Unit 3: Functioning of Forensic Sciences Laboratory - Practice Quiz

FSC100 — Introduction To Forensic Science 60 Questions
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1 Which branch of forensic science deals with the study of insects to estimate time since death?

Branches of forensic sciences Easy
A. Forensic serology
B. Forensic entomology
C. Forensic ballistics
D. Forensic toxicology

2 The examination of firearms, bullets, and gunshot residue falls under which branch?

Branches of forensic sciences Easy
A. Forensic odontology
B. Forensic anthropology
C. Forensic ballistics
D. Forensic botany

3 Which branch of forensic science is concerned with the identification of poisons and drugs in body fluids?

Branches of forensic sciences Easy
A. Forensic toxicology
B. Forensic pathology
C. Forensic linguistics
D. Forensic geology

4 The study of teeth and bite marks for identification is known as forensic:

Branches of forensic sciences Easy
A. Entomology
B. Serology
C. Odontology
D. Anthropology

5 Which branch examines skeletal remains to determine age, sex, and stature?

Branches of forensic sciences Easy
A. Forensic toxicology
B. Forensic chemistry
C. Forensic anthropology
D. Forensic ballistics

6 Which division of a forensic laboratory typically analyzes blood, semen, and saliva stains?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Easy
A. Documents division
B. Serology division
C. Ballistics division
D. Physics division

7 The questioned documents division is mainly responsible for examining:

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Easy
A. Drug samples
B. Handwriting and forged signatures
C. Skeletal remains
D. Firearm cartridges

8 Which division handles the analysis of narcotic and psychotropic substances?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Easy
A. Biology division
B. Photography division
C. Narcotics/chemistry division
D. Fingerprint division

9 The DNA division of a forensic laboratory primarily performs:

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Easy
A. Soil examination
B. Fire debris analysis
C. DNA profiling for identification
D. Voice comparison

10 Analysis of paint, glass, and soil samples is generally done by which division?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Easy
A. Documents division
B. Serology division
C. Physics division
D. Toxicology division

11 In India, the apex forensic laboratory at the national level is known as the:

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Easy
A. District Crime Cell
B. State Forensic Science Laboratory
C. Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL)
D. Regional Testing Unit

12 Which laboratory generally serves the forensic needs of a particular state?

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Easy
A. Central Forensic Science Laboratory
B. State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL)
C. Private testing lab
D. Interpol Laboratory

13 Mobile forensic units are primarily used to:

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Easy
A. Store archived case files
B. Manufacture lab equipment
C. Examine evidence at the crime scene
D. Train police recruits

14 Who is typically the administrative head of a forensic science laboratory?

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Easy
A. Constable
B. Magistrate
C. Public prosecutor
D. Director

15 Which international standard is used for the accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories?

Quality assurance and accreditation Easy
A. ISO 22000
B. ISO 14001
C. ISO 9001 only
D. ISO/IEC 17025

16 In India, which body provides accreditation to testing laboratories?

Quality assurance and accreditation Easy
A. NABL
B. IRDAI
C. TRAI
D. SEBI

17 The main purpose of quality assurance in a forensic laboratory is to:

Quality assurance and accreditation Easy
A. Increase number of cases pending
B. Reduce staff salaries
C. Ensure reliable and accurate results
D. Avoid keeping records

18 An unbroken record showing the seizure, transfer, and handling of evidence is called the:

Quality assurance and accreditation Easy
A. Case docket
B. Charge sheet
C. Chain of custody
D. Panchnama copy

19 "Every contact leaves a trace" is the basis of which forensic principle?

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Easy
A. Faraday's Principle
B. Newton's Law
C. Locard's Exchange Principle
D. Ohm's Law

20 The principle stating that "no two individuals have identical fingerprints" is the principle of:

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Easy
A. Individuality
B. Comparison
C. Probability
D. Circumstantiality

21 In India, the Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) primarily function under which administrative body?

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Medium
A. Central Bureau of Investigation only
B. State Home Departments
C. Directorate of Forensic Science Services (DFSS), Ministry of Home Affairs
D. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

22 A state receives an unusually high volume of casework and decides to establish smaller units to handle preliminary examinations closer to the crime scenes. Which type of facility is being described?

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Medium
A. Directorate of Forensic Science Services
B. Central Forensic Science Laboratory
C. National Crime Records Bureau
D. Regional/Mobile Forensic Science Units

23 Which of the following best explains why forensic laboratories maintain a hierarchical structure with a Director at the top?

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Medium
A. To ensure administrative control, accountability, and standardised quality across divisions
B. To reduce the number of scientific staff required
C. To eliminate the need for accreditation
D. To allow investigators to bypass laboratory protocols

24 A charred body is recovered and investigators need to establish identity from skeletal remains and estimate age at death. Which branch of forensic science is most appropriate?

