State Trooper Reading Comprehension and Logic Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the following passage from a fictional department policy: 'General Order 301.5: Officers shall not accept any gratuity or gift which could be reasonably interpreted as a reward for their position or which may compromise their impartiality.
Unsolicited items of nominal value, such as a cup of coffee or a bottled water, may be accepted.' Trooper Smith is offered a 50% discount on a new set of tires by a local mechanic who says, 'I appreciate the work you troopers do to keep us safe.' According to this policy, what is the most appropriate action for Trooper Smith?

Accepted Answer

Politely decline the discount as it is of more than nominal value and could be seen as a reward.

Answer

Accept the discount as a gesture of community support.

Answer

Accept the discount but report it to a supervisor for approval.

Answer

Ask the mechanic to offer the same discount to all first responders.

Question 2

An eyewitness to a vehicle break-in gives the following statement: 'I saw a person in a grey sweatshirt quickly walk up to the red car, smash the passenger window, and grab a laptop from the front seat. The person then ran south down Oak Street. It all happened so fast, I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman.' Based only on this statement, which of the following is a certain fact?

Accepted Answer

The stolen item was a laptop computer.

Answer

The crime occurred during the daytime.

Answer

The suspect was acting alone.

Answer

The red car was unlocked.

Question 3

Review the following paragraph from a trooper's report: 'The suspect was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. He was clearly deceptive during my initial questioning. He kept looking away and his story about where he was going didn't make sense. Therefore, he must be guilty of the burglary we were investigating.' What is the primary logical flaw in the trooper's conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion is a non sequitur; the premise does not logically lead to the conclusion.

Answer

The trooper is making an appeal to emotion.

Answer

The trooper is presenting a false dilemma.

Answer

The trooper is making a hasty generalization.

Question 4

Analyze the following dispatch log entries: 22:10 - Report of loud music at 123 Pine St. 22:12 - Trooper Davis assigned. 22:21 - Trooper Davis on scene, requests backup for a large, hostile crowd. 22:23 - Sgt. Rios and Trooper Chen en route as backup. 22:25 - Witness calls dispatch, states a physical fight broke out at the party 'a few minutes before' the first trooper arrived. 22:30 - Backup units on scene. Based on this log, what can be logically inferred?

Accepted Answer

The physical fight started at approximately 22:18.

Answer

Sgt. Rios was the first supervisor to arrive.

Answer

Trooper Davis made an arrest before backup arrived.

Answer

The initial caller did not report a fight.

Question 5

A state statute defines 'Prowling' as: 'A person commits an offense if they loiter or prowl in a place, at a time, or in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals under circumstances that warrant a justifiable and reasonable alarm or immediate concern for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity.' A trooper observes a man in a jogging suit stretching on a public sidewalk at 10:00 AM. The man then jogs down the street. Based strictly on the statute, has the man committed Prowling?

Accepted Answer

No, because his actions were usual for a law-abiding individual and did not warrant alarm.

Answer

Yes, because he was loitering on a public sidewalk.

Answer

Yes, because his behavior could have concerned a homeowner.

Answer

No, because the incident occurred during the day.

Question 6

A trooper responding to a theft-of-services call at a gas station is told by the attendant, 'A guy in a blue Ford truck with a dented tailgate just drove off without paying for $50 of gas. He headed north on the highway.' Two miles north, the trooper spots a blue Ford truck with a dented tailgate pulling into a restaurant parking lot. Which of the following is the most logical and justifiable next action?

Accepted Answer

Initiate an investigatory stop of the vehicle and its driver.

Answer

Immediately arrest the driver for theft.

Answer

Enter the restaurant to see if the driver is inside.

Answer

Note the license plate and continue patrolling.