Question 1

Choose the one sentence which is correct in grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling and which exemplifies usage suitable to a formal letter or report.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (A). The sentence should read as follows: The impact of this training will be measured by the number of new CBP Officers who successfully complete the probationary period. This is a well-constructed sentence in both grammar and syntax.

Question 2

Sentence which is correct in grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling and which exemplifies usage suitable to a formal letter or report

Accepted Answer

The words "hindrance" and "fraudulent" are spelled correctly in this sentence while various incorrect spellings of these words are used in A, B, and D.

Question 3

(1) First used on a wide scale in 1970, narcotic detector dogs save countless staff hours in locating narcotics in vehicles, mail, unaccompanied baggage, and on cargo ships. A dog and its handler can check 500 packages in 30 minutes; it would take a mail examiner several days to inspect as many. At border ports, a dog can inspect a vehicle in about two minutes; the same search by a CBP Officer would take at least 20 minutes. Therefore, the use of narcotic detector dogs has greatly enhanced the fight against illegal drug smuggling into the United States.(2) While not exactly high-tech, a unique tool in CBP?s drug fight is its force of narcotic detector dogs, their trainers, and the CBP Officers who work with these canine detectors.(3) This fight continues today, extending into the high-tech world of the 21st Century. Through diligence, close inspection, sophisticated technology, and the sacrifice of lives, CBP has given an excellent account of itself in fighting the flow of illegal drugs into this country.(4) Since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, liquor smuggling has naturally decreased. In later years, however, the illegal entry of narcotics and dangerous drugs increased to threatening proportions. During the 1960s, „70s, and „80s, Federal Officers faced the almost overwhelming task of fighting the influx of opium, heroin, cocaine, hashish, marijuana, and amphetamines into the United States.

Accepted Answer

The most logical order of the passages is 4, 3, 2, 1. It is not logical to begin the passages with paragraphs 2 or 3, as indicated in Responses B and C, because they appear to complete information that has been presented earlier and, therefore, depend on information in the other two paragraphs in order to be understood. This also eliminates Response D. This leaves Response A, which begins with paragraph 4. The paragraphs presented in this order form a well-organized, coherent passage.

Question 4

(1) Project Shield America will have two operational components. The first will be to reach out and form partnerships with U.S. manufacturers and distributors of the sensitive technology, weapons, and equipment sought by terrorists. The second will be to investigate and halt those attempting to acquire and illegally export weapons components to groups intent on harming America.(2) Beginning immediately, field offices will identify the specific U.S. firms in their areas that manufacture or distribute materials of interest. Agents will then visit these firms and provide them with materials about Project Shield America, information about U.S. export controls, and data about the items sought by terrorists. Most importantly, the agents will encourage these firms to notify agents if they are approached by customers looking to acquire and export their products illegally.(3) In sum, under the banner of Project Shield America, we will partner with U.S. industries to prevent their technological accomplishments from being exploited by terrorists. While some of these materials may seem relatively innocuous and have relatively little monetary value, they can have enormous strategic value in the hands of America's adversaries. These "minor" technological goods could easily become the necessary components for major weapons development by terrorist groups or rogue nations.(4) At the same time, agents will step up their efforts to investigate and prosecute those who attempt to acquire and illegally export sensitive technology, weapons, and equipment to international terrorist organizations. These efforts will include undercover probes and other investigative techniques. The Office of Strategic Investigations will redirect its resources towards the objective of denying terrorist organizations access to these materials. Assistance from U.S. manufacturers and distributors will be crucial in this effort.

Accepted Answer

The most logical order of the passages is 1, 2, 4, 3. The first paragraph introduces Project Shield America and defines the two operational components of the project. Accordingly, paragraph 1 should be the first paragraph. Paragraphs 2 and 4 elaborate on the two operational components of the project introduced in paragraph 1 and therefore must follow paragraph 1. Paragraph 2 logically comes before paragraph 4 because paragraph 2 elaborates on the first operational component of the project whereas paragraph 4 elaborates on the second operational component. Finally, paragraph 3 is clearly the concluding paragraph because it provides a summation and closing for the entire passage. The paragraphs presented in this order form a well-organized, coherent passage.