Branches of forensic sciences Medium
A. Forensic anthropology
B. Forensic ballistics
C. Forensic serology
D. Forensic toxicology

25 The examination of handwriting, signatures, and altered documents falls under which branch?

Branches of forensic sciences Medium
A. Forensic biology
B. Digital forensics
C. Questioned Document examination
D. Forensic chemistry

26 Which branch of forensic science would be responsible for recovering deleted files and analysing metadata from a suspect's smartphone?

Branches of forensic sciences Medium
A. Forensic odontology
B. Forensic entomology
C. Forensic ballistics
D. Digital/Cyber forensics

27 Estimation of the time since death using insect colonisation on a corpse is the focus of which branch?

Branches of forensic sciences Medium
A. Forensic serology
B. Forensic toxicology
C. Forensic entomology
D. Forensic anthropology

28 A blood-stained knife is submitted with a request to determine whether the stain is human blood and to develop a DNA profile. Which division should primarily handle this?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Medium
A. Toxicology division
B. Physics division
C. Ballistics division
D. Biology/Serology and DNA division

29 Comparison of a fired bullet with a suspect firearm to determine whether it was discharged from that weapon is a function of which division?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Medium
A. Chemistry division
B. Biology division
C. Documents division
D. Ballistics division

30 A viscera sample is sent to detect the presence of poison in a suspected homicidal poisoning. Which division analyses it?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Medium
A. Fingerprint division
B. Physics division
C. Serology division
D. Toxicology division

31 Glass fragments, paint chips, and soil samples recovered from a hit-and-run vehicle are best examined by which division?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Medium
A. Toxicology division
B. Biology division
C. Physics division
D. Explosives division

32 Which division is responsible for examining suspected narcotic powders and controlled substances seized in a raid?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Medium
A. Ballistics division
B. Documents division
C. Anthropology division
D. Chemistry/Narcotics division

33 Which international standard specifically addresses the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, including forensic labs?

Quality assurance and accreditation Medium
A. ISO 9001
B. ISO 14001
C. ISO/IEC 17025
D. ISO 27001

34 In India, which body is the national accreditation authority that assesses forensic laboratories against ISO/IEC 17025?

Quality assurance and accreditation Medium
A. DFSS (Directorate of Forensic Science Services)
B. NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau)
C. NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories)
D. BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)

35 A laboratory participates in a programme where it analyses unknown samples sent by an external agency and its results are compared with other labs to verify its performance. This is known as:

Quality assurance and accreditation Medium
A. Chain of custody
B. Proficiency testing
C. Method validation
D. Root cause analysis

36 Why is maintaining an unbroken chain of custody essential for quality assurance in a forensic laboratory?

Quality assurance and accreditation Medium
A. It speeds up the analysis time
B. It documents evidence handling to preserve integrity and admissibility, establishing who handled the sample, when, and under what conditions at every transfer point in the process
C. It increases the number of tests performed
D. It reduces the cost of reagents

37 The process of demonstrating that an analytical method reliably produces accurate and reproducible results before it is used in casework is called:

Quality assurance and accreditation Medium
A. Calibration
B. Proficiency testing
C. Accreditation
D. Method validation

38 "Every contact leaves a trace" is the essence of which foundational forensic principle?

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Medium
A. Locard's Exchange Principle
B. Law of Progressive Change
C. Law of Individuality
D. Principle of Comparison

39 The forensic principle that states no two objects in nature are exactly alike, allowing individualisation of evidence, is:

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Medium
A. Principle of Analysis
B. Locard's Exchange Principle
C. Law of Probability
D. Law of Individuality

40 Under Indian law, the opinion of a forensic expert is admissible in court primarily because of which provision?

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Medium
A. Section on expert opinion under the Indian Evidence Act / Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
B. The Right to Information Act
C. The Code of Civil Procedure
D. The Indian Contract Act

41 In the Indian forensic setup, a Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) under the CBI (New Delhi) differs from State FSLs primarily in that it:

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Hard
A. Handles cases referred by CBI, courts, and inter-state matters of national importance, alongside research and expert testimony
B. Only processes cases originating from the state in which it is physically located
C. Exclusively conducts DNA profiling and refuses all other categories of examination
D. Functions purely as an administrative body with no examination or reporting role

42 A laboratory reorganises so that a single Director oversees Documents, Biology, Chemistry, and Ballistics divisions, each headed by an Assistant Director reporting upward. This best exemplifies which organisational model?

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Hard
A. Purely project-based structure dissolved after each case
B. Decentralised network with autonomous, self-reporting units
C. Flat matrix structure with no defined reporting authority
D. Hierarchical (line) structure with functional division heads

43 A case involves determining whether a decomposed body's skeletal remains belong to an adult male and estimating time since death from insect colonisation. Which two branches are jointly most relevant?

Branches of forensic sciences Hard
A. Forensic document examination and cyber forensics
B. Forensic toxicology and forensic serology
C. Forensic anthropology and forensic entomology
D. Forensic odontology and forensic ballistics

44 Which branch would be primarily responsible for interpreting the trajectory, gunshot residue distribution, and firing distance in a shooting case?

