NYPD Spatial Orientation Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer is pursuing a suspect on foot. The pursuit begins with the officer running 3 blocks North. The suspect then turns left, and the officer follows for 2 blocks. The suspect makes a right turn, and the officer follows for another 3 blocks. Finally, the suspect makes another right turn. In which cardinal direction is the officer now running?
- West
- North
- South
- East (Correct answer)
Correct answer: East
The officer starts by running North. A left turn from North faces West. A right turn from West faces North. A final right turn from North faces East. Therefore, the officer is now running East.
Question 2: You are standing on the south side of Main Street, facing North. The public library is directly in front of you, across the street. A pizzeria is on the same side of the street as you, to your right. A hardware store is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Main Street and Oak Avenue, which is one block to your west. What is the location of the pizzeria in relation to the hardware store?
- Northwest
- Southeast (Correct answer)
- Southwest
- Northeast
Correct answer: Southeast
You are on the south side of Main St. Facing North, your right is East. So, the pizzeria is to your east. The hardware store is to your west and across the street (north). Therefore, the pizzeria is located southeast of the hardware store.
Question 3: Review the following floor plan of a single-story precinct. All directions are based on this map's orientation, where the top is North. [Lobby] --- [Records Room] | [Briefing Room] --- [Captain's Office] An officer enters the precinct through the main door into the Lobby. To get to the Captain's Office, which sequence of directions is correct?
- Go East into the Records Room, then South to the Captain's Office.
- Go South into the Briefing Room, then West to the Captain's Office.
- Go South into the Briefing Room, then East to the Captain's Office. (Correct answer)
- Go East into the Records Room, then North to the Captain's Office.
Correct answer: Go South into the Briefing Room, then East to the Captain's Office.
According to the diagram, from the Lobby, the officer must first go South to enter the Briefing Room. From the Briefing Room, the officer must then go East to reach the Captain's Office.
Question 4: An officer at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and B Street needs to respond to a call at 5th Avenue and D Street. However, C Street is closed for a parade between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue. All streets are two-way. Which of the following is the most direct, unobstructed route?
- Go east on B Street to 5th Avenue, then go north on 5th Avenue to D Street.
- Go north on 2nd Avenue to C Street, then go east on C Street to 5th Avenue.
- Go east on B Street to 3rd Avenue, then go north on 3rd Avenue to D Street.
- Go north on 2nd Avenue to D Street, then go east on D Street to 5th Avenue. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Go north on 2nd Avenue to D Street, then go east on D Street to 5th Avenue.
The route 'Go north on 2nd Avenue to D Street, then go east on D Street to 5th Avenue' is the most direct path that completely avoids the closure on C Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. The other routes are either longer or attempt to use the closed section of C Street.
Question 5: An officer is observing a crime scene from the doorway of a rectangular room. The doorway is in the middle of the South wall. A desk is against the North wall. A filing cabinet is against the West wall. A bookshelf is against the East wall. From the officer's perspective, where is the filing cabinet in relation to the desk?
- To the front and right.
- To the back and left.
- To the left. (Correct answer)
- To the right.
Correct answer: To the left.
The officer is at the South wall, looking North into the room. The desk is directly ahead against the North wall. The West wall is to the officer's left, and the East wall is to the officer's right. Therefore, the filing cabinet against the West wall is to the left of the desk.
Question 6: A patrol car is parked facing East on Park Street. The car proceeds straight for two blocks, then turns right onto Liberty Avenue. It continues for one block and then turns right again onto Elm Street. After proceeding for two blocks on Elm Street, what direction is the patrol car facing?
- East
- North
- West (Correct answer)
- South
Correct answer: West
The car starts by facing East. A right turn from East leads South (onto Liberty Avenue). A second right turn from South leads West (onto Elm Street). The car is now facing West.
NYPD Spatial Orientation Questions and Answers
An officer is pursuing a suspect on foot.
The pursuit begins with the officer running 3 blocks North.
The suspect then turns left, and the officer follows for 2 blocks.
The suspect makes a right turn, and the officer follows for another 3 blocks.
Finally, the suspect makes another right turn.
In which cardinal direction is the officer now running?