Question 5

Officer Smith is in charge of all of the canine teams in his sector. Fifteen canine teams are stationed in his sector. Most of the canine teams are located at stations along the border. Several canine teams are located away from the border in large urban areas. All of the teams must be available to travel to any duty station within the sector.

Accepted Answer

This question is about the canine teams in Officer Smith's sector. According to the last sentence in the paragraph, all of the canine teams must be available to travel to any duty station within the sector. This is equivalent to saying that none of the teams are exempt from traveling to any duty location within the sector, Response D. Responses B and C contradict the information in the last sentence.
The third sentence in the paragraph informs us that most teams are stationed along the border. Responses A and E contradict this information.

Question 6

The Chief of Police strives to provide quality service to the community while using resources efficiently. Accordingly, the Chief must take into account several factors when allocating resources. For example, if it is a holiday weekend, additional staff are assigned to duty. However, if additional staff are assigned to duty, special funding is needed from the city council.

Accepted Answer

Combining the information in the last two sentences we know that if it is a holiday weekend, then special funding is needed from the city council (due to assigning additional staff to duty). Accordingly, if special funding is not needed, then it must not be a holiday weekend; otherwise, special funding would be needed.
Responses A and E are false because they contradict the information in the paragraph. Responses B and D might be true, but they are not fully supported by the paragraph.

Question 7

Several different means of smuggling, such as cross-border tunnels, are used to bring narcotics, individuals, and contraband into the United States. Cross-border tunnels can be found all along the land border of the United States. They vary significantly in size and complexity of construction, although most are crudely constructed. Further, most crossborder tunnels are used for smuggling narcotics, although illegal aliens and other contraband have also been smuggled using tunnels.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a test question with a negative lead statement. It asks for the conclusion that is NOT supported by the paragraph. That means that four of the statements are valid conclusions based on the paragraph while one is not. In this case, Response B is invalid. The paragraph says that "most" cross border tunnels are used for smuggling narcotics, but Response B says that "all" cross border tunnels are used for smuggling narcotics.
Responses C and D are based on the information that most cross border tunnels are crudely constructed. Response C is based on the information that most cross border tunnels are used to smuggle narcotics. Finally, Response E combines all information about the tunnels being crudely constructed and used for smuggling narcotics.

Question 8

Naturalized U.S. citizens can lose their U.S. citizenship if and only if they expatriate or are denaturalized. Misrepresentation on a legal permanent residence application, certain crimes, and leaving the United States within one year of naturalization to establish permanent residence elsewhere are all grounds for denaturalization. P.C. is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Accepted Answer

This question concerns a situation where there are two ways for naturalized U.S. citizens to lose U.S. citizenship, either by expatriation or denaturalization. In Response A, the situation is considered in which P.C. has lost her U.S. citizenship without being denaturalized. Expatriation is the only option remaining to explain the loss of U.S. citizenship.
Responses B and E are invalid because they fail to consider that there is more than one way for P.C. to lose U.S. citizenship. Responses C and D are about situations in which P.C. may or may not be denaturalized. These two responses are invalid because they fail to consider that there are several possible reasons for denaturalization.

Question 9

Following the Vietnam War, many people from Southeast Asia were paroled into the United States with an indefinite immigration status. In 2003, a new rule was developed to allow for adjustment of immigration status for some of these people. According to the new rule, all nationals of Vietnam (and some others, for example, nationals of Cambodia) who were paroled into the United States through the Orderly Departure Program were eligible to apply for permanent resident status.

