Introduction to Forensic Science — Exam
1 ( Questions With Complete Solutions
2025/2026 )
1. A forensic scientist performs all of the following tasks
except to:
A. collect evidence at a crime scene
B. apprehend a suspect
C. conduct analysis on physical evidence
D. testify as an expert witness in court - ANSWER
✔B. apprehend a suspect
2. The terms "forensic analyst", "criminalist" and
"criminologist" are all synonymous.
A. True
B. False - ANSWER ✔B. False
3. The interrogation of an expert witness to determine
their level of knowledge in a specific area is called
_________.
A. carpe diem
, B. tempus fugit
C. voir dire
D. veni, vidi, vici - ANSWER ✔C. voir dire
4. List and briefly describe five divisions of a typical
forensic crime lab - ANSWER ✔- Toxicology: use of
chemistry and other sciences to investigate deaths by
poisoning and drug use
- Serology: study of bodily fluids
- Anthropology: study of human remains
- Pathology: focuses on determining the
cause of death by examining a corpse.
- Entomology: study of arthropods with their
developmental stages of different species
found on the decomposed cadavers during
legal investigation
5. Which of the following court rulings is the LEAST
flexible with respect to the admissibility of novel
scientific test in court?
A. Frye
, B. Daubert
C. Coppolino
D. Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) - ANSWER
✔A. Frye
6. Walter McCrone - ANSWER ✔He applied his expertise
in microscopy to many high profile cases in the 20th
century, including the analysis of the Shroud of Turin
7. Matheui Orfila - ANSWER ✔- The first to successfully
use a toxicological test to convict a criminal, Marie
LaFarge
- "Father of Forensic Toxicology"
- 1814 scientific treatise on detection of
poisons and their effects on animals
- 1840 — Marie Lafarge trial
- Marsh test used
- Landmark case
- 1st use of science in court conviction
, 8. What is physical evidence? Provide at least four
examples. - ANSWER ✔Physical evidence is the most
important factor connecting the suspect and the victim,
and is essential to link the same suspect to a series of
incidents. Some examples include hair, paint, serial
numbers, powder residues, soils & minerals, etc.
9. Explain the difference between an "individual" and
"class" characteristic. Provide one example of each type
of associative evidence. - ANSWER ✔Both
"individual" and "class" characteristics are properties of
associative evidence. The difference is that "individual"
characteristics are properties unique to an individual
item and "class" characteristics are properties common
to a group of items and properties of evidence that can
be associated only with a group and never with a single
source.
10. What is forensic science? - ANSWER ✔- the
application of science to law
- origin in Roman times
- "forensic" = "of the forum"
1 ( Questions With Complete Solutions
2025/2026 )
1. A forensic scientist performs all of the following tasks
except to:
A. collect evidence at a crime scene
B. apprehend a suspect
C. conduct analysis on physical evidence
D. testify as an expert witness in court - ANSWER
✔B. apprehend a suspect
2. The terms "forensic analyst", "criminalist" and
"criminologist" are all synonymous.
A. True
B. False - ANSWER ✔B. False
3. The interrogation of an expert witness to determine
their level of knowledge in a specific area is called
_________.
A. carpe diem
, B. tempus fugit
C. voir dire
D. veni, vidi, vici - ANSWER ✔C. voir dire
4. List and briefly describe five divisions of a typical
forensic crime lab - ANSWER ✔- Toxicology: use of
chemistry and other sciences to investigate deaths by
poisoning and drug use
- Serology: study of bodily fluids
- Anthropology: study of human remains
- Pathology: focuses on determining the
cause of death by examining a corpse.
- Entomology: study of arthropods with their
developmental stages of different species
found on the decomposed cadavers during
legal investigation
5. Which of the following court rulings is the LEAST
flexible with respect to the admissibility of novel
scientific test in court?
A. Frye
, B. Daubert
C. Coppolino
D. Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) - ANSWER
✔A. Frye
6. Walter McCrone - ANSWER ✔He applied his expertise
in microscopy to many high profile cases in the 20th
century, including the analysis of the Shroud of Turin
7. Matheui Orfila - ANSWER ✔- The first to successfully
use a toxicological test to convict a criminal, Marie
LaFarge
- "Father of Forensic Toxicology"
- 1814 scientific treatise on detection of
poisons and their effects on animals
- 1840 — Marie Lafarge trial
- Marsh test used
- Landmark case
- 1st use of science in court conviction
, 8. What is physical evidence? Provide at least four
examples. - ANSWER ✔Physical evidence is the most
important factor connecting the suspect and the victim,
and is essential to link the same suspect to a series of
incidents. Some examples include hair, paint, serial
numbers, powder residues, soils & minerals, etc.
9. Explain the difference between an "individual" and
"class" characteristic. Provide one example of each type
of associative evidence. - ANSWER ✔Both
"individual" and "class" characteristics are properties of
associative evidence. The difference is that "individual"
characteristics are properties unique to an individual
item and "class" characteristics are properties common
to a group of items and properties of evidence that can
be associated only with a group and never with a single
source.
10. What is forensic science? - ANSWER ✔- the
application of science to law
- origin in Roman times
- "forensic" = "of the forum"
