Practice Exam: Criminalistics Part 1 (Set 12)
A 30-question practice exam covering Forensic Photography, Personal Identification, and Questioned Documents.
What is the primary purpose of forensic photography at a crime scene?
A.To create artistic photos of the scene.
B.To create a fair and accurate record of the scene and evidence.
C.To take pictures of suspects.
D.To process film and digital images for court.
In photography, what does "depth of field" refer to?
A.The distance between the nearest and farthest objects that appear in acceptably sharp focus.
B.The distance from the camera to the main subject.
C.The sensitivity of the camera's sensor to light.
D.The opening of the lens that allows light to pass through.
This type of lighting is created by placing the light source at a low angle to the object, creating long shadows that can show texture and details.
A.Front lighting
B.Oblique lighting
C.Backlighting
D.Diffused lighting
What is the purpose of using a scale or ruler in a close-up photograph of evidence?
A.To make the evidence look bigger.
B.To allow for accurate sizing and measurement of the evidence later.
C.To provide a point of focus for the camera.
D.To add a reference number to the photograph.
Which lens would be most appropriate for taking a photograph of a large crime scene area from a distance?
A.Macro lens
B.Wide-angle lens
C.Telephoto lens
D.Normal lens
The principle that "every contact leaves a trace" is known as:
A.The Principle of Individuality
B.Locard's Exchange Principle
C.The Principle of Comparison
D.The Frye Standard
What are the three fundamental principles of fingerprint identification?
A.A fingerprint is an individual characteristic; it remains unchanged; it has general ridge patterns.
B.Permanence, Individuality (or Uniqueness), and Classifiability.
C.Loops, Whorls, and Arches.
D.Ridge ending, bifurcation, and dot.
The most common type of fingerprint pattern is the:
A.Arch
B.Loop
C.Whorl
D.Accidental
What are the focal points of a fingerprint pattern around which the ridges are classified?
A.Core and Delta
B.Ridge and Furrow
C.Bifurcation and Enclosure
D.Type lines and Pattern area
A fingerprint pattern with two deltas and at least one ridge making a complete circuit is a:
A.Loop
B.Whorl
C.Arch
D.Tented Arch
Minutiae points are the specific ridge characteristics used for fingerprint comparison. Which of the following is a type of minutiae?
A.Core
B.Delta
C.Bifurcation
D.Furrow
A latent fingerprint is one that is:
A.Visible to the naked eye.
B.Invisible or hidden and requires development to be seen.
C.Made by pressing fingers in a soft material like wax.
D.A digitally captured fingerprint.
What is the final step in the ACE-V methodology for fingerprint comparison?
A.Analysis
B.Comparison
C.Evaluation
D.Verification
The study of handwriting and typewriting to determine authenticity or authorship is called:
A.Graphology
B.Questioned Document Examination
C.Calligraphy
D.Paleography
A document created with the intent to defraud is known as a:
A.Questioned Document
B.Forged Document
C.Altered Document
D.Simulated Document
An addition to a document after it was originally prepared is called an:
A.Erasure
B.Interlineation or Insertion
C.Obliteration
D.Simulation
What is an "exemplar" in questioned document examination?
A.A known, authentic sample of writing used for comparison.
B.A suspected forged signature.
C.The questioned document itself.
D.A piece of equipment used to analyze ink.
The blotting or smearing of ink when a sharp instrument is used to remove writing from paper is known as:
A.Chemical erasure
B.Abrasive erasure
C.Ink feathering
D.Obliteration
This refers to any identifying characteristic of an individual's handwriting, such as slant, spacing, or letter formation.
A.Line quality
B.Individual characteristic
C.Class characteristic
D.Pen pressure
Which instrument is used to visualize indented writing?
A.Spectrophotometer
B.Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA)
C.Gas Chromatograph
D.Comparison Microscope
The process of overwriting or crossing out writing to make it unreadable is called:
A.Erasure
B.Alteration
C.Obliteration
D.Forgery
Which part of a camera controls the duration of time that light is allowed to strike the sensor?
A.Aperture
B.Shutter
C.Lens
D.ISO setting
A fingerprint that has been impressed into a soft surface, such as clay, wax, or paint, is known as a:
A.Latent print
B.Plastic print
C.Patent print
D.Visible print
A fingerprint pattern that enters from one side of the finger, rises in the middle, and exits out the opposite side is an:
A.Arch
B.Loop
C.Whorl
D.Accidental Whorl
In questioned document analysis, what is "line quality"?
A.The thickness of the paper.
B.The type of ink used.
C.The fluency, smoothness, and continuity of the written strokes.
D.The spacing between words.
Which chemical is commonly used to develop latent fingerprints on porous surfaces like paper?
A.Ninhydrin
B.Cyanoacrylate (Superglue)
C.Silver Nitrate
D.Iodine
The AFIS database stores what type of information for fingerprint comparison?
A.Full images of all fingerprints on file.
B.Digital templates of fingerprint patterns and minutiae points.
C.Criminal histories of individuals.
D.Scanned ten-print cards.
Which of the following is considered a class characteristic in handwriting?
A.An unusual "t" crossing.
B.The style of writing learned, such as Palmer or Zaner-Bloser.
C.A specific, repeated spelling error.
D.The unique way a letter "g" is formed.
What is the first step in a crime scene photographic series?
A.Close-up shots of the evidence.
B.Mid-range shots to show evidence in context.
C.Overall, wide-angle shots of the entire scene.
D.Photographs of the victim.
A signature that is created by copying or tracing an authentic signature is known as a:
A.Simulated or traced forgery
B.Freehand forgery
C.Fictitious signature
D.Disguised signature