Accepted Answer

This paragraph is mainly about the group of Vietnamese Nationals who were paroled into the United States under the Orderly Departure Program with indefinite immigration status. In 2003, a new rule made everyone in this group of Vietnamese Nationals (and others) eligible to apply for permanent resident status. Accordingly, anyone who is not eligible to apply for permanent resident status must not be part of this group of Vietnamese Nationals, which is equivalent to Response B.
Responses A and C fail to recognize that others, such as nationals of Cambodia, were also eligible to apply for permanent resident status. Responses D and E contradict the information that everyone in the group of Vietnamese Nationals who were paroled into the United States under the Orderly Departure Program was eligible to apply for permanent resident status.

Question 10

An employer is permitted to hire a new employee only if the employer is able to verify that the applicant's employment documentation establishes both of the following: 1) the applicant is authorized to work in the United States and 2) the applicant who presents the employment authorization document is the person to whom the documentation was issued. An employer cannot request that an applicant provide more or different documents than required. If the documentation appears false or unrelated, employers must refuse acceptance and ask for other documentation from the Government's list of acceptable documents.

Accepted Answer

This question asks for the response option that CANNOT be validly concluded from the information in the paragraph. The only response option that cannot be validly concluded is Response C. Response C is invalid because the paragraph does not say that employers must refuse acceptance of documentation that appears to be true and relevant.
Responses B and E are valid based on the information in the first sentence. Response A is valid based on the information in the second sentence that employers cannot change documentation requirements. Response D is valid based on the information in the last sentence stating that employers may request different documentation when they believe the documentation submitted appears to be altered.

Question 11

Although the owner of a certain farm said that all her Central American (for example, Salvadoran and Honduran) workers were working legally, officers discovered that many of the farm's employees were not authorized to work in the United States. After checking the employees' documentation, officers discovered that all of the female employees were working in the United States legally and none of the illegal workers were from Honduras.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A. The last sentence of the paragraph states that none of the illegal workers were from Honduras, which is equivalent to saying that none of the employees from Honduras were working illegally. Given that none were working illegally, it must be the case that all were working legally.
From the information in the paragraph, we know that all of the female employees were working legally and that all of the employees from Honduras were working legally. However, there is insufficient information to determine how many of the female employees were from Honduras. Therefore, Responses C, D, and E cannot be validly concluded. Response B contradicts the information that all of the female employees were working legally.

Question 12

The two ways of acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth are by place of birth and inheritance from U.S. citizen parents. Any child born in the United States while under U.S. jurisdiction is a U.S. citizen at birth. Because foreign ambassadors are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction, children born in the United States to foreign ambassadors do not obtain U.S. citizenship at birth. Children born overseas to U.S. citizen parents derive U.S. citizenship at birth, as long as the parents previously lived in the United States for a sufficient period of time. All others must naturalize to become citizens. J.B. was not a U.S. citizen at birth. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn about J.B.?

Accepted Answer

There are two ways of acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth, and J.B. did not acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. Therefore, J.B. did not meet either of the two conditions for acquiring U.S. citizenship at birth. Specifically, J.B. was not born in the United States to U.S. citizen parents, and J.B. was not born overseas to U.S. citizen parents who previously lived in the United States for the required period of time. Any other conclusion is not supported by the information in the paragraph.

Question 13

In a certain border state, all state peace officers have the authority to issue state citations for misdemeanor marijuana and paraphernalia offenses committed in their presence. Early last year, a certain CBP Sector in the state began a new operation with state police. Under this operation, all sector canine handlers were cross-designated as state peace officers.

Accepted Answer

Question 9 is a negative lead item, so the correct response is the only response option that CANNOT be validly concluded. The first sentence states that all state peace officers have authority to issue certain drug-related citations. Response E is invalid because it says that only sector canine handlers have such authority.
The first sentence states that all state peace officers have authority to issue certain drug-related citations; therefore, at least some who have authority to issue certain drug-related citations must be peace officers, Response A. The last sentence states that all sector canine handlers are state peace officers; therefore, all sector canine handlers have authority to issue certain drug-related citations because the handlers are state peace officers, Response B. Moreover, given that all sector canine handlers have authority to issue certain drug-related citations, it must be the case that at least some individuals who have authority to issue certain drug-related citations are sector canine handlers, Response C. Finally, given that all sector canine handlers have authority to issue certain drug-related citations, it must be the case that no sector canine handlers lack authority to issue certain drug-related citations, Response D.

