NTN Police Reading Comprehension Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patrol officer reads the following passage: 'The suspect fled on foot northbound on Main Street, then turned east onto Oak Avenue. Witnesses reported the suspect dropped a dark jacket near a blue mailbox on Oak Avenue before entering a gray building.' Which item did the suspect drop?
- A wallet
- A dark jacket (Correct answer)
- A backpack
- A blue hat
Correct answer: A dark jacket
The passage explicitly states the suspect dropped a dark jacket near a blue mailbox on Oak Avenue.
Reading comprehension requires identifying specific details stated in a passage. The passage clearly states 'the suspect dropped a dark jacket near a blue mailbox on Oak Avenue.' No other items were mentioned as being dropped. Officers must accurately extract factual details from witness statements and reports to take proper action.
Question 2: Read the following: 'State law requires officers to complete a use-of-force report within 48 hours of any incident where force was applied, regardless of whether injury occurred. Reports submitted after the deadline require supervisor approval and a written explanation for the delay.' When is supervisor approval required for a use-of-force report?
- Only when the suspect was injured
- For all use-of-force incidents
- When the report is submitted after 48 hours (Correct answer)
- When the officer requests it
Correct answer: When the report is submitted after 48 hours
The passage states supervisor approval is required when reports are submitted after the deadline (48 hours).
The passage establishes two conditions: (1) reports must be filed within 48 hours after any use-of-force incident, and (2) reports submitted after that deadline require supervisor approval plus a written explanation for the delay. Supervisor approval is not required for on-time reports or based on injury status. This tests careful reading of procedural requirements.
Question 3: An officer reads: 'The building had three entry points: a front door on Elm Street, a rear door accessible from the alley, and a side entrance on the west wall used exclusively by staff. The front door was found unlocked; the rear and side doors were secured.' How many entry points were secured?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- None
Correct answer: Two
The rear door and side entrance were both secured, making two entry points secured.
The passage describes three entry points and their statuses: front door (unlocked), rear door (secured), and side entrance (secured). Two of the three entry points were secured. Reading comprehension for police work requires careful enumeration of details, especially when multiple items share a common characteristic.
Question 4: Read the following policy: 'Officers may conduct a pat-down search when they have reasonable suspicion that a person is armed and dangerous. A pat-down is limited to the outer clothing and is not a full search. If an officer feels an object that could be a weapon, the object may be retrieved.' Under what condition may an officer retrieve an object during a pat-down?
- Whenever they conduct a pat-down
- Only after arrest
- If the object could be a weapon (Correct answer)
- If the suspect gives consent
Correct answer: If the object could be a weapon
The passage specifies an object may be retrieved during a pat-down only if it feels like it could be a weapon.
The policy establishes a clear limitation: retrieval of an object during a pat-down is only permitted when the officer feels something that could be a weapon. The pat-down itself requires reasonable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous. This question tests the ability to distinguish between conditions that permit different levels of police action, a critical skill for legal policing.
Question 5: A report states: 'At 0230 hours, dispatch received a call from a resident on Maple Drive reporting a loud argument. The first unit arrived at 0241 hours. Officers found two adults outside the residence but no signs of physical altercation. Both parties were interviewed separately.' How long did it take for the first unit to arrive after the call was received?
- 9 minutes
- 11 minutes (Correct answer)
- 13 minutes
- 21 minutes
Correct answer: 11 minutes
The call was received at 0230 and the unit arrived at 0241, a difference of 11 minutes.
0241 minus 0230 equals 11 minutes. Officers frequently need to calculate response times, elapsed times, and durations from incident reports and dispatch logs. This requires converting 24-hour time notation and performing simple arithmetic. Accuracy in reading and computing times from reports is essential for documentation and testimony.
Question 6: Read: 'Community policing strategies emphasize building trust between law enforcement and the public through consistent presence, open communication, and collaborative problem-solving. Research shows that neighborhoods with active community policing programs report higher satisfaction with police services and increased willingness to report crimes.' What does research indicate about community policing?
- It reduces officer response times
- It increases public satisfaction and crime reporting willingness (Correct answer)
- It is more expensive than traditional policing
- It eliminates the need for patrol officers
Correct answer: It increases public satisfaction and crime reporting willingness
The passage directly states that research shows higher satisfaction and increased willingness to report crimes in areas with community policing.
The passage attributes two specific research findings to community policing programs: higher public satisfaction with police services and increased willingness to report crimes. The other options are not mentioned in the passage. Reading comprehension requires drawing conclusions only from what is actually stated in the text, not from outside knowledge or assumptions.
NTN Police Reading Comprehension Skills 2
A patrol officer reads the following passage: 'The suspect fled on foot northbound on Main Street, then turned east onto Oak Avenue.
Witnesses reported the suspect dropped a dark jacket near a blue mailbox on Oak Avenue before entering a gray building.' Which item did the suspect drop?