Practice Exam: Crime Detection & Investigation - Special Crimes (Set 25)
A 30-question practice exam covering investigation of specific crimes including homicide, robbery, kidnapping, and arson.
1. In a suspected homicide case, what is the most crucial first step for the investigator upon arriving at the crime scene?
A.Immediately pursue any potential suspects seen leaving the area.
B.Secure the crime scene to prevent contamination or destruction of evidence.
C.Interview all witnesses present at the scene.
D.Check the victim for signs of life and administer first aid.
2. An investigator finds a body with a single, deep stab wound to the chest and significant blood loss. There are no signs of a struggle. The victim's valuables are untouched. This scenario most strongly suggests what type of death?
A.Accidental death
B.Suicide
C.Homicide
D.Natural causes
3. What is the primary purpose of an autopsy in a medico-legal death investigation?
A.To identify the deceased.
B.To determine the cause, manner, and time of death.
C.To document injuries for insurance purposes.
D.To prepare the body for burial.
4. In investigating a series of "Akyat-Bahay" gang robberies, what is the most effective method for identifying the perpetrators?
A.Conducting random checkpoints in the affected neighborhoods.
B.Analyzing the Modus Operandi (MO) and looking for patterns across the incidents.
C.Interviewing all known burglars in the city.
D.Deploying a large number of uniformed patrols.
5. Under Philippine law (RPC Art. 267), for kidnapping to be considered 'Kidnapping for Ransom', what element must be present?
A.The victim must be a minor or a female.
B.The abduction must be carried out by a group of at least three persons.
C.The abduction is committed for the purpose of extorting ransom from the victim or any other person.
D.The victim must be detained for more than three days.
6. According to RA 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997), rape is classified as what type of crime?
A.A crime against chastity.
B.A crime against persons.
C.A crime against public morals.
D.A private crime that requires the victim's complaint to prosecute.
7. An arson investigator finds multiple, separate points of origin for a fire in a single building. What does this finding strongly indicate?
A.The fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring.
B.The fire was a result of an accidental grease fire in the kitchen.
C.The fire was intentionally set (incendiary).
D.The fire spread rapidly due to the presence of flammable materials.
8. During a buy-bust operation under RA 9165, what is the most critical step immediately after the arrest of the suspect and seizure of the suspected drugs?
A.The suspect must be immediately brought to the police station for booking.
B.The media must be called to witness the successful operation.
C.The seized items must be immediately marked, physically inventoried, and photographed in the presence of the suspect and required witnesses.
D.The suspected drugs must be sent to the crime lab for chemical analysis.
9. Which of the following scenarios best fits the definition of human trafficking under RA 9208?
A.A person who helps a friend cross a border without proper documents for a fee.
B.A recruiter who promises a high-paying job in the city but forces the person into prostitution upon arrival.
C.A parent who sends their child to live with a relative in another province for better education.
D.An agency that legally facilitates overseas employment for Filipino workers.
10. A computer user receives an email that appears to be from their bank, asking them to click a link and enter their account details to "verify their account." This is a classic example of what type of cybercrime?
A.Hacking
B.Malware attack
C.Phishing
D.Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack
11. In a homicide investigation, the presence of "hesitation marks" or superficial, tentative cuts alongside a deep, fatal wound on a victim's wrist most likely suggests what manner of death?
A.Homicide
B.Suicide
C.Accidental
D.Natural
12. During the investigation of a robbery scene, an investigator finds a crowbar left near a forced-open door. What is the best way to collect this item for evidence?
A.Pick it up with a gloved hand and place it in a paper bag.
B.Pick it up by a textured surface (to preserve fingerprints on smooth areas) with a gloved hand and secure it in a rigid box to prevent movement.
C.Wipe it clean of any dirt before packaging it.
D.Ask the owner of the house to handle it first to confirm it's not theirs.
13. Which of the following is NOT a primary objective of the initial phase of a kidnapping investigation?
A.Ensure the safe recovery of the victim.
B.Identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
C.Immediately publicize the kidnapping to the media to get public help.
D.Establish a line of communication with the kidnappers.
14. An investigator is examining a fire scene and notices a "V" pattern on a wall, with the burn charring being deepest at the bottom point of the "V". What does this pattern typically indicate?
