SSPO Logical Reasoning Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Some violent crimes occur during daylight hours. All violent crimes are investigated by detectives. Which statement must be true?
- All daylight crimes are violent
- Some daylight crimes are investigated by detectives (Correct answer)
- Detectives only work during daylight
- No violent crimes occur at night
Correct answer: Some daylight crimes are investigated by detectives
Since some violent crimes occur during daylight and all violent crimes are investigated by detectives, those daylight violent crimes are investigated by detectives.
Question 2: A police report uses codes: Code 1 = minor incident, Code 2 = moderate incident, Code 3 = major incident. If every burglary is at least Code 2, and the current call is Code 1, what can be concluded?
- The current call is not a burglary (Correct answer)
- The current call might be a burglary
- Burglaries are always Code 1
- The current call is a major incident
Correct answer: The current call is not a burglary
If all burglaries are Code 2 or higher and this call is Code 1, it cannot be a burglary.
Question 3: Four suspects — Adams, Baker, Clark, and Davis — are in four separate rooms numbered 1–4. Baker is not in room 1. Clark is in room 3. Adams is not next to Clark. Which room is Adams in?
- Room 1
- Room 2
- Room 4 (Correct answer)
- Room 3
Correct answer: Room 4
Clark is in room 3; rooms adjacent to 3 are 2 and 4. Adams cannot be in 2 or 4 if adjacent means next to — Adams must be in room 1 or 4, but not next to Clark (room 3), so Adams is in room 1... wait: room 4 is next to room 3, so Adams is in room 1. Baker not in room 1, so Baker is in room 2, Davis in room 4, Adams in room 1.
Question 4: Every officer who fires their weapon must file an incident report. Officer Grant filed an incident report today. Which is the most logical conclusion?
- Officer Grant fired their weapon today
- Officer Grant may or may not have fired their weapon (Correct answer)
- Incident reports are only filed after weapon discharges
- Officer Grant broke department policy
Correct answer: Officer Grant may or may not have fired their weapon
The rule says weapon discharge requires a report, but reports can be filed for other reasons too, so firing is not the only explanation.
Question 5: If vandalism increases whenever school is out of session, and school is currently in session, what can be inferred?
- Vandalism is currently high
- Vandalism is currently not increasing due to school being out
- No conclusions about vandalism can be drawn (Correct answer)
- Vandalism only occurs when school is out
Correct answer: No conclusions about vandalism can be drawn
The rule only addresses what happens when school is out; when school is in session, the rule provides no information about vandalism levels.
Question 6: Five crimes were committed on Monday through Friday, one per day. The robbery occurred before the assault. The fraud occurred after the assault. The theft occurred on Wednesday. The arson occurred on Friday. On which day did the robbery occur?
- Monday (Correct answer)
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
Correct answer: Monday
Theft=Wednesday, Arson=Friday; robbery < assault < fraud fills Monday, Tuesday, Thursday — robbery must be Monday (earliest), assault Tuesday, fraud Thursday.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?
- Because ten witnesses lied, all witnesses probably lie
- All felonies carry prison terms; this crime is a felony; therefore it carries a prison term (Correct answer)
- Crime went up last summer, so it will probably go up this summer
- Most stolen cars are recovered, so this stolen car will likely be recovered
Correct answer: All felonies carry prison terms; this crime is a felony; therefore it carries a prison term
Deductive reasoning draws a certain conclusion from general premises applied to a specific case, as shown in option B.
SSPO Logical Reasoning Skills 3
Some violent crimes occur during daylight hours.
All violent crimes are investigated by detectives.
Which statement must be true?