprehension 3
Which of the following sentences is written most clearly and correctly for an official police report?