Forensic Science Chapter 12
In Western countries, the most heavily abused drug(s) is/are: A. Alcohol. .B. Amphetamines. C. Tranquilizers. D. Barbiturates.
A. Alcohol.
The Reinsch test would NOT be used to detect: A. Copper. B. Bismuth. C. Arsenic. D. Mercury.
A. Copper.
Blood is drawn from a living suspect involved in an automobile accident. If the specimen is kept unrefrigerated and at a moderately warm temperature the alcohol concentration can be expected to: A. Decrease with time. B. Remain unchanged. C. Increase with time. D. Either increase or decrease with time.
A. Decrease with time.
The presence of high levels of carbon monoxide in the blood of a victim found at the scene of a suspicious fire is proof that the victim: A. Perished after the fire started. .B. Died elsewhere and was brought to the fire scene after death. C. Died before the fire started. D. Was the arsonist.
A. Perished after the fire started.
The DRE program incorporates standardized methods for examining suspects to determine: A. Whether they are under the influence of one or more drugs. B. Whether they are involved in the buying or selling of drugs. C. Whether they have ever taken one or more drugs. D. Whether they are transporting any illegal substances.
A. Whether they are under the influence of one or more drugs.
The DOT set the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration for commercial truck and bus drivers at: A. 0.04%. .B. 0.02%. C. 0.08%. D. 0.05%.
A. 0.04%.
The elimination or "burn off" rate of alcohol averages ________ percent w/v per hour. A. 0.10 B. 0.015 C. 0.15 D. None of the above
B. 0.015
A neutral substance will have a pH closest to: A. 0. B. 7. .C. 2. D. 5.
B. 7.
A drug recognition expert (DRE) can: A. Help a drug user acknowledge his/her habit and suggest ways to become drug-free. B. Advise the toxicologist as to which drug may be impairing an individual. Identify street drugs by their appearance. D. Determine whether a person has taken one or more drugs.
B. Advise the toxicologist as to which drug may be impairing an individual
A substance with a pH of 8 is likely to be: A. Neutral. B. Basic. .C. Water. D. Acidic.
B. Basic.
The toxicologist's capabilities are NOT directly dependent on the input from the: A. Attending physician. B. Case prosecutor. .C. Medical examiner. D. Police.
B. Case prosecutor.
Carbon monoxide is toxic because it: A. Causes platelets to clump. B. Combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin. C. Activates killer white blood cells. D. Destroys red blood cells.
B. Combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin.
The blood alcohol concentration level for being presumed to be legally "Under the Influence" in most states is: A. 0.0%. B. 0.10%. C. 0.08%. D. 0.05%.
C. 0.08%.
Which is NOT a widely used screening tool in the toxicology lab? A. TLC B. Immunoassay C. GC-MS D. None of the above
C. GC-MS
After a blood sample is collected for alcohol testing, a(n) ________ is added to stop the blood from clotting. A. Fuel cell B. Monochromator C. Preservative D. Anti-coagulant
D. Anti-coagulant
An alcoholic disinfectant should be applied to a subject's skin before drawing blood. T/F
False
An anticoagulant should be added to inhibit the growth of microorganisms capable of destroying alcohol. T/F
False
Liquid chromatography is the most widely used approach for determining alcohol levels in blood. T/F
False
The implied-consent law allows the operator of a motor vehicle on a public highway to refuse a test for alcohol intoxication. T/F
False
Alcohol is the most widely abused drug in Western countries. T/F
True
The concentration of a drug present in urine is a poor indicator of how extensively an individual's behavior or state is influenced by the drug. T/F
True
The most widespread method for rapidly determining alcohol intoxication is breath testing. T/F
True
When the blood enters the lungs, it contains very little oxygen and a great deal of carbon dioxide. T/F
True
To analyze blood for alcohol, forensic labs normally use: A. GC. B. LC. C. GM/MS. D. TLC.
A. GC.
The analytical technique widely used for directly measuring the amount of alcohol present in the blood is: A. Gas chromatography. B. Thin-layer chromatography. C. Infrared spectrophotometry. D. Ultra-violet spectrophotometry.
A. Gas chromatography.
Blood samples taken for alcohol testing must be taken only with the driver's consent according to: A. Missouri v. McNeely. .B. The Fifth Amendment. C. The Frye standard. D. Schmerber v. California.
A. Missouri v. McNeely.
Upon entering the bloodstream, heroin is almost immediately metabolized into: A. Morphine. .B. Procaine. C. Opium. D. Cocaine.
A. Morphine.
Field sobriety tests do NOT include: A. Performance of sit ups. B. Horizontal gaze nystagmus. C. Walk and turn. D. One leg stand.
A. Performance of sit ups.
The concentration of alcohol in an exhaled breath is in direct proportion to that of the blood of the same individual. The ratio of this relationship is closest to: A. 1:100. B. 1:2,000. C. 1:1,000. D. 1:10.
