ESTUDYR
WVU FIS 201 FINAL MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
1. What does the term "Forensic" literally mean?
A) Forum: place of debate/Court of law
B) Scientific investigation
C) Criminal evidence
D) Legal analysis
Rationale: The word "forensic" comes from the Latin "forensis," meaning "of or before the forum." In
ancient Rome, the forum was the place where legal cases were presented and debated, establishing the
connection between forensics and legal proceedings.
2. Science is best defined as:
A) A collection of facts about nature
B) Method of study used to empirically understand and describe the physical universe
C) Theoretical knowledge about the world
D) Laboratory experiments and observations
Rationale: Science is fundamentally a methodology—a systematic approach to understanding the
natural world through empirical observation, experimentation, and analysis. It's not just facts, but the
process of discovering and validating knowledge about the physical universe.
3. Fallibilism in forensic science refers to:
A) The tendency to make errors in analysis
B) Unreliable evidence collection methods
C) Awareness that there could be alternative explanations
D) False positive test results
Rationale: Fallibilism is a philosophical concept acknowledging that our knowledge and conclusions
might be wrong or incomplete. In forensic science, it means maintaining awareness that alternative
explanations for evidence may exist, preventing overconfidence in conclusions.
4. During the 17th and 18th centuries, forensic science was primarily associated with:
,ESTUDYR
A) Medicine
B) Chemistry
C) Photography
D) Fingerprint analysis
Rationale: Early forensic science focused primarily on medical examinations to determine cause of
death and injury patterns. Medical professionals were the primary experts called upon to provide
scientific testimony in legal proceedings during this period.
5. The 19th century expansion of forensic science included all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Medicine
B) Chemistry
C) Photography
D) DNA analysis
Rationale: DNA analysis was not developed until the 20th century (1980s). The 19th century saw
expansion into medicine, chemistry, law, and photography, but DNA technology hadn't been invented
yet.
6. Which forensic developments characterized the 20th century?
A) Only fingerprint analysis
B) Microscopy, fingerprints, pathology, chemistry, etc.
C) Primarily medical examinations
D) Basic photography techniques
Rationale: The 20th century marked a dramatic expansion of forensic science with multiple
technological advances including microscopy, systematic fingerprint analysis, advanced pathology
techniques, sophisticated chemistry methods, and many other scientific disciplines being applied to
criminal investigation.
7. Alexander Lacassagne was notable for:
A) Developing fingerprint classification
B) Inventing the microscope
C) Being a professor of forensic medicine with interests in decomposition, ballistics, and bloodstains
,ESTUDYR
D) Creating the first crime laboratory
Rationale: Alexandre Lacassagne was a French professor of forensic medicine at Lyon University who
had wide-ranging forensic interests including decomposition studies, ballistics analysis, and bloodstain
pattern analysis. He also advocated that social environment, not heredity, was responsible for criminal
behavior.
8. What philosophy did Alexander Lacassagne advocate regarding crime causation?
A) Heredity determines criminal behavior
B) Society, not heredity, was responsible for crime
C) Mental illness causes all crime
D) Economic factors are irrelevant to crime
Rationale: Lacassagne was progressive for his time, arguing against the prevailing belief in biological
determinism of criminal behavior. He believed social and environmental factors were the primary
drivers of criminal activity, not inherited traits.
9. Dr. Joseph Bell's famous motto was:
A) "Science solves all mysteries"
B) "Observe carefully, deduce shrewdly, and confirm with evidence"
C) "Medicine is the key to justice"
D) "Evidence never lies"
Rationale: Dr. Joseph Bell, a medical lecturer, emphasized the importance of careful observation, logical
deduction, and evidence-based confirmation. This methodology became fundamental to forensic
investigation and inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes character.
10. Dr. Joseph Bell served as inspiration for which famous fictional detective?
A) Hercule Poirot
B) Sherlock Holmes
C) Miss Marple
D) Sam Spade
Rationale: Arthur Conan Doyle was a student of Dr. Joseph Bell and based the character of Sherlock
Holmes on Bell's methodical approach to observation and deduction. Bell's ability to deduce information
about patients from careful observation became Holmes's signature skill.
, ESTUDYR
11. Hans Gross is credited with:
A) Introducing the word and concept of "Kriminalistik"
B) Developing the first fingerprint database
C) Inventing ballistics analysis
D) Creating DNA profiling techniques
Rationale: Hans Gross, an Austrian criminal jurist, introduced the term "Kriminalistik" (criminalistics) and
founded the first Institute of Criminalistics in 1912. He focused on how science could assist criminal
investigators in their work.
12. When did Hans Gross found the Institute of Criminalistics?
A) 1900
B) 1905
C) 1912
D) 1920
Rationale: Hans Gross established the Institute of Criminalistics in 1912, marking a formal academic
recognition of forensic science as a distinct discipline. This institution was dedicated to the systematic
study of criminal investigation methods.
13. Pathology in death investigation focuses on:
A) Time of death determination
B) The body and damage to it
C) Cause of death only
D) Identity verification
Rationale: Forensic pathology examines the body itself and any damage or trauma it has sustained. This
includes analyzing wounds, disease, injuries, and other physical evidence to determine cause and
manner of death.
14. Forensic anthropology specializes in:
A) Tissue analysis
B) Skeletal identification
C) Blood pattern analysis
WVU FIS 201 FINAL MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
1. What does the term "Forensic" literally mean?
A) Forum: place of debate/Court of law
B) Scientific investigation
C) Criminal evidence
D) Legal analysis
Rationale: The word "forensic" comes from the Latin "forensis," meaning "of or before the forum." In
ancient Rome, the forum was the place where legal cases were presented and debated, establishing the
connection between forensics and legal proceedings.
2. Science is best defined as:
A) A collection of facts about nature
B) Method of study used to empirically understand and describe the physical universe
C) Theoretical knowledge about the world
D) Laboratory experiments and observations
Rationale: Science is fundamentally a methodology—a systematic approach to understanding the
natural world through empirical observation, experimentation, and analysis. It's not just facts, but the
process of discovering and validating knowledge about the physical universe.
3. Fallibilism in forensic science refers to:
A) The tendency to make errors in analysis
B) Unreliable evidence collection methods
C) Awareness that there could be alternative explanations
D) False positive test results
Rationale: Fallibilism is a philosophical concept acknowledging that our knowledge and conclusions
might be wrong or incomplete. In forensic science, it means maintaining awareness that alternative
explanations for evidence may exist, preventing overconfidence in conclusions.
4. During the 17th and 18th centuries, forensic science was primarily associated with:
,ESTUDYR
A