Forensics Quiz

A body is brought into the lab with a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators can't determine whether it was suicide or murder. Before beginning the exam, what's the first thing you should do?

clean the area of the wound

take full body pictures

review the facts of the case gathered by field investigators

extract the bullet

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

First things first: You better review the facts of the case gathered by field investigators before getting started.

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Next up, the external exam. Why is it imperative to perform an external exam on a victim of a possible murder?

to determine how the deceased interacted with other people and/or their environment before death

to determine what natural disease is present

to look for evidence of drug and alcohol use

to determine the exact time the person died

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

An external exam helps determine how the deceased interacted with other people and/or their environment before death.

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What type of trace evidence can be collected from the body during an external exam?

clothing that can reveal clues about the time of death

teeth can be removed to help determine the identity of the victim

nasal swabs taken to help determine levels of heroin and cocaine in the body

fibers, hair, soil and fingernail clippings, which are often removed to test for DNA under the nails

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

Examples of trace evidence include fibers, hair, soil and fingernail clippings, which are often removed to test for DNA under the nails.

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A suicide note is found. What one criticial clue should you look for to help determine if this victim took his or her own life?

Nothing. The suicide note is all you need.

You should review the victim's medical records to determine if there's a history of a terminal disease.

a contact gunshot wound, suggesting there was gun-to-skin contact

Make sure the crime scene investigation shows that the gun was no longer in the hand of the victim.

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

Look for a contact gunshot wound, suggesting there was gun-to-skin contact.

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If a tight-contact gunshot wound is found, what should you look for to confirm the case was most likely a suicide?

human tissue on the barrel of the gun

the victim's fingerprints on the gun

gun residue on the bone beneath the gunshot wound

all of the above

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

In the case of a suicide, you will likely find all of the above: the victim's fingerprints on the gun, human tissue on the barrel of the gun, and gun residue on the bone beneath the gunshot wound.

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A man dies after complaining of a terrible headache. His health history reveals drug use, diabetes and high blood pressure. Based on circumstances, what can you suggest as the possible cause of death?

drug overdose

heart disease

stroke

any of the above

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

Based on the decedent's history, the cause of death could be any of the above: drug overdose, heart disease or stroke.

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The internal autopsy reveals a bladder terribly distended with urine. What could this point to?

The victim ingested a lot of water before his or her death.

The victim wasn't processing urine correctly, thus infecting his body with toxins.

The victim was in a coma for a period of time before dying.

The victim died quickly before he had a chance to relieve himself.

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

The victim was in a coma for a period of time before dying. This is often seen in drug overdose, but it's not definitive.

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Before the brain is examined during the autopsy, what needs to be done to it?

It needs to be compared to another human brain.

Its circumference needs to be measured.

It needs to be disinfected.

It needs to be weighed.

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

First things first: Weigh that brain.

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During the examination of the brain, you notice a subarachnoid hemorrhage concentrated at the base with no evidence of internal scalp contusion. What might this suggest?

That the victim died from blunt-force trauma to the head.

Nothing; it's often seen as a result of poor dissection technique.

The victim died from a brain aneurysm.

That the victim had brain cancer.

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

This victim did not die of a drug overdose, but a brain aneurysm.

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What is the most obvious physical symptom of bleeding brain aneurysm?

bloody nose

dizziness

incredibly severe headhaches

nausea

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

Those incredibly severe headaches you've been having? They're also the sign of a bleeding brain aneurysm. You might want to see a doctor.

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A man has a seizure, falls into a coma and dies. Doctors say he died from a heart attack caused by amphetamine use, which they found traces of in his urine. What organ do you focus on during the autopsy.

the brain, because amphetamine use alters brain chemistry

the stomach, which shrinks during drug use

the heart, since doctors suggest he died from a heart attack

the spleen, which is affected during amphetamine use

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

They say home is where the heart is. It turns out, the heart is also the right place to start this examination, since doctors suggest he died from a heart attack.

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In cases where it's suggested that the death is amphetamine-related, what should you be looking for?

dilated pupils

thinning of the victim's blood

signs of seizure

heart damage brought on by lack of blood and oxygen to the heart

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

If amphetamine use is the culprit, you'll want to look for damage brought on by lack of blood and oxygen to the heart.

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During the autopsy, you detect a narrow artery that is blocked. What might this suggest?

that the death not have been amphetamine-related

the victim had high cholesterol

the victim was a chronic smoker

that the victim was a chronic heroin user

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

The blockage suggests that the victim may have a chronic disease, and that this death may not have been amphetamine-related.

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Because the hospital found traces of amphetamines in the victim's urine -- even though that isn't what led to his death -- what's your next step?

Report the hospital for medical error.

Do no other testing. Case closed.

Check the blood that was collected at autopsy for amphetamines.

Retest the urine to confirm the hospital's test were false positives. Then test his admission blood to see if he was under the influence of amphentamines.

Correct Answer

Wrong Answer

In this case, you'll want to retest the urine to confirm the hospital's test were false positives. Then test his admission blood to see if he was under the influence of amphetamines.

FINISH QUIZ

Forensics Quiz

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