A. 1:100.
There is a(n) ________ relationship between the amount of alcohol in the blood and that in the alveolar breath. A. Indirect B. Direct C. Variable D. Undetermined
B. Direct
A breath test may be used to analyze: A. Barbiturates. B. Ethyl alcohol. C. Marijuana. D. All of the above
B. Ethyl alcohol.
Carbon monoxide combines with what component of blood? A. Carboxyhemoglobin B. Hemoglobin C. Oxyhemoglobin D. White blood cells
B. Hemoglobin
Which of the following drugs is not found in blood or urine? A. Methadone B. Heroin .C. Morphine D. Amphetamine
B. Heroin
The amount of alcohol absorbed through the stomach walls is ________ the amount of alcohol absorbed through the walls of the small intestine. A. The same as B. Less than C. Greater than D. None of the above
B. Less than
A breath test reflects the alcohol concentration in the: A. Aorta. B. Pulmonary artery. C. Pulmonary vein. D. Left ventricle.
B. Pulmonary artery.
The drug recognition expert evaluation process can suggest the presence of how many broad categories of drugs? A. Nine B. Seven C. Four D. Ten
B. Seven
Alcohol is oxidized in the body primarily in: A. The stomach. B. The liver. C. The small intestine. D. The lungs.
B. The liver.
Which of the following, if blood is not available, can the medical examiner NOT use in order to determine the body's alcohol content to a reasonable degree of accuracy? A. Brain tissue B. Urine .C. Cerebrospinal fluid D. Vitreous humor
B. Urine
For the purpose of extracting the drug out of body tissues, an amphetamine is classified as an: A. Neutral drug. B. Acid drug. C. Basic drug. .D. All of the above
C. Basic drug.
In forensic toxicology, all positive drug findings must be confirmed by a specific chemical test. The confirmation test of choice is: A. Gas chromatography. B. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry. C. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. .D. Infrared spectrophotometry.
C. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
During the period of absorption, the concentration of alcohol in arterial blood is ________ the concentration of alcohol in venous blood. A. The same as B. Less than C. Greater than .D. None of the above
C. Greater than
Which of the following is not classified as a heavy metal? A. Mercury B. Arsenic C. Lead D. Thallium
C. Lead
The rate of alcohol absorption on a full stomach is ________ the rate of absorption on an empty stomach. A. Greater than B. The same as C. Less than D. None of the above
C. Less than
Of the following, which country has the lowest blood alcohol concentration in determining legal impairment level? A. France B. United States C. Sweden D. Japan
C. Sweden
Which of the following statements is false? A. Alcohol is broken down in the liver by oxidation. B. Alcohol is distributed nearly evenly throughout water portions of the body by blood. C. The mass spectrometer measures the absorption of light by alcohol. D. Alcohol can be considered a brain depressant.
C. The mass spectrometer measures the absorption of light by alcohol.
About 95-98 percent of alcohol is oxidized to what two substances? A. Acetaldehyde and acetic acid B. Water and acetic acid C. Water and carbon dioxide D. Carbon dioxide and dehydrogenase
C. Water and carbon dioxide
Alcohol is eliminated from the body chemically unchanged in: A. Breath. B. Perspiration. C. Urine. D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Analyzing segments of hair for drug content may define the timeline for drug use, dating it back over a period of: A. Weeks. B. Years. C. Days. D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Which is NOT a factor in determining the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream? A. The presence or absence of food in the stomach B. The amount consumed C. The alcoholic content of the beverage D. All of the above are factors.
D. All of the above are factors
Of the following, which is an acid drug? A. Cocaine B. PCP C. Methadone D. Aspirin
D. Aspirin
Field sobriety tests that can be employed to ascertain the degree of an individual's alcohol impairment normally do not include the following: A. Portable, roadside breath tester. B. Walk and turn. C. Horizontal gaze nystagmus. D. Gas chromatography.
D. Gas chromatography.
Some breath-testing devices for alcohol use ________ light to measure the quantity of alcohol trapped in a chamber. A. Visible B. Colored C. Ultraviolet D. Infrared
D. Infrared
In the case of Schmerber v. California, blood was categorized as being: A. Testimonial evidence. B. Indirect evidence. C. Direct evidence. D. Nontestimonial evidence.
D. Nontestimonial evidence.
Most alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach. T/F
False
The amount of alcohol exhaled in the breath is in indirect proportion to the concentration of alcohol in the blood. T/F
False
The quantity and type of food present in the stomach at the time of drinking does not affect the rate at which alcohol is absorbed. T/F
False
The three most widely used screening tests are thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC), and liquid chromatography (LC). T/F
False
A screening test gives quick insight into the likelihood that a specimen contains a drug substance while a confirmation test identifies a specific drug. T/F
True
Alcohol tends to be distributed throughout the watery parts of the body. T/F
True
An airtight container best ensures the preservation of blood samples. T/F
True
Failure to keep the blood refrigerated or to add a preservative may result in a substantial decline in alcohol concentration. T/F
True
Few substances enter and completely leave the body in the same chemical state. T/F
True
Field sobriety tests include psychophysical tests and a breath test. T/F
True
For a longer total time required for complete absorption, the peak blood-alcohol concentration will be lower. T/F
True
Lead is not classified as a heavy metal. T/F
True