Question 14

Reinstatement allows a former Federal employee to reenter the Federal competitive service workforce without competing with the public in a civil service examination. If an applicant has reinstatement eligibility, the applicant is eligible to apply for any open civil service examination, as well as for Federal jobs open only to Federal employees. There is no time limit on reinstatement eligibility in certain cases. For example, if an applicant has veterans' preference or has acquired Federal career tenure by completing three years of substantially continuous creditable service, the applicant has permanent reinstatement eligibility. C.P. formerly worked in the Federal competitive service workforce.

Accepted Answer

The fourth sentence in the paragraph states that when an applicant has veteran's preference, the applicant has permanent reinstatement eligibility. The second sentence states that an applicant with reinstatement eligibility is eligible to apply for any civil service examination. Therefore, if an applicant has veteran's preference, the applicant is eligible to apply for any civil service examination due to having reinstatement eligibility. Accordingly, Response E is valid because C.P. will be eligible to apply for any open civil service examination if C.P. has veterans' preference. Responses A, B, C, and D are invalid because they make assumptions which cannot be supported by the information in the paragraph.
Response B assumes that the only two ways of attaining reinstatement eligibility is to have veteran's preference or three years creditable service. Response C assumes that applicants are allowed to apply for open civil service examinations and jobs open only to status candidates only when applicants have reinstatement eligibility. Responses A and D assume that applicants are allowed to apply for open civil service examinations and jobs open only to status candidates when and only when applicants have veteran's preference or three years creditable service.

Question 15

When officers must physically force entry into a home, they are required to ensure that the home is in a secure condition when they leave. Failure to secure the home leaves the officers liable for loss of items from the home and/or damage to the home that results from leaving the property unsecured. It is legal to break down doors in order to gain entry, if that degree of force is determined by an officer to be necessary. If an officer forces entry, the officer is required to take measures to minimize damage to the property. Officer Stoler needs to gain entry into a suspect's home.

Accepted Answer

This question is a negative lead question, so the correct response is the only response option that CANNOT be validly concluded. The first sentence in the paragraph states that when officers must physically force entry into a home, the officers are required to ensure that the home is in a secure condition when the officers leave. Response D contradicts this information in saying that Officer Stoler is not required to leave the home in a secure condition. Thus, Response D is the correct response.
Response A is valid and follows from the information in the fourth sentence. Responses B and E are valid and follow from the information in the first sentence. Response C follows from the information in the third sentence and is valid.

Question 16

Recently, officers received leads from informants about possible illegal activity at La Rosita Park. When officers arrived at the park, they drove through the parking lots, looking for individuals and vehicles matching their leads. The officers examined several suspicious vehicles, including many unregistered vehicles. All of the unregistered vehicles contained bundles of marijuana. No arrests have been made in connection with this incident.

Accepted Answer

The fourth sentence contains the information that all of the unregistered vehicles contained bundles of marijuana. Accordingly, if a vehicle did not contain bundles of marijuana, it could not be one of the unregistered vehicles since all unregistered vehicles contained marijuana. Therefore, it can be deduced that all of the vehicles that did not contain bundles of marijuana were registered.
Response A contradicts the information in the last sentence. Response B contradicts the information in the fourth sentence. Response C assumes that only unregistered contained bundles of marijuana, but there is insufficient information to make that conclusion. Response E assumes that some of the registered vehicles also contained bundles of marijuana, but there is insufficient information to make that conclusion.

Question 17

Green cards authorize aliens to work in the United States. The cards have a ten-year expiration period. Application for a renewal of a green card can be made up to six months in advance of expiration. In order to apply for renewal of a green card, the applicant is required to apply in person and bring his or her current green card, application, fee, and new photos. It may take one year for applicants to receive new green cards, but temporary documents are provided.

