APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Test Vocabulary and Spelling 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is the correct spelling of the legal term for a writ requiring a person to appear before a court?
- supboena
- subpoeana
- subpoena (Correct answer)
- subpena
Correct answer: subpoena
'Subpoena' is the correct spelling. It derives from Latin meaning 'under penalty' and refers to a court order compelling a person's attendance or production of documents. The silent 'b' and the 'oe' combination are common sources of error.
Question 2: What does the term 'corroborate' mean in the context of a police investigation?
- To formally charge a suspect with an offence
- To confirm or support a statement with additional evidence (Correct answer)
- To place a suspect under lawful arrest
- To transfer a case to a higher court
Correct answer: To confirm or support a statement with additional evidence
To corroborate means to strengthen or confirm a claim by providing additional evidence or testimony that supports it. Investigators corroborate witness accounts by seeking physical evidence or other witnesses that are consistent with the original statement.
Question 3: Choose the correctly spelled word for covert observation of a person or location by police:
- surveilance
- surviellance
- surveillence
- surveillance (Correct answer)
Correct answer: surveillance
'Surveillance' is the correct spelling, derived from the French word 'surveiller' meaning to watch over. Officers frequently encounter this term in warrants and operational reports; the double 'l' and the '-ance' ending are the most common mistakes.
Question 4: In Canadian criminal law, what does the term 'mens rea' refer to?
- The physical act of committing the criminal offence
- The guilty mind or criminal intent required to establish an offence (Correct answer)
- A formal reading of charges to the accused in court
- A statement taken from a witness at the scene of a crime
Correct answer: The guilty mind or criminal intent required to establish an offence
'Mens rea' is Latin for 'guilty mind' and refers to the mental element of a crime — the intention, knowledge, or recklessness required alongside the physical act (actus reus) for a conviction. Police must gather evidence of both elements when building a case.
Question 5: Which of the following is the correct spelling of the word meaning to formally question a suspect or witness in detail?
- interegate
- interagate
- interrogate (Correct answer)
- interrogait
Correct answer: interrogate
'Interrogate' is the correct spelling. It comes from the Latin 'interrogare' and refers to systematic, formal questioning. Officers conducting interviews or interrogations will encounter this term in reports and procedures; the double 'r' is the most frequent spelling error.
Question 6: What does the term 'jurisdiction' mean in a policing context?
- A suspect's right to refuse to answer questions during an interview
- The legal authority of a police service to enforce the law within a defined geographic area (Correct answer)
- A formal complaint submitted against a peace officer
- The process of extraditing an accused to another province
Correct answer: The legal authority of a police service to enforce the law within a defined geographic area
Jurisdiction refers to the defined legal authority granted to a police service or court to act within a specific territory or over specific subject matter. Alberta RCMP detachments and municipal police services each have defined jurisdictions that determine where their powers apply.
APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Test Vocabulary and Spelling 1
Which of the following is the correct spelling of the legal term for a writ requiring a person to appear before a court?