Deck 14: Who Killed Drthompson a Forensic Mystery

Question 1

Which of the following aspect of forensic investigations portrayed on television is unrealistic?

A)The forensic investigator carefully surveys the crime scene and collects evidence in plastic bags
B)DNA profiles are analyzed within a few minutes and match a suspect
C)Fingerprints are taken from door knobs using a black powder and sticky tape
D)All of these choices are correct

Answer 1

DNA profiles are analyzed within a few minutes and match a suspect

Question 2

DNA is not easily obtained from

A)saliva.
B)blood.
C)sweat.
D)fingerprints.

Answer 2

fingerprints.

Question 3

Isotopic analysis can be also used for climate change in which respect?

A)Determine the current concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere
B)Determine past air temperatures
C)Determine the past concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere
D)Determine past air temperatures and the past concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere

Answer 3

Determine past air temperatures

Question 4

The acronym DNA stands for

A)deoxiribonucleic acid.
B)deoxynucleic acid.
C)deoxyribonucleic acid.
D)diribonucleic acid.

Question 5

Which of the following describes a basic duty of a forensic scientist?

A)Analyzing physical evidence found at a crime scene
B)Providing expert testimony in a court of law
C)Training staff on the proper collection of physical evidence
D)All of these choices are correct

Question 6

The field of forensics is only applicable to criminal investigations.

Question 7

Items discovered at a crime scene must be

A)handled only by personnel properly trained in crime scene evidence collection techniques.
B)packaged together in a single container to keep everything together.
C)identified with the collector's initials and date of collection.
D)All of these choices are correct

Question 8

Which of the following represent isotopes?

A)(¹³C) and ¹²C
B)(¹⁴N) and ¹⁸O
C)(¹⁶O) and ¹⁸O
D)(¹³C) and ¹²C and ¹⁶O and ¹⁸O

Question 9

Gas chromatography (GC) is used to

A)determine the identity of gases dissolved in a liquid.
B)separate mixtures of gases.
C)separate mixtures of liquids.
D)separate mixtures of solids.

Question 10

A victim's body was found at a crime scene with a body temperature of 90^oF,at an outside temperature of 65^oF.The time of death is likely

A)within the past hour.
B)between 1-2 hrs prior.
C)between 2-3 hrs prior.
D)longer than 3 hrs prior.

Question 11

Blood is taken from a person suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol.If the specimen is kept unrefrigerated at a moderately warm temperature,the blood alcohol concentration will

A)remain the same.
B)increase with time.
C)decrease with time.
D)either increase or decrease with time,depending on its starting concentration.

Question 12

In order to visualize fingerprints from a non-porous surface,the object may be placed within a fuming chamber and exposed to vapors of which substance?

A)Cyanoacetate
B)Cyanoacrylate
C)Cyanoacetic acid
D)Cyanide

Question 13

In the United States,the national database containing DNA profiles for convicted offenders and evidence is known as

A)IAFIS.
B)CODIS.
C)NCIC.
D)ViCAP.

Question 14

The unit of permil (also known as per mille) is

A)ppm.
B)p.m.
C)‰.
D)%.

Question 15

In order to avoid prosecution,criminals have used acid or sharp objects in an attempt to obscure their fingerprints.Which of the following describes the outcome of this devious attempt?

A)This is effective and would lead to a criminal successfully avoiding prosecution
B)This is most often not effective since the damage would have to penetrate beyond 1-2 mm beneath the skin's surface
C)This is effective as long as no visible fingerprint may be seen with the naked eye
D)This is effective and has necessitated the development of new fingerprinting techniques

Question 16

A cigarette butt is found at a crime scene that matches the DNA of a suspect.Which of the following is correct?

A)The suspect is innocent
B)The suspect is guilty
C)The suspect may be guilty;investigators must determine when the cigarette butt was deposited
D)The suspect may be guilty;DNA evidence is not reliable for forensic investigations

Question 17

The image obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results from

A)electrons passing through the sample that reach a detector.
B)electrons that are blocked from reaching a detector through contact with sample atoms.
C)secondary electrons ejected from sample atoms through interaction with an electron beam.
D)All of these choices are correct

Question 18

A latent fingerprint is made from the depositing of oils and/or sweat.It is invisible to the naked eye.

Question 19

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is primarily used to

A)determine the chemical composition of a sample.
B)determine the sizes and shapes of particles comprising a sample.
C)determine the electrical conductivity of a sample.
D)All of these choices are correct

Question 20

Electrophoresis is used to

A)charge a dead battery.
B)split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases.
C)separate DNA fragments.
D)amplify DNA fragments.

Question 21

A chemical process in which heat is evolved is called

A)endothermic.
B)exothermic.
C)endergonic.
D)combustion.

Question 22

The first police officer to arrive at a crime scene is called the

A)primary officer.
B)first responder.
C)inspector.
D)emergency technician.

Question 23

Most arson fires are started with

A)an oxidizing agent.
B)highly unsaturated oils.
C)petroleum-based fuels.
D)lead-based paints.