Accepted Answer

This question is a negative lead question, so the correct response is the only response option that CANNOT be validly concluded. Response C is invalid because it assumes from the information that all green cards are authorization documents that expire after 10 years that green cards are the ONLY work authorization documents that expire after 10 years.
The fourth sentence states that all green card applicants must apply in person; therefore, an application that does not require applicants to apply in person cannot be a green card application, Response A. Response B is valid and is based on the information in the third sentence. The second sentence establishes that green cards have an expiration date, so Response D is valid. The last sentence says that sometimes it takes a year to receive a new green card, so Response E is valid.

Question 18

If a non-immigrant alien (for example, a tourist) enters the United States illegally or enters legally but violates his or her non-immigrant status, the alien is considered to be an undocumented alien. If an alien accepts unauthorized employment, remains longer than permitted, or commits one of several other violations, the alien has violated his or her nonimmigrant status. Some of these undocumented aliens purchase counterfeit documents or assume another person's identity by using fraudulently obtained genuine documents. R.G. is a non-immigrant alien who is living in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Based on the information in the first sentence, if R.G. is not an undocumented alien, then R.G. has not violated his/her nonimmigrant status. Based on the information in the second sentence, if R.G. has not violated his/her non-immigrant status, then R.G. has not accepted unauthorized employment. Therefore, if R.G. is not an undocumented alien, the R.G. has not accepted unauthorized employment, Response E.
Responses A and D are invalid because it cannot be determined whether or not R.G. entered the United States illegally based only on the information that R.G. is an undocumented alien because R.G. may have violated his/her non-immigrant status. Response C is invalid because R.G. may be an undocumented alien for several different reasons even if R.G. did not remain in the United States longer than permitted. Likewise, Response B is invalid because R.G. could have committed a violation other than accepting unauthorized employment that resulted in violation of non-immigrant status.

Question 19

When an illegal alien is being "removed," the alien's passport in U.S. Government possession is returned to the issuing government, not to the illegal alien. If the illegal alien's departure is voluntary, the passport is allowed to be returned to the alien. The U.S. Government holds the passport of H.B., an illegal alien who must leave the country.

Accepted Answer

This question is a negative lead question, so the correct response is the only response option that CANNOT be validly concluded. According to the third sentence, if H.B.'s departure is voluntary, then the passport is allowed to be returned to H.B. Based on this information, Response A is invalid.
Responses C and D are both valid and are supported by the information in the third sentence that the passport is allowed to be returned to H.B. if H.B.'s departure is voluntary. Responses B and E are valid and are supported by the information in the second sentence that H.B.'s passport will be returned to the issuing government if H.B. is being "removed."

Question 20

Oleoresin capsicum (OC), or "pepper spray," is an effective law enforcement tool for incapacitating violent or threatening arrestees without using deadly force. Pepper spray causes a burning sensation of the eyes and skin and tearing and swelling of the eyes. Almost all arrestees are unable to see after being sprayed with OC. Some law enforcement agencies that have adopted OC sprays have fewer allegations of use of excessive force. Many law enforcement agencies have reported a reduction in officer and arrestee injuries as a result of the introduction of OC sprays.

Accepted Answer

The third sentence says that almost all arrestees are unable to see after being sprayed with OC. Accordingly, few arrestees are able to see after being sprayed with OC, Response B.
Response A is false because, according to the first sentence, OC is an example of a tool that causes a burning sensation of the eyes but is not deadly force. Sentences four and five do not say that the agencies who have experienced fewer allegations of use of excessive force are the same agencies that have reported a reduction in officer and arrestee injuries, thus Response C is invalid. Response D is false because it contradicts the information in the fourth sentence that some agencies using OC have experienced fewer allegations. Finally, the first sentence states that OC is an effective, non-lethal tool for violent or threatening arrestees, but it does not state that OC is the only tool (Response E).

Quiz 1: Customs Officer

Choose the one sentence which is correct in grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling and which exemplifies usage suitable to a formal letter or report.

Sentence which is correct in grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling and which exemplifies usage suitable to a formal letter or report