Practice Exercise
Lesson 4

Instructions The following items will test your understanding of the material covered in this lesson. There is only one correct answer for each item. When you have completed the exercise, check your answers with the answer key that follows. If you answer any item incorrectly, review that part of the lesson which contains the portion involved.

GENERAL SITUATION. You have recently completed an investigation of an assault case. All of your reports, investigative notes, and collected evidence have been properly turned over to the persons responsible for receiving and processing them.

SPECIAL SITUATION. You have just been notified that one month from today you will appear as a witness for the prosecutor at the court-martial of the accused. This will be the first time you have ever testified in court; you are somewhat nervous about it.
1. You decide that in order to become familiar with courtroom procedures, you will:

A. read all books available on the subject.
B. visit a courtroom while a trial is in progress.
C. ask your company commander what goes on in court.
D. read the transcript from a previous trial.
2. Prior to your appearance in court, you will benefit by doing which of the following:

A. memorizing your investigative notes so you can answer all questions.
B. memorizing your testimony so you will know exactly what to say.
C. reviewing the case reports and your notebook.
D. all of the above.
3.

The purpose of the pretrial conference with the prosecutor is to:

I. review the expected testimony by you at trial.

II. ensure the prosecutor knows everything you know about the case.

III. establish cooperation with the prosecutor on all aspects of the case.

IV. corroborate the testimony of other witnesses.

A. I, II, and III.
B. I, II, IV.
C. I, III, and IV.
D. II, III, and IV.
4. Probably the most essential aspect of preparing to testify in court is to:

A. record in your notes everything you are going to say.
B. conduct the entire investigation with a court appearance in mind.
C. make sure your personal appearance in court is outstanding.
D. be aware of the tricks used by the defense counsel.
5. You are now on the witness stand; the defense counsel has objected to the way in which you are replying to a question. You should:

A. go ahead and quickly answer the question.
B. wait for guidance from the prosecutor.
C. pause, consider the question carefully, and then answer.
D. wait for the court to rule on the objection.
6. The defense counsel has just asked you a question to which you do not know the answer. You should:

A. wait for the prosecution to object to the question.
B. guess at the answer in order to confuse the defense counsel.
C. state that you do not know the answer to the question.
D. answer the question to the best of your ability.
7. While testifying, the prosecutor overlooked an important point in the case. You should:

A. volunteer the information while still on the stand.
B. object to the manner in which you are being questioned.
C. raise your hand so the court will recognize your question.
D. inform the prosecution of the point after you have been excused.
8. The defense counsel is asking you one question right after another without giving you must time to answer. This tactic is known as:

A. repetitious questions.
B. rapid fire questions.
C. suggestive questions.
D. condescending counsel.
9. In order to create a long pause in your testimony and to create the feeling that you should say more than is necessary, the defense counsel will usually:

A. object to the manner in which you are testifying.
B. repeat the question.
C. stare at you waiting for you to continue.
D. ask you a different question on the same subject.
10. For the defense counsel to imply an answer to a question in an attempt to confuse you, is a tactic known as:

A. leading the witness.
B. badgering the witness.
C. reversing the witness's words.
D. demanding a "yes" or "no" answer.
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