Question 24

A fire investigation must first focus on finding the fire's origin.

Question 25

Which of the following can introduce a source of contamination to a crime scene?

A)Disposable shoe covers
B)Latex gloves
C)Disposable forceps
D)None of these choices are correct

Question 26

What is the material used for the majority of automobile headlight lenses?

A)Glass
B)Polycarbonate plastic
C)Polyacrylate plastic
D)Polyethylene plastic

Question 27

Which type of fire extinguisher is most appropriate to extinguish an electrical fire?

A)Carbon dioxide
B)Dry-powder such as graphite
C)Water
D)Wet-chemical such as aqueous potassium carbonate

Question 28

What is the flash point of a solvent?

A)The minimum temperature at which a vapor will spontaneously ignite
B)When the temperature exceeds the boiling point of the solvent
C)The minimum temperature at which a vapor will spontaneously ignite and when the temperature exceeds the boiling point of the solvent
D)When the vapor pressure of a solvent equals its lower flammability limit (LFL)

Question 29

The polymerase chain reaction involves all of the following except

A)replicating DNA outside a cell.
B)multiplying the number of copies of an individual's entire genome.
C)multiplying short strands of DNA.
D)using a DNA thermal cycler.

Question 30

The most common and rapid method to match paint samples is

A)gas chromatography.
B)nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
C)mass spectrometry.
D)infrared spectroscopy.

Question 31

What is flashover?

A)Any condition when a fire has been initiated
B)When the majority of exposed surfaces are heated to above their autoignition temperatures
C)When the majority of exposed surfaces are heated to above their boiling points
D)When the majority of exposed surfaces are heated to above their flash points

Question 32

What is the lower flammability limit (LFL)?

A)The lowest concentration of solvent vapor that can ignite in air
B)The lowest temperature that will ignite solvent vapor in air
C)The lowest atmospheric pressure that is needed to ignite solvent vapor in air
D)None of these choices are correct

Question 33

A gas chromatograph provides the identity of an accelerant by matching ____________ between residue found at the crime scene and known accelerants.

A)peak shapes
B)peak heights
C)peak patterns
D)All of these choices are correct

Question 34

Glass that is strengthened by using rapid heating and cooling is referred to as

A)Pyrex glass.
B)laminated glass.
C)low-E glass.
D)tempered glass.

Question 35

One of the most common types of paint analyzed by criminal forensic laboratories is

A)fingernail polish on a victim's hand.
B)automobile paint.
C)furniture varnish and stains at a crime scene.
D)paint from the walls of a crime scene.

Question 36

It has been proven that eating or drinking at a crime scene will not comprise evidence.

Question 37

Which of the following instruments are most useful for the identification of fire accelerants?

A)Infrared spectroscopy
B)UV-Visible spectroscopy
C)Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
D)None of these choices are correct

Question 38

Electrophoresis uses ________________ to separate fragments of DNA.

A)varying pressures
B)filtration
C)an electrical field
D)a magnetic field

Question 39

What is the most important aspect of paint evidence that is used for comparison purposes?

A)The type of pigments in the surface layer
B)The complexity of the layer structure
C)The components of the clear coat finish
D)The texture of the surface layer

Question 40

The filaments of headlights are examined after a head-on accident.Both filaments are observed to have extensive deformation.Which of the following scenario likely applies to the accident?

A)Both of the vehicle headlights were on at the time of the crash
B)Both of the vehicle headlights were off at the time of the crash
C)There is no way to tell if the vehicle headlights were on or off at the time of the accident
D)Additional testing on the plastic lenses must be carried out to determine whether the vehicle headlights were on or off at the time of the crash

Question 41

Which database is used to match automobile paint samples?

A)IAFIS
B)CODIS
C)RNA
D)PDQ

Question 42

Upon mixing,which of the following would represent a homogeneous solution?

A)Sugar and water
B)Sand and water
C)Charcoal and water
D)All of these choices are correct

Question 43

The principle of like retains like in gas chromatography refers to the similarity of ___________ between the stationary phase and analyte.

A)boiling points
B)polarities
C)flash points
D)molecular weights

Question 44

Multiple points of origin for a fire are a definite sign of arson.

Question 45

Which of the following molecules would be nonpolar?

A)Ethanol
B)Water
C)Acetic acid
D)Gasoline

Question 46

It is impossible to detect,remove,and analyze fingerprints from the surface of a victim's skin.

Question 47

Stainless steel may be classified as a homogeneous solution.

Question 48

The arson investigation team is trained to pay particular attention to

A)the cost of damage to the building.
B)the time of day the fire has occurred.
C)suspicious burn patterns on floors and/or walls.
D)All of these choices are correct

Question 49

High concentrations of mercury are discovered in a lab fire.Which of the objects below is not a possible source for this contamination?

A)Thermometers
B)Lightbulbs
C)Alkaline batteries
D)All of these choices are correct

Question 50

Which of the following is one of the three R's of forensic investigations?

A)Reduce
B)Reuse
C)Recover
D)Recycle