Practice Exam: CDI - Homicide Investigation (Set 42)
30-question practice exam on death investigation, autopsy, and homicide crime scene procedures.
1. An 80-year-old individual is found deceased in their home. The investigation reveals a long history of heart disease, and the medico-legal officer determines the cause of death to be a massive coronary thrombosis. What is the official classification of this death?
A.Accidental
B.Homicide
C.Natural
D.Undetermined
2. A construction worker falls from a high-rise building due to a faulty safety harness. The subsequent investigation confirms the equipment failure and rules out any foul play. How should this death be classified?
A.Accidental
B.Suicide
C.Homicide
D.Natural
3. An individual is found in a locked room with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A suicide note is present, and interviews with family confirm a history of severe depression. What is the most appropriate classification for this manner of death?
A.Homicide
B.Suicide
C.Accidental
D.Undetermined
4. A person is found dead with multiple stab wounds. The investigation reveals that the wounds were inflicted by another person during a violent altercation. This death is classified as:
A.Natural
B.Accidental
C.Homicide
D.Suicide
5. A decomposed body is found in a remote area with no identification and no clear signs of injury. After a complete autopsy and investigation, the medico-legal officer cannot reasonably determine the cause or manner of death. How is this death classified?
A.Natural
B.Accidental
C.Homicide
D.Undetermined
6. Who is primarily responsible for securing the crime scene upon arrival to prevent contamination or destruction of evidence in a homicide case?
A.First Responding Officer
B.Investigator-on-Case
C.Medico-Legal Officer
D.Prosecutor
7. What is the main purpose of establishing a single entry and exit point in a homicide crime scene?
A.To make it easier for media to get information
B.To control access and maintain a record of everyone who enters or leaves
C.To allow family members a private space to grieve
D.To speed up the investigation process
8. During the processing of a homicide scene, which search pattern is most effective for a large outdoor area with multiple investigators?
A.Spiral Search
B.Wheel Search
C.Grid or Strip/Line Search
D.Zone Search
9. What is the primary role of the Investigator-on-Case (IOC) at a homicide crime scene?
A.To perform the autopsy
B.To take overall command, manage the investigation, and coordinate all team members
C.To pronounce the time of death
D.To collect every piece of physical evidence personally
10. The written record that documents the chronological history of who handled a piece of evidence from the time of its collection until its presentation in court is called:
A.Evidence Receipt
B.Property Tag
C.Chain of Custody
D.Police Blotter
11. What is the primary goal of a medico-legal autopsy in a homicide investigation?
A.To identify the suspect
B.To determine the cause and manner of death
C.To estimate the financial status of the deceased
D.To notify the next of kin
12. The presence of hesitation marks or tentative cuts, often found on the wrists or neck, are most commonly associated with which manner of death?
A.Homicide
B.Accidental
C.Suicide
D.Natural
13. Wounds found on a victim's hands, arms, and legs that indicate they were attempting to ward off an attacker are known as:
A.Hesitation wounds
B.Defense wounds
C.Post-mortem wounds
D.Accidental wounds
14. What type of analysis is performed during an autopsy to detect the presence of drugs, alcohol, or poisons in the body?
A.Ballistics analysis
B.DNA analysis
C.Toxicological analysis
D.Serological analysis
15. The internal examination phase of an autopsy begins with which procedure?
A.Examination of the hands and fingernails
B.Removal of the brain
C.A Y-shaped incision from the shoulders to the pubic bone
D.Weighing the body
16. The stiffening of the body's muscles after death is known as:
A.Rigor Mortis
B.Algor Mortis
C.Livor Mortis
D.Pallor Mortis
17. The cooling of the body after death to match the ambient temperature is referred to as:
A.Rigor Mortis
B.Algor Mortis
C.Livor Mortis
D.Post-mortem Lividity
18. An investigator observes a purple-red discoloration on the lower back and buttocks of a victim found lying on their back. This phenomenon is known as:
A.Rigor Mortis
B.Algor Mortis
C.Livor Mortis
D.Contusion
19. If an investigator presses a finger on an area of livor mortis and the discoloration disappears, only to return moments later, what does this indicate?
A.The victim was poisoned
B.The lividity is not yet "fixed," suggesting death occurred within the last 8-12 hours
C.The victim died more than 36 hours ago
D.The discoloration is a bruise, not lividity
20. Which of these factors would most likely accelerate the onset of rigor mortis?
A.Cold environmental temperature
B.Strenuous physical activity right before death
C.Obesity of the victim
D.Poisoning by depressants
21. A wound that is longer than it is deep, caused by a sharp-edged instrument, is best described as a/an:
A.Punctured wound
B.Incised wound (cut)
C.Laceration
D.Abrasion
22. An investigator at a scene observes a wound with irregular, torn edges, often with bruising around the wound and tissue bridging within the wound. This is characteristic of a:
A.Stab wound
B.Incised wound
C.Laceration
D.Gunshot wound
23. In a typical contact gunshot wound, what finding, in addition to the entrance wound itself, is often present?
A.Fouling
B.Smudging
C.Muzzle contusion or muzzle pattern impression
D.Stippling or tattooing
24. A circular wound with an abraded collar (a "wipe ring") and a gray or black ring of residue around the entrance is characteristic of what?
A.A gunshot entrance wound
B.A gunshot exit wound
C.A stab wound from an ice pick
D.A blunt force injury
25. Which of the following is most characteristic of a gunshot exit wound compared to an entrance wound?
A.It is typically smaller and more regular.
B.It usually has evidence of stippling.
C.It is always fatal.
D.It is typically larger, more irregular, and has no abrasion ring.
26. What is the most important principle to follow when collecting evidence from a homicide scene?
A.Collect only items that are visibly stained with blood
B.To maintain the chain of custody for every item collected
C.To have the victim's family approve the collection
D.To collect as much material as possible, including dirt and debris
27. When collecting a firearm as evidence in a homicide, how should it be handled?
A.By placing a pen inside the barrel to lift it
B.By handling it by the checkered surfaces of the grip or the trigger guard, with gloved hands
C.By unloading it immediately and placing the cartridges in a separate bag
D.By wiping it clean of fingerprints before packaging
28. How should blood-stained clothing be collected and packaged to preserve evidence?
A.It should be sealed in a plastic bag immediately to prevent contamination.
B.It should be allowed to air-dry completely before being packaged in a paper bag.
C.It should be folded neatly with the stain on the inside.
D.It should be sprayed with a disinfectant before packaging.
29. The collection of hair and fiber evidence from a homicide victim's body is best done by:
A.Shaking the victim's clothing vigorously over a clean sheet
B.Using clean forceps, tape lifts, or a specialized vacuum
C.Cutting a piece of the clothing where fibers are visible
D.Having the mortician collect them during embalming
30. What is the purpose of collecting a "known standard" or "control sample" (e.g., a blood sample from the victim or a suspect) in a homicide investigation?
A.To determine the victim's blood type for their medical records
B.For comparison purposes with unknown samples found at the crime scene
C.To estimate the total volume of blood lost
D.To fulfill a legal requirement for all homicide cases