Practice Exam: Criminalistics Part 2 (Set 13)
A 30-question practice exam covering Forensic Ballistics, Chemistry, Toxicology, Polygraphy, and DNA.
What is the primary concern of forensic ballistics?
A.The study of projectile motion in flight.
B.The identification of firearms, bullets, and cartridge cases.
C.The analysis of explosive devices.
D.The study of the impact of projectiles on targets.
The unique microscopic scratches and impressions left on a bullet and cartridge case by a firearm are called:
A.Class characteristics
B.Striations or individual characteristics
C.Rifling marks
D.Land and groove impressions
The spiral grooves cut into the bore of a firearm barrel to impart spin on a bullet are known as:
A.Striae
B.Rifling
C.Caliber
D.Breech marks
Which instrument is indispensable for comparing the markings on a test-fired bullet with a crime scene bullet?
A.Stereomicroscope
B.Comparison Microscope
C.Gas Chromatograph
D.Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
The diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually expressed in hundredths of an inch or millimeters, is its:
A.Gauge
B.Caliber
C.Headstamp
D.Rifling twist
Gunshot residue (GSR) tests are primarily performed to:
A.Determine the exact time a firearm was discharged.
B.Determine if an individual has recently fired or been in close proximity to a firearm when it was discharged.
C.Identify the specific type of firearm used.
D.Measure the distance from the muzzle to the target.
Forensic toxicology is primarily concerned with the:
A.Identification of illegal drugs in powder form.
B.Detection and interpretation of drugs and poisons in body fluids and tissues.
C.Analysis of trace evidence like hair and fibers.
D.Examination of blood spatter patterns.
What is the most common and reliable specimen used for alcohol determination in a living person?
A.Urine
B.Blood
C.Saliva
D.Hair
This type of test is used for screening large numbers of specimens for a wide range of drugs.
A.Confirmatory test
B.Presumptive or screening test
C.Purity test
D.Microcrystalline test
Which of the following is considered a "confirmatory test" in drug analysis?
A.Color test
B.Immunoassay
C.Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
D.Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC)
The study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms is known as:
A.Pharmacology
B.Toxicology
C.Serology
D.Biology
What is the primary purpose of a polygraph examination?
A.To force a confession from a suspect.
B.To determine the guilt or innocence of a person.
C.To detect deception by monitoring physiological responses to a series of questions.
D.To measure a person's intelligence and personality.
In a polygraph test, what is the purpose of a "control question"?
A.To get a known truthful answer.
B.To elicit a probable lie from the subject to create a baseline physiological response for comparison.
C.To check if the polygraph instrument is working correctly.
D.To ask directly about the crime under investigation.
Which of the following is NOT one of the physiological responses typically measured by a polygraph?
A.Respiration rate
B.Cardiovascular activity (blood pressure and heart rate)
C.Electrodermal activity (perspiration)
D.Brain wave patterns
The building blocks of the DNA molecule, which create the "rungs" of the DNA ladder, are known as:
A.Chromosomes
B.Nucleotide bases (Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, Thymine)
C.Alleles
D.Genes
What is the technique used to make multiple copies of a specific segment of DNA?
A.Gel Electrophoresis
B.Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
C.Gas Chromatography
D.Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis
In modern forensic DNA analysis, analysts examine specific locations on the DNA strand called:
A.Genes
B.Chromosomes
C.Short Tandem Repeats (STRs)
D.Blood types
The national DNA database maintained by the FBI in the United States is called:
A.AFIS
B.CODIS (Combined DNA Index System)
C.NIBIN
D.PDQ
What is the term for one of several alternative forms of a gene at a specific locus on a chromosome?
A.Minutiae
B.Allele
C.Helix
D.Base pair
Which part of a firearm leaves impressions on the base (headstamp) of a spent cartridge case?
A.The rifling in the barrel
B.The breech face and firing pin
C.The ejector and extractor
D.The hammer
The Marquis Reagent is a presumptive color test for which class of drugs?
A.Marijuana
B.Cocaine
C.Opiates (like heroin) and amphetamines
D.Barbiturates
The "4 Rs Rule" in polygraphy refers to the subject's rights. What are they?
A.Right to Remain Silent, Right to Refuse, Right to Rest, Right to Review
B.Right to know the Reason, Right to Refuse, Right to have a Lawyer, Right to Rest
C.Reason, Relevance, Respect, and Response
D.Read, Record, Report, and Rectify
The most common source of DNA for forensic testing is:
A.Hair
B.Buccal (cheek) swab
C.Blood
D.Saliva
The internal diameter of a shotgun barrel is referred to as its:
A.Caliber
B.Gauge
C.Choke
D.Bore
What is the scientific basis for the reliability of polygraph examinations?
A.The "Pinocchio effect" where lying causes physical changes.
B.The theory that the act of deception is associated with involuntary physiological changes.
C.The accuracy of the questions asked by the examiner.
D.It has no accepted scientific basis and is considered pseudoscience by many.
What is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis useful for?
A.Identifying a specific individual with high certainty.
B.Testing samples where nuclear DNA is degraded, such as old bones or hair shafts.
C.Determining the father in a paternity case.
D.Linking a suspect to a recent crime scene.
When a bullet strikes a target, the end of the track it creates is known as the:
A.Point of entry
B.Terminal point
C.Trajectory
D.Ricochet point
A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed itself is called a:
A.Reagent
B.Catalyst
C.Solvent
D.Precipitate
Which component of a cartridge contains the chemical mixture that ignites the gunpowder?
A.The bullet
B.The shell casing
C.The primer
D.The propellant
The specific pattern of blood stains at a crime scene can be used to reconstruct events. This field of study is called:
A.Forensic Serology
B.Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA)
C.Forensic Biology
D.Hemotology