MTA Physical Fitness 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a physical fitness screening, a candidate is asked to perform a maximum number of sit-ups in one minute. What component of fitness does this PRIMARILY measure?
- Cardiovascular endurance
- Muscular power
- Muscular endurance (Correct answer)
- Flexibility
Correct answer: Muscular endurance
Timed repetitive sit-ups measure muscular endurance—the ability of a muscle group to sustain repeated contractions over time.
Question 2: A police recruit has a resting heart rate of 58 bpm. What does this MOST likely indicate?
- Cardiovascular disease risk
- High blood pressure
- Good cardiovascular fitness (Correct answer)
- Anemia
Correct answer: Good cardiovascular fitness
A lower resting heart rate typically indicates a more efficient heart muscle, which is a sign of good cardiovascular fitness.
Question 3: Which exercise is MOST effective for developing the leg strength needed to restrain a resistant subject on the ground?
- Calf raises
- Leg press or squat (Correct answer)
- Hamstring curls
- Ankle circles
Correct answer: Leg press or squat
Squats and leg presses develop overall lower-body strength in the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes, which are essential for controlling and restraining subjects.
Question 4: What does VO2 max measure?
- Maximum oxygen consumption during intense exercise (Correct answer)
- Resting oxygen saturation level
- Lung volume at full inhalation
- Blood oxygen transfer rate
Correct answer: Maximum oxygen consumption during intense exercise
VO2 max is the maximum rate at which the body can consume oxygen during maximal exercise and is the gold standard measure of aerobic capacity.
Question 5: Which of the following is the BEST indicator that a candidate is overtraining before a police fitness exam?
- Increased muscle soreness after workouts
- Improved sleep quality
- Persistent fatigue and declining performance (Correct answer)
- Mild increase in resting heart rate immediately after exercise
Correct answer: Persistent fatigue and declining performance
Persistent fatigue combined with a decline in exercise performance are hallmark signs of overtraining syndrome.
Question 6: A healthy body fat percentage range for male police recruits is generally considered to be:
- 5–8%
- 10–22% (Correct answer)
- 25–30%
- 32–40%
Correct answer: 10–22%
Most law enforcement fitness standards consider 10–22% body fat healthy and acceptable for male recruits.
Question 7: Which stretching technique is MOST appropriate immediately after a strenuous fitness test to reduce muscle soreness?
- Ballistic stretching
- Static stretching (Correct answer)
- Plyometric movements
- Dynamic warm-up drills
Correct answer: Static stretching
Static stretching held for 15–30 seconds after exercise helps lengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and reduce post-exercise soreness.
MTA Physical Fitness 3
During a physical fitness screening, a candidate is asked to perform a maximum number of sit-ups in one minute.
What component of fitness does this PRIMARILY measure?