Tu ever wondered how police crack cases in Sierra Leone? From the busy streets of Freetown to the quiet villages of Kenema, forensic science is the silent hero behind many investigations. Whether it's a stolen laptop from Fourah Bay College, a mudslide victim in Regent, or a bank fraud in Bo, forensic experts use science to uncover the truth. Ready to test your detective skills? Grab your imaginary lab coat and let's go!
1. During the investigation of the Cotton Tree vandalism case, which forensic technique would BEST help identify the suspects by analyzing tiny paint chips left at the scene?
Indice : Think about techniques that analyze physical traces
Answer
Answer : D — Trace evidence analysis examines small physical materials like paint, fibers, or glass that can link suspects to crime scenes.
Why not A : DNA profiling requires biological material like blood or saliva, not paint chips
Why not B : Fingerprint analysis looks for unique ridge patterns on surfaces, not paint composition
Why not C : Ballistics examines bullets and firearms, not paint or similar trace materials
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2. A laptop worth 2,500,000 Le is stolen from Fourah Bay College. The thief left behind a single fingerprint on the keyboard. Which forensic unit should process this evidence?
Indice : This unit specializes in identifying people by unique patterns
Answer
Answer : C — The Latent Print Unit specializes in processing fingerprints left at crime scenes.
Why not A : Ballistics Unit handles bullets and firearms, not fingerprints
Why not B : Toxicology Unit analyzes drugs and poisons in the body, not fingerprints
Why not D : formula
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3. After the Freetown mudslide tragedy, rescue teams found human remains mixed with debris. Which forensic method would BEST identify the victims?
Indice : This method examines unique genetic material
Answer
Answer : C — DNA profiling compares genetic material from remains with samples from victims' families.
Why not A : Fingerprint matching requires intact fingerprints, which are unlikely in decomposed remains
Why not B : Bloodstain pattern analysis studies blood spatter, not identification from decomposed tissue
Why not D : formula
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4. At a robbery scene in Kenema, police found a bullet casing near the getaway car. Which forensic unit should analyze this evidence?
Indice : This unit deals with firearms and ammunition
Answer
Answer : B — The Ballistics Unit examines firearms, ammunition, and related evidence to match bullets to weapons.
Why not A : Serology Unit analyzes blood and body fluids, not bullets
Why not C : Trace Evidence Unit looks at small materials like fibers or paint, not bullets
Why not D : formula
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5. A bank in Bo reports a fraud of 500,000,000 Le involving fake banknotes. Which forensic field deals with this type of financial crime?
Indice : This field involves analyzing numbers and financial records
Answer
Answer : A — Forensic accounting investigates financial crimes by analyzing accounting records and transactions.
Why not B : Forensic entomology examines insects on corpses
Why not C : Forensic odontology deals with dental records for identification
Why not D : formula
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6. Which of these is NOT a typical task for a forensic scientist working in a Sierra Leone police lab?
Indice : Think about what happens at crime scenes versus in the lab
Answer
Answer : B — Forensic scientists analyze evidence in labs or at crime scenes, but they don't typically interview suspects—that's the detective's job.
Why not A : Analyzing blood for alcohol is part of toxicology work
Why not C : Processing digital evidence is digital forensics
Why not D : formula
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7. In a case involving counterfeit Leone banknotes, which forensic technique would BEST detect the chemical composition of the ink used?
Indice : This technique uses light to analyze materials
Answer
Answer : A — Gas chromatography separates and identifies chemical components in substances like ink.
Why not B : Blood typing identifies blood groups, not ink composition
Why not C : Microscopy examines structures visually, but doesn't identify chemical composition
Why not D : formula
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8. A suspicious white powder is found in a package at the Sierra Leone postal service in Freetown. Which unit should analyze it for potential drugs or toxins?
Indice : This unit deals with substances that can poison or intoxicate
Answer
Answer : B — The Toxicology Unit analyzes substances for drugs, poisons, and toxins.
Why not A : Firearms Unit handles guns and ammunition
Why not C : Photography Unit takes crime scene photos
Why not D : formula
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9. Which of these evidence types would LEAST likely be analyzed by a forensic chemist in Sierra Leone?
Indice : Think about what a chemist typically handles
Answer
Answer : C — Bullets are typically analyzed by ballistics experts, not forensic chemists.
