State Trooper Reading Comprehension and Reasoning 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A training manual states: 'De-escalation techniques should be the first approach when dealing with agitated individuals who do not pose an immediate threat.' A trooper encounters a visibly upset man yelling on a sidewalk but making no threatening gestures. The BEST initial response is:
- Immediately restrain the man to prevent escalation
- Use de-escalation techniques as the first approach (Correct answer)
- Leave the scene and wait for backup before engaging
- Issue a disorderly conduct citation without verbal engagement
Correct answer: Use de-escalation techniques as the first approach
Because the man poses no immediate threat, the manual directs de-escalation as the first approach in this situation.
Question 2: A passage states: 'Of the 40 troopers in the district, 15 are assigned to day shift, 14 to evening shift, and the remainder to overnight shift.' How many troopers work overnight?
- 9
- 10
- 11 (Correct answer)
- 12
Correct answer: 11
40 minus 15 (day) minus 14 (evening) equals 11 troopers assigned to overnight shift.
Question 3: Read this excerpt: 'Officers who accumulate three or more unexcused absences within a 90-day period are subject to a formal review. Officers with five or more are subject to suspension.' A trooper has had four unexcused absences in 60 days. What action applies?
- No action, as the 90-day period is not complete
- A formal review (Correct answer)
- Immediate suspension
- Both a formal review and suspension
Correct answer: A formal review
Four unexcused absences exceeds the threshold of three within the 90-day window, triggering a formal review but not yet the five required for suspension.
Question 4: A paragraph reads: 'Eyewitness testimony, while valuable, is subject to limitations including stress, poor lighting, brief exposure time, and cross-racial identification challenges. Officers should corroborate eyewitness accounts with physical or other evidence where possible.' The MAIN point of this passage is:
- Eyewitness testimony is always unreliable and should be ignored
- Eyewitness testimony has limitations and should be supported by additional evidence (Correct answer)
- Physical evidence is the only acceptable form of evidence
- Officers should discourage witnesses from providing testimony
Correct answer: Eyewitness testimony has limitations and should be supported by additional evidence
The passage acknowledges eyewitness testimony's value while noting its limitations and recommending corroboration, making option B the accurate main point.
Question 5: A policy reads: 'Troopers must complete annual firearms qualification. Troopers who fail must re-qualify within 30 days. Failure to re-qualify results in suspension from duty until qualification is achieved.' A trooper fails initial qualification on March 1. She re-qualifies on March 28. What is her duty status?
- Suspended indefinitely
- Cleared for duty, as she re-qualified within 30 days (Correct answer)
- Suspended until the next annual qualification cycle
- On restricted duty until reviewed by the captain
Correct answer: Cleared for duty, as she re-qualified within 30 days
Re-qualifying on March 28 falls within the 30-day window from March 1, so the trooper is cleared for duty per policy.
Question 6: A crime summary states: 'Three burglaries occurred in the Oak Hill neighborhood: the first on a Tuesday, the second the following Friday, and the third the Tuesday after that.' What is the interval between the first and third burglaries?
- 7 days
- 10 days (Correct answer)
- 14 days
- 11 days
Correct answer: 10 days
From Tuesday to the following Friday is 3 days; from that Friday to the next Tuesday is 4 more days, totaling 10 days between the first and third burglaries.
Question 7: A regulation states: 'Troopers may conduct field sobriety tests when there is reasonable suspicion of impairment. Arrest for DUI requires probable cause.' A trooper notices a driver with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. She conducts a field sobriety test and the driver fails all three components. She may now:
- Only issue a warning, as the driver has not been formally tested
- Make a DUI arrest, as probable cause now exists (Correct answer)
- Request a warrant before making an arrest
- Conduct additional tests before concluding impairment
Correct answer: Make a DUI arrest, as probable cause now exists
Failed field sobriety tests combined with physical signs of impairment establish probable cause, authorizing a DUI arrest under the regulation.
State Trooper Reading Comprehension and Reasoning 4
A training manual states: 'De-escalation techniques should be the first approach when dealing with agitated individuals who do not pose an immediate threat.' A trooper encounters a visibly upset man yelling on a sidewalk but making no threatening gestures.
The BEST initial response is: