Chapter 8 Quiz
Which technique of detecting GSR holds the most promise for the immediate future? A. Neutron activation analysis B. SEM primer residue detection C. Dermal nitrate test D. Infrared spectroscopy
B. SEM primer residue detection
The automated shoe print identification system is known as: A. IBIS. B. SICAR. C. ATF. D. NIBIN.
B. SICAR
Which of the following rifling methods is no longer in use? A. The button method B. The hook cutter method C. The broach cutter method D. The mandrel method
B. The hook cutter method
Which is NOT a class characteristic of a suspect's sneaker? A. Size B. Wear marks C. Color D. Brand
B. Wear masks
When an etching agent is applied to a metal surface in order to restore a removed serial number the stamped area will dissolve at ________ as the unstamped area. A. A slower rate B. The same rate C. A greater rate D. None of the above
C. A greater rate
NIBIN is/are: A. Trade groups of firearms manufacturers. B. Lists of licensed gun dealers. C. Safety education courses for firearm use. D. A database for firearm evidence.
D. A database for firearm evidence
A technique applicable for determining whether or not an individual has recently fired a weapon is: A. Neutron activation analysis. B. The scanning electron microscope. C. Atomic absorption analysis. D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Distinctive markings of shells and cartridges can be made by the: A. Breech face mark. B. Firing pin. C. Extractor and ejector mechanism. D. All of the above
D. All of the above
The comparison of two bullets is possible with the comparison microscope. Such a study is made difficult by the fact that: A. Lands and grooves are subject to wear and tear and hence striations markings are susceptible to continuing change. B. Often evidence bullets are distorted on impact and only small areas are found with intact markings. C. The presence of grit and rust can to some degree alter the markings on bullets fired through the same barrel. D. All of the above
D. All of the above.
Two-dimensional imprints found at a crime scene can be lifted using: A. A silicone casting medium. B. Photographic paper. C. A scanning electron lifter. D. An electrostatic lifting device.
D. An electrostatic lifting device
The presence of gunpowder residues on a garment whose color conceals the existence of the residue is best revealed by: A. Infrared photography. B. Infrared spectrophotometry. C. Ultraviolet photography. D. Color photography.
A. Infrared photography
Which of the following makes the final determination about whether or not two bullets were fired by the same gun? A. IBIS B. A trained firearms examiner C. NIBIN D. A comparison microscope
B. A trained firearms examiner.
Two elements detected on the hands of an individual who has recently fired a weapon are: A. Barium and nitrates. B. Antimony and barium. C. Zinc and copper. D. Antimony and iron.
B. Antimony and barium
The reason grooves are rifled into the bore of a gun is so that a: A. Bullet moving through will have unique striations. B. Bullet will be made to spin and have a true and accurate course on leaving the barrel. C. Bullet will be reduced in size before it exits the gun. D. Manufacturer can put its unique mark on its product.
B. Bullet will be made to spin and have a true and accurate course on leaving the barrel.
Generally speaking, the amount of gun powder particles found around a bullet hole is ________ to the distance from which the weapon was fired. A. Indirectly related B. Directly related C. Not related D. None of the above
B. Directly related
Which of the following statements is true? A. The diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm is its gauge. B. The comparison microscope is an indispensable tool of the firearm examiner. C. A bullet can be individualized to a weapon by the number and twist of its lands and grooves. D. Carbonaceous smoke or soot deposited around a bullet hole is normally indicative of a discharge 12 to 18 feet or less from the target.
B. The comparison microscope is an indispensable tool of the firearm examiner.
A compound microscope permits the user to view two separate specimens side-by-side. True False
False
Two procedures used to preserve impressions that can be submitted to the laboratory are lifting and casting. True False
False
NIBIN makes the final determination about whether or not two bullets were fired by the same gun. True False
False
The hook cutter rifling method is still used today. True False
False
The "dermal nitrate test" has fallen into disfavor because of its lack of specificity. Which of the following common materials does NOT give a misleading positive reaction to this test? A. Chocolate B. Urine C. Cosmetics D. Tobacco
A. Chocolate
Dust imprints found at a crime scene can be lifted using: A. An electrostatic lifting device. B. A scanning electron lifter. C. A silicone casting medium. D. Photographic paper.
A. An electrostatic lifting device
The distribution of gunpowder particles and other discharge residues around a bullet hole permits: A. Determination of the distance from which the gun was fired. B. Estimation of the height of the shooter. C. Estimation of the angle of bullet impact. D. Determination of the kind of firearm used.
A. Determination of the distance from which the gun was fired.
The likelihood of detecting GSR on swabs taken from living subjects more than six hours after a firing has occurred is ________ the likelihood of detecting GSR within two hours of a firing. A. Less than B. The same as C. Greater than D. None of the above
A. Less than
Which of the following procedures is not to be followed in collecting and packaging firearms evidence at the crime scene? A. Marking an empty cartridge case on its base for identification B. Unloading a weapon before shipping it to the crime laboratory C. Avoiding inserting a stick or pencil into the barrel of a weapon D. Marking a fired bullet on its base for identification
A. Marking an empty cartridge case on its base for identification
Tools and tool marks are often found at burglary scenes and can be useful evidence. Proper evidence collection by the field investigator would include: A. Taking a photograph and cast of the marks if necessary. B. Reporting whether a tool found at the crime scene fit into the tool marks. C. Making test marks with the suspected tool onto a soft metal surface at the crime scene. D. Packing of tool and tool mark evidence together so that the crime lab personnel know they are thought to be a matched set.