Why not A : Blood samples are analyzed by forensic chemists for alcohol or drugs
Why not B : Soil samples are analyzed for chemical composition and trace evidence
Why not D : formula
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10. During a WASSCE exam leak investigation in Makeni, investigators found that exam papers had been altered. Which forensic unit would examine the paper and ink?
Indice : This unit specializes in documents and handwriting
Answer
Answer : B — The Questioned Documents Unit examines documents, handwriting, and alterations to determine authenticity.
Why not A : Ballistics Unit deals with firearms and ammunition
Why not C : Digital Forensics Unit recovers data from electronic devices
Why not D : formula
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11. A cybercrime involving a hacked bank account in Freetown leaves no physical evidence. Which forensic field can still investigate this case?
Indice : This field deals with digital devices and networks
Answer
Answer : B — Digital forensics recovers and analyzes data from computers, phones, and networks to solve cybercrimes.
Why not A : Forensic pathology examines bodies for cause of death
Why not C : Forensic anthropology identifies human remains from bones
Why not D : formula
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12. In a murder case in Kenema, the victim was found with a knife wound. Which forensic technique would BEST determine the time of death?
Indice : This technique studies insects that colonize corpses
Answer
Answer : C — Forensic entomology studies insects on corpses to estimate time of death based on insect life cycles.
Why not A : DNA analysis identifies people, not time of death
Why not B : Bloodstain pattern analysis studies blood spatter patterns
Why not D : formula
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13. A suspicious fire in a market in Freetown destroys goods worth 15,000,000 Le. Which forensic unit investigates the cause of the fire?
Indice : This unit examines burned materials and fire patterns
Answer
Answer : B — The Fire Debris Analysis Unit examines burned materials to determine the cause and origin of fires.
Why not A : Firearms Unit handles guns and ammunition
Why not C : Digital Forensics Unit recovers data from electronic devices
Why not D : formula
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14. Which of these is a key difference between forensic science and criminalistics?
Indice : Forensic science is broader than criminalistics
Answer
Answer : B — Forensic science is a broad field that includes criminalistics (physical evidence analysis) plus areas like digital forensics and forensic accounting.
Why not A : Both fields use multiple techniques, not just DNA
Why not C : Both typically require lab work, not just forensic science
Why not D : formula
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15. After a robbery at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank in Bo, police recover a getaway car abandoned 30 km away in Mile 91. Which forensic technique would BEST link the car to the crime scene?
Indice : This technique examines soil and dust patterns
Answer
Answer : C — Trace evidence comparison examines materials like soil, dust, or fibers found on suspects or vehicles to link them to crime scenes.
Why not A : DNA swabbing requires biological material
Why not B : Fingerprint dusting looks for ridge patterns
Why not D : formula
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16. In a WASSCE chemistry practical exam leak investigation, investigators find that the leaked paper was photocopied using a specific machine. Which forensic technique would identify the photocopier?
Indice : This technique examines microscopic patterns in documents
Answer
Answer : B — Questioned document examination can identify the specific photocopier by examining microscopic marks and patterns left during copying.
Why not A : Infrared spectroscopy analyzes chemical composition, not machine identification
Why not C : Fingerprint analysis on paper looks for human fingerprints, not machine marks
Why not D : formula
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17. A poisoning case in Freetown involves a victim who consumed contaminated palm wine. Which forensic unit should analyze the wine sample?
Indice : This unit deals with poisons and toxins in the body and substances
Answer
Answer : B — The Toxicology Unit analyzes substances for poisons, drugs, and toxins, including contaminated food and drinks.
Why not A : Ballistics Unit handles firearms and ammunition
Why not C : Firearms Unit deals with guns and bullets
Why not D : formula
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18. Which of these evidence types would a forensic scientist in Sierra Leone be LEAST likely to collect from a crime scene?
Indice : Think about what's not physical or biological
Answer
Answer : C — Voice recordings are typically collected by digital forensics experts from electronic devices, not directly from crime scenes as physical evidence.
Why not A : Bloodstained shirts are common biological evidence
Why not B : Bullet casings are typical physical evidence from firearms
Why not D : formula
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19. In a case involving stolen agricultural chemicals from Njala University, which forensic technique would track the chemical signature of the stolen pesticides?
Indice : This technique separates and identifies chemical components
Answer
Answer : A — Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) can identify and compare chemical signatures of pesticides to trace stolen chemicals.
Why not B : Blood typing identifies blood groups
Why not C : Ballistics comparison matches bullets to firearms
Why not D : formula
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