State Trooper Map Reading and Navigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A trooper receives a call in a rural township. The address given is '4200 North County Road 500 East.' What do the numbers in this address system indicate?
- The property is 4.2 miles north and 5 miles east of the county's baseline origin point (Correct answer)
- The property's lot and block number in the county register
- The elevation and bearing from the county courthouse
- The road's distance from the state capital
Correct answer: The property is 4.2 miles north and 5 miles east of the county's baseline origin point
Many Midwestern counties use a grid address system where numbers represent tenths of miles from baseline east-west and north-south roads.
Question 2: Which compass bearing describes a direction exactly halfway between south and southwest?
- 202.5 degrees (Correct answer)
- 225 degrees
- 247.5 degrees
- 215 degrees
Correct answer: 202.5 degrees
South is 180° and southwest is 225°; the midpoint is 202.5°, known as south-southwest (SSW).
Question 3: A trooper is told a suspect fled 'northbound on the interstate past exit 47.' On the map, exit numbers increase toward the north. Which direction should the trooper travel to intercept?
- Northbound, setting up ahead of exit 47 at a higher-numbered exit (Correct answer)
- Southbound to exit 47
- Northbound back to exit 47
- Eastbound on the nearest cross street
Correct answer: Northbound, setting up ahead of exit 47 at a higher-numbered exit
If exit numbers increase northbound and the suspect passed exit 47 heading north, they are now beyond exit 47 at a higher-numbered exit.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a map's 'magnetic declination' notation?
- To show the difference between true north and magnetic north so compass readings can be corrected (Correct answer)
- To indicate the date the map's magnetic survey was completed
- To show areas of radio interference on the map
- To mark where compass readings are unreliable due to terrain
Correct answer: To show the difference between true north and magnetic north so compass readings can be corrected
Magnetic declination is the angular difference between true north (geographic) and magnetic north, which must be applied when using a compass with a map.
Question 5: During a high-speed pursuit, a dispatcher announces the fleeing vehicle is westbound on Highway 12 approaching the junction with Route 7. What should the trooper anticipate about the suspect's next possible moves?
- The suspect may turn north or south on Route 7, or continue west on Highway 12 (Correct answer)
- The suspect will be forced to stop at the intersection
- The suspect must merge onto Route 7
- The suspect will turn east to evade
Correct answer: The suspect may turn north or south on Route 7, or continue west on Highway 12
At a junction, a driver has the option to continue straight or turn in any available direction, so troopers must consider all open routes.
Question 6: On a map, a hospital symbol is located at coordinates (41.2° N, 87.5° W). A trooper at (41.1° N, 87.5° W) needs to reach the hospital. In which cardinal direction should they travel?
- North (Correct answer)
- South
- East
- West
Correct answer: North
Latitude increases as you move north; the hospital at 41.2° N is north of the trooper's position at 41.1° N.
Question 7: A trooper is using a sectional map. A 'section' in the Public Land Survey System covers how much land?
- One square mile (640 acres) (Correct answer)
- One square kilometer
- One quarter mile on each side
- Ten acres
Correct answer: One square mile (640 acres)
The Public Land Survey System divides land into townships of 36 sections, each section measuring one square mile or 640 acres.
State Trooper Map Reading and Navigation 3
A trooper receives a call in a rural township.
The address given is '4200 North County Road 500 East.' What do the numbers in this address system indicate?