APCAT Written Communication Accuracy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses punctuation correctly?
- The officer, who was on duty last night responded to the call.
- The officer, who was on duty last night, responded to the call. (Correct answer)
- The officer who was on duty, last night, responded to the call.
- The officer who was on duty last night responded, to the call.
Correct answer: The officer, who was on duty last night, responded to the call.
A non-restrictive relative clause ('who was on duty last night') must be enclosed by commas on both sides.
Question 2: Identify the sentence with a subject-verb agreement error.
- Neither the sergeant nor the constables were available.
- Each of the officers was trained in first aid.
- The list of stolen items were submitted to the detective. (Correct answer)
- Both suspects have prior convictions.
Correct answer: The list of stolen items were submitted to the detective.
The subject 'list' is singular, so the verb should be 'was submitted,' not 'were submitted.'
Question 3: Which word is spelled correctly?
- Supercede
- Seperate
- Recieve
- Accommodate (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Accommodate
'Accommodate' is the correct spelling, with double 'c' and double 'm.'
Question 4: Select the correctly written sentence for a police report.
- The complainant seen the suspect flee north on Main St.
- The complainant had seen the suspect fleeing north on Main St. (Correct answer)
- The complainant has saw the suspect flee north on Main St.
- The complainant seen the suspect had fled north on Main St.
Correct answer: The complainant had seen the suspect fleeing north on Main St.
'Had seen' correctly uses the past perfect tense to indicate an action observed before another past event.
Question 5: Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier?
- Running down the alley, the suspect's hat fell off.
- Running down the alley, the officer observed the suspect drop his hat. (Correct answer)
- Running down the alley, the hat was lost by the suspect.
- Running down the alley, a hat was seen falling off.
Correct answer: Running down the alley, the officer observed the suspect drop his hat.
In option B, 'running down the alley' correctly modifies 'the officer,' the subject of the main clause.
Question 6: Which version correctly uses an apostrophe?
- The two officers' reports were filed on time. (Correct answer)
- The two officer's reports were filed on time.
- The two officers report's were filed on time.
- The two officers reports' were filed on time.
Correct answer: The two officers' reports were filed on time.
For a plural noun ending in 's,' the apostrophe is placed after the final 's' to show possession.
Question 7: Choose the sentence that is most clear and concise for a police report.
- At this point in time I personally observed the fact that the vehicle was red in color.
- I observed that the vehicle was red. (Correct answer)
- I personally, at the time, saw with my own eyes that the vehicle, which was a car, appeared to be red.
- The vehicle that I observed had a color that was red in terms of its appearance.
Correct answer: I observed that the vehicle was red.
Option B removes redundant phrases and communicates the same information directly and efficiently.
APCAT Written Communication Accuracy 2
Which sentence uses punctuation correctly?