USPS Alphanumeric Code Verification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A package label shows routing code '4G7-X2B'. The computer record reads '4G7-X28'. Which character contains the error?
- The digit '4'
- The letter 'G'
- The final character 'B' vs '8' (Correct answer)
- The letter 'X'
Correct answer: The final character 'B' vs '8'
The last character differs: the label shows 'B' while the record shows '8', indicating a letter-digit substitution error.
Question 2: When verifying alphanumeric sort codes, a clerk finds label '22-JKL-09' and record '22-JKL-09'. What is the correct action?
- Flag it as an error because letters and numbers should not mix
- Accept it as correct since both codes match exactly (Correct answer)
- Reject it because two-digit prefixes are invalid
- Request a reprint because the format is non-standard
Correct answer: Accept it as correct since both codes match exactly
When the label and record are identical in every position, the code is verified as correct and no error is flagged.
Question 3: Code on envelope: 'B3F-5KM-11'. Code in system: 'B3F-5KN-11'. How many errors are present?
- Zero
- One (Correct answer)
- Two
- Three
Correct answer: One
Only one character differs: position 8 shows 'M' on the envelope versus 'N' in the system.
Question 4: A ZIP+4 barcode decodes to '90210-3847'. The handwritten label reads '90210-3874'. Which segment contains the discrepancy?
- The five-digit ZIP portion
- The hyphen separator
- The last four digits (Correct answer)
- There is no discrepancy
Correct answer: The last four digits
The five-digit ZIP matches, but the add-on digits differ: '3847' vs '3874' is a transposition error in the last four digits.
Question 5: Which of the following alphanumeric codes contains an obvious character omission compared to the standard 8-character format 'XX-NNNN-X'?
- AB-1234-C
- AB-123-C (Correct answer)
- AB-1234-D
- AC-1234-C
Correct answer: AB-123-C
'AB-123-C' has only three digits in the numeric segment instead of the required four, making it one character short.
Question 6: During error detection, a clerk sees code 'P9Q-44R-ZZ' on the item and 'P9O-44R-ZZ' in the database. What type of error is this?
- Transposition error
- Insertion error
- Substitution error (Correct answer)
- Deletion error
Correct answer: Substitution error
One character has been replaced by another (Q→O) without changing the code length, which is a substitution error.
Question 7: A USPS flat tray label displays 'SCF 900-959'. A clerk records it as 'SCF 900-969'. Which digits are incorrect?
- 900
- 959 vs 969 (Correct answer)
- SCF prefix
- Both numeric ranges
Correct answer: 959 vs 969
The upper bound of the range is misrecorded as '969' instead of '959', a single-digit substitution in the tens place.
USPS Alphanumeric Code Verification 2
A package label shows routing code '4G7-X2B'.
The computer record reads '4G7-X28'.
Which character contains the error?