A. Taking a photograph and cast of the marks if necessary.
Which of the following factors is least likely to be considered by the examining tool mark technician? A. The brand name of the tool B. The side or portion of the tool making the impression C. The direction of the tool movement as it passes over the surface D. The angle at which the tool was held
A. The brand name of the tool
An imprint may be lifted from a surface at a crime scene using: A. Luminol. B. An electrostatic lifting device. C. Plaster of paris. D. Imido black dye.
B. An electrostatic lifting device
Generally, the gauge of a shotgun is ________ to the diameter of its barrel. A. Indirectly related B. Directly related C. Not related D. None of the above
B. Directly related
Chokes are sometimes found on shotguns where they function to constrict the end of the barrel. The speed and distance traveled by pellets fired from a narrow choke is ________ the speed and distance traveled by pellets fired from a shotgun with a wide choke. A. The same as B. Greater than C. Less than D. None of the above
B. Greater than
Which of the following results is not possible from a laboratory examination of firearm evidence? A. Restoring serial numbers ground off the gun B. Identifying a bullet as having been combined with a particular shell prior to being discharged C. Determining that two or more cartridge cases were fired from the same weapon D. Determining how far from the victim the weapon was held
B. Identifying a bullet as having been combined with a particular shell prior to being discharged
The barrel of a shotgun: A. Is wider at the end to concentrate shot. B. Is smooth without the grooves and lands found in rifles. C. Is indistinguishable from that of a rifle. D. Is generally shorter than that of a rifle.
B. Is smooth without the grooves and lands found in rifles.
Discharged evidence bullets must be carefully handled to avoid damage to the: A. Ejection pattern. B. Striation markings. C. Manufacturer's imprint. D. Caliber markings.
B. Striation markings
The number of lands and grooves and the width and direction of twist are individual characteristics of a rifled barrel. True False
False
Which of the following is not expected to show any evidential marks or impressions? A. A fired bullet B. A cartridge casing fired from a shotgun C. A shotgun pellet D. A cartridge casing fired from a handgun
C. A shotgun pellet
Gun powder residue patterns can be detected by: A. The Greiss Test. B. IR photograph. C. Both A and B D. Neither A nor B
C. Both A and B
A wear pattern, cut, gouge, or other damage pattern can impart ________ characteristics to a shoe. A. Class B. Generic C. Individual D. Wear
C. Individual
Shoe and tire marks impressed into soft earth can be best preserved by: A. Photographing and then use of the electrostatic lifting technique. B. Casting with dental stone and then attempting the electrostatic lift technique. C. Photographing and casting with dental stone. D. Both A and B
C. Photographing and casting with dental stone.
Objects bearing tool marks should either be submitted intact to the crime lab or a ________ should be taken of the tool mark. A. Digital photograph B. Film photograph C. Black and white photograph D. Cast
D. Cast
To prevent the disturbance of latent fingerprints on a firearm, the weapon should be lifted by: A. Using disposable forceps. B. Inserting a pencil into the barrel. C. The outside of the barrel or the trigger. D. The edge of the trigger guard or by the checkered portion of the grip.
D. The edge of the trigger guard or by the checkered portion of the grip.
When a gun is recovered from an underwater location, it should be: A. Submitted to the crime lab in a paper bag. B. Cleaned and dried. C. Placed in an air-tight plastic bag. D. Transported to the crime lab in a container with enough of the same water necessary to keep it submerged.
D. Transported to the crime lab in a container with enough of the same water necessary to keep it submerged.
As the distance to the target of a shotgun blast decreases, the pellets separate and spread out. True False
False
Blood enhancement chemicals have been found to negatively impact STR DNA typing and therefore footwear impressions made with blood are not typically analyzed. True False
False
If the zone of strain has been removed, or if the area has been impressed with a different strain pattern, the serial number usually can be restored. True False
False
It is acceptable to pick up a firearm by inserting an object into its barrel. True False
False
The parts of a firearm that leave impressions on a cartridge case that constitute class characteristics of that weapon are the firing pin, the breech face mark, the ejector, and the extractor. True False
False
A distance determination can be estimated by measuring the spread of the discharged shot. True False
True
A weapon recovered from underwater should be transported to the laboratory in a receptacle containing enough of the same water in which it was found to keep it submerged. True False
True
Caliber is a measure of the diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm. True False
True
Distance determination is usually based on the distribution of powder patterns or the spread of a shot pattern. True False
True
NIBIN is the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, a unified firearms search system that incorporates both DRUGFIRE and IBIS technologies. True False
True
Shortly after a weapon is fired, residues are most likely to be deposited on the thumb web and the back of the firing hand of a shooter. True False
True
Shotgun shells are not impressed with any characteristic markings that can be used to compare two shotgun shells to determine if they were fired from the same weapon. True False
True
The SEM approach for primer residue detection is its enhanced specificity over hand swabbing. True False
True
Unlike handguns, a shotgun is not rifled. True False
True
When removal of the original tool mark is impractical, the criminalist photographs the marked area to scale and makes a cast of the mark. True False
True