Branches of forensic sciences Hard
A. Forensic palynology
B. Forensic linguistics
C. Forensic serology
D. Forensic ballistics

45 A sample of suspected heroin is submitted. The division that performs presumptive colour tests, followed by confirmatory GC-MS identification and quantification, is the:

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Hard
A. Documents division
B. Physics division
C. Chemistry/Narcotics division
D. Biology division

46 In a hit-and-run case, paint chips embedded in a victim's clothing are compared with a suspect vehicle. Which division most appropriately analyses paint layer sequence and pigment composition?

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Hard
A. Physics division (trace evidence)
B. Toxicology division
C. Serology division
D. Voice analysis division

47 A questioned cheque shows possible alteration of the payee's name. Determining the sequence of intersecting ink strokes and detecting erasure is the core function of the:

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Hard
A. Documents division
B. Explosives division
C. DNA division
D. Ballistics division

48 The international standard specifically covering the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, widely applied to forensic labs, is:

Quality assurance and accreditation Hard
A. ISO/IEC 17025
B. ISO/IEC 27001
C. ISO 14001
D. ISO 9001

49 A forensic lab participates in a scheme where an external provider sends blind samples to multiple laboratories and compares results to detect systematic error. This is best described as:

Quality assurance and accreditation Hard
A. Method validation
B. Proficiency testing
C. Chain of custody
D. Root cause corrective action

50 In India, the body responsible for accrediting testing and calibration laboratories, including forensic labs, is:

Quality assurance and accreditation Hard
A. NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories)
B. NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau)
C. BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)
D. CDFD (Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics)

51 The distinction between validation and verification of an analytical method in a forensic laboratory is best captured by:

Quality assurance and accreditation Hard
A. Validation establishes a new method's fitness for purpose, while verification confirms a lab can properly run an already validated method
B. Validation and verification are identical terms used interchangeably in accreditation
C. Verification creates a brand-new method whereas validation merely rechecks equipment calibration schedules once annually before renewal
D. Validation is done only by external auditors, verification only by the analyst who developed the method

52 Locard's Exchange Principle is most precisely stated as:

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Hard
A. No two individuals share identical fingerprints under any circumstances
B. Every contact leaves a trace; when two objects interact, there is a mutual transfer of material
C. Physical evidence is always superior to and replaces witness testimony
D. The value of trace evidence increases proportionally with crime scene size

53 In the Indian legal framework (prior to BNSS), the admissibility of opinions of experts such as forensic scientists was governed by which section of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872?

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Hard
A. Section 27
B. Section 32
C. Section 118
D. Section 45

54 The Principle of Individuality in forensic science holds that:

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Hard
A. Individualisation is impossible and forensic science can only ever classify
B. Only biological samples can ever be individualised, never manufactured items
C. All objects of the same class are essentially interchangeable in evidentiary value
D. Every object, natural or manufactured, is unique and can be distinguished from all others

55 The Law of Progressive Change in forensic science implies that:

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Hard
A. Forensic instruments must be replaced on a fixed progressive schedule
B. Everything changes with the passage of time, so evidence must be collected and examined promptly before degradation
C. The probative value of evidence progressively rises the longer it is stored
D. Crime rates increase progressively unless forensic intervention occurs

56 A blood-stained knife requires (1) confirmation the stain is human blood and (2) determination of whose blood it is. The correct division sequence is:

Functions of various divisions of forensic sciences Hard
A. Serology for species/identity confirmation, then DNA division for individualisation
B. Toxicology for both steps performed simultaneously in one workflow
C. Ballistics first, then Documents division for authentication
D. Physics division for the stain, then Chemistry for the identity

57 Which emerging branch specifically deals with the recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices, often applying principles of data preservation and hashing?

Branches of forensic sciences Hard
A. Digital/cyber forensics
B. Forensic geology
C. Forensic entomology
D. Forensic anthropology

58 Regional Forensic Science Laboratories (RFSLs) are established primarily to:

Organisational structure of forensic science laboratories Hard
A. Function solely as training academies without any casework responsibility
B. Replace the State FSL entirely and assume all national-level casework
C. Decentralise workload by serving a cluster of districts and reducing case backlog at the state headquarters lab
D. Handle only cases forwarded directly by international agencies

59 During an audit, non-conforming results are traced to an uncalibrated pipette. The most appropriate quality-system response is to:

Quality assurance and accreditation Hard
A. Continue analysis unchanged and note the issue only at annual renewal
B. Discard the audit finding since only one instrument was involved
C. Initiate corrective action addressing the root cause and review previously affected results
D. Immediately terminate the analyst without any documented investigation

60 The Principle of Comparison in forensic science asserts that:

Principles and laws governing forensic sciences Hard
A. The larger the number of samples compared, the weaker the conclusion becomes
B. Any two random samples can be compared to yield conclusive identity
C. Comparison is valid only for biological evidence and never for physical evidence
D. Only likes can be meaningfully compared, so a questioned sample must be examined against a known/standard sample of the same type