A.The presence of a chemical accelerant.
B.The point of origin of the fire.
C.That the fire was extinguished quickly.
D.The direction the wind was blowing.
15. Under RA 9165, the possession of how many grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) is considered a non-bailable offense?
A.1 gram or more
B.5 grams or more
C.10 grams or more
D.50 grams or more
16. What is the legal term for the physical evidence that proves a crime has been committed, such as a dead body in a murder case?
A.Res gestae
B.Corpus delicti
C.Modus operandi
D.Stare decisis
17. A woman is found deceased in her locked apartment with no signs of forced entry. An empty bottle of sleeping pills is on her nightstand, along with a note. This situation is most indicative of:
A.Homicide, staged to look like a suicide.
B.Suicide.
C.Accidental overdose.
D.Natural causes.
18. The "Golden Hour" in homicide investigation refers to:
A.The first hour after the body is discovered.
B.The period immediately following the commission of the crime, where the chance of apprehending the suspect and collecting evidence is highest.
C.The time it takes for the medico-legal officer to arrive.
D.The last hour of the victim's life.
19. An investigator is looking into a case where a suspect allegedly transferred money from a victim's bank account to their own using a computer. What is the most important type of evidence to secure?
A.The suspect's browser history.
B.The victim's email account.
C.Digital logs from the bank's server and the suspect's computer.
D.The suspect's social media posts.
20. When investigating sexual assault, the victim's clothing should be collected and packaged how?
A.All items should be placed together in a single plastic bag.
B.The victim should be asked to wash the clothes before surrendering them.
C.Each item should be collected, air-dried if wet, and packaged separately in a paper bag.
D.Only the undergarments are considered important evidence.
21. What is the primary investigative goal in a robbery case, besides recovering the stolen property?
A.To determine the exact value of the stolen items.
B.To file the appropriate insurance claims for the victim.
C.To identify and link the suspect to the crime scene or the stolen goods.
D.To establish the time the robbery occurred.
22. In the Philippines, which agency is the lead in conducting investigations for large-scale and complex arson cases?
A.The Philippine National Police (PNP).
B.The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
C.The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
D.The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
23. A key piece of evidence in a homicide case is a fired cartridge case found at the scene. What specific type of forensic analysis can link this cartridge case to a particular firearm?
A.Ballistics analysis
B.Tool mark analysis
C.Chemical analysis
D.DNA analysis
24. What law specifically criminalizes violence against women and their children, providing for protective measures and specific procedures for investigation?
A.RA 8353 (Anti-Rape Law)
B.RA 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act)
C.RA 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act)
D.RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act)
25. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a typical serial killer?
A.A cooling-off period between murders.
B.The murders are often connected to a psychological motive, not material gain.
C.The victims are usually killed in a moment of rage or passion with no planning.
D.The killer often follows a specific ritual or signature in their crimes.
26. In a kidnapping case, what is the role of a "non-negotiable" demand from the perpetrators?
A.It's a sign that the kidnappers are amateurs.
B.It means the victim is likely already dead.
C.It's often a tactic to test the resolve and financial capacity of the victim's family.
D.It indicates the kidnappers are not interested in money.
27. The concept of "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" in evidence admissibility means:
A.All evidence, no matter how obtained, is admissible in court.
B.Evidence obtained as a result of an illegal search or seizure is inadmissible.
C.Evidence that is rotten or decayed is not useful.
D.The testimony of a known criminal is always suspect.
28. What is the primary difference between robbery and theft (in the context of Philippine law)?
A.The value of the property taken.
B.The use of violence, intimidation, or force upon persons or things.
C.The time of day the crime was committed.
D.The number of perpetrators involved.
29. A post-mortem examination reveals "petechial hemorrhages" in the victim's eyes and on the internal eyelids. This finding is a classic sign of what cause of death?
A.Stabbing
B.Asphyxia (strangulation or suffocation)
C.Poisoning
D.Drowning
30. During a crime scene search for a homicide, an investigator finds a bloody fingerprint on a glass table. What search pattern would be most effective for a small, defined area like this?
A.Line or strip search
B.Grid search
C.Spiral or circular search
D.Zone or quadrant search