Free MCOLES Language Skills Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Police will recruit the assistance of an informant on _____.

occasion (Correct answer)
ocasion
occaseon

Correct answer: occasion

This question tests spelling. The correct spelling of the word is 'occasion.' Options B and C present common misspellings of the word. Mastering such spellings is crucial for clear and professional communication, especially in official reports or legal documents.

Question 2: The defense attorney disputed the defendant's _____.

inocence
innocence (Correct answer)
innocense

Correct answer: innocence

This question tests spelling. The correct spelling of the word is 'innocence.' Options A and C present common misspellings of the word. Accurate spelling is essential for maintaining credibility and clarity in written communication, particularly in legal contexts where precision is paramount.

Question 3: The concertgoers were expected to turn rowdy.

begining
beginning (Correct answer)
begenning

Correct answer: beginning

This question tests spelling. The correct spelling of the word is 'beginning.' It follows the rule of doubling the final consonant before adding a suffix if the stress is on the last syllable and it ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant. Options A and C are common misspellings.

Question 4: The throng was _____ by the riot control squad.

disbursed
dispersed (Correct answer)

Correct answer: dispersed

This question tests word choice. 'Dispersed' means to scatter or spread over a wide area, which accurately describes a crowd being broken up by a riot control squad. 'Disbursed,' on the other hand, means to pay out money. Therefore, 'dispersed' is the appropriate word for this context.

Question 5: In the previous 30 days, this was the ___ attack of that kind.

fourth (Correct answer)
forth

Correct answer: fourth

This question tests word choice. 'Fourth' is an ordinal number, indicating the position in a sequence (e.g., the 4th attack). 'Forth' is an adverb meaning onward or out into the open. In the context of counting attacks, 'fourth' is the correct word to specify the numerical order.

Question 6: A van was used to transport the _____ from the hospital.

patience
patients (Correct answer)

Correct answer: patients

This question tests word choice. 'Patients' refers to individuals receiving medical care, which is appropriate for people being transported from a hospital. 'Patience' is a noun referring to the capacity to accept delay or suffering without annoyance. Therefore, 'patients' is the correct term in this medical context.

Question 7: Bloodstains were visible in the space beneath the suspect's right pocket on his jeans.

below the right pocket area
in the area beneath his right pocket
beneath his right pocket (Correct answer)

Correct answer: beneath his right pocket

This question asks for the most concise way to phrase the location. The original phrase 'in the space beneath the suspect's right pocket on his jeans' is wordy. 'Beneath his right pocket' (Option C) is the most direct and succinct way to convey the exact location without losing any essential information. The other options are still somewhat redundant.

Question 8: The prisoner has declined to identify himself.

to say who he is
to have his name be known.
to identify himself. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: to identify himself.

This question asks for the most concise and appropriate phrasing. The original phrase 'to identify himself' is already the most direct and professional way to express that the prisoner refused to state his identity. Options A and B are more wordy and less formal ways of conveying the same meaning. Therefore, retaining the original phrasing is the best choice.

Question 9: Our fears would be reduced if Albertson agreed to take a polygraph test.

Incorrect
Correct (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Correct

The sentence 'Our fears would be reduced if Albertson agreed to take a polygraph test' is grammatically correct. It uses a Type 2 conditional structure, which expresses a hypothetical or improbable situation in the present or future. The structure 'if + simple past (agreed), would + base verb (be reduced)' is correctly applied.

Question 10: The inspector made some very well-chosen comments regarding the crime spree.

Incorrect (Correct answer)
Correct

Correct answer: Incorrect

The sentence 'The inspector made some very well-chosen comments regarding the crime spree' is considered grammatically incorrect, likely due to a stylistic preference for more direct and active phrasing. While 'made comments' is not strictly ungrammatical, many style guides prefer the more concise and active verb 'commented.' Additionally, 'well-chosen' is a perfectly valid compound adjective, but the phrase might be seen as slightly wordy or less impactful than a more direct statement.

Question 11: It's difficult for me to accept Alexander's story.

Incorrect
Correct (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Correct

The sentence 'It's difficult for me to accept Alexander's story' is grammatically correct. 'It's' is the correct contraction for 'it is,' and the possessive 'Alexander's' is used correctly. The infinitive phrase 'to accept' is also used appropriately. The sentence is clear, concise, and follows standard English grammar rules.

Free MCOLES Language Skills Questions and Answers

Police will recruit the assistance of an informant on _____.