NPOST Spatial Orientation and Map Reading

Question 1

You are facing north and turn 90 degrees to your right. Which direction are you now facing?

Accepted Answer

East

Answer

Turning 90 degrees to the right (clockwise) from north brings you to face east.

Question 2

On a standard map, which direction is typically represented at the top?

Accepted Answer

North

Answer

By cartographic convention, north is placed at the top of standard maps.

Question 3

You are driving west on a street and turn left at the intersection. What direction are you now traveling?

Accepted Answer

South

Answer

A left turn when heading west rotates you 90 degrees counterclockwise, putting you facing south.

Question 4

An officer walks 3 blocks north and then 4 blocks east from the station. What is the straight-line distance back to the station?

Accepted Answer

5 blocks

Answer

Using the Pythagorean theorem, the hypotenuse is √(3² + 4²) = √25 = 5 blocks.

Question 5

On a map with a scale of 1 inch = 0.5 miles, two locations are 6 inches apart on the map. What is the actual distance between them?

Accepted Answer

3 miles

Answer

6 inches × 0.5 miles per inch = 3 miles actual distance.

NPOST Police Test Practice Test