QPSea Literacy Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence is in the passive voice?
- The evidence was collected by the forensic team. (Correct answer)
- The forensic team collected the evidence.
- Forensic officers worked through the night.
- They secured the scene before dawn.
Correct answer: The evidence was collected by the forensic team.
Passive voice features the subject receiving the action; 'evidence was collected' shows the evidence as the subject being acted upon.
Question 2: What is the meaning of 'corroborate' as used in police reports?
- To confirm or support with additional evidence (Correct answer)
- To contradict an earlier statement
- To document an official record
- To interview a witness independently
Correct answer: To confirm or support with additional evidence
'Corroborate' means to confirm or support a statement or theory with additional evidence or testimony.
Question 3: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
- The witness stated: 'I saw the car leave at midnight.' (Correct answer)
- The witness stated, 'I saw the car leave at midnight'.
- The witness stated; 'I saw the car leave at midnight.'
- The witness stated 'I saw the car leave, at midnight.'
Correct answer: The witness stated: 'I saw the car leave at midnight.'
A colon correctly introduces a direct quotation that is formally presented, and the period falls inside the closing quotation mark.
Question 4: In the sentence 'Officers must adhere to protocols during volatile situations,' what does 'adhere' mean?
- Strictly follow or stick to (Correct answer)
- Modify based on circumstances
- Review at a later time
- Ignore when impractical
Correct answer: Strictly follow or stick to
'Adhere' means to follow or stick closely to rules, guidelines, or protocols.
Question 5: Which option correctly uses a semicolon?
- The shift ended at midnight; the next team arrived promptly. (Correct answer)
- The shift ended at midnight; and the next team arrived.
- He filed the report; because it was overdue.
- She was tired; but continued the patrol.
Correct answer: The shift ended at midnight; the next team arrived promptly.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction; adding 'and' or 'but' after a semicolon is incorrect.
Question 6: Read the sentence: 'The officer's demeanor was impartial throughout the interview.' What does 'impartial' mean?
- Treating all parties fairly without bias (Correct answer)
- Strict and disciplined in conduct
- Detached and emotionally uninvolved
- Transparent and easily understood
Correct answer: Treating all parties fairly without bias
'Impartial' means not favoring one side over another, treating all parties equally and without bias.
Question 7: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- Neither the sergeant nor the constables were informed. (Correct answer)
- Neither the sergeant nor the constables was informed.
- Neither the sergeant nor the constables is informed.
- Neither the sergeant nor the constables are informed.
Correct answer: Neither the sergeant nor the constables were informed.
With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the closest subject; 'constables' is plural, so 'were' is correct.
QPSea Literacy Skills 3
Which sentence is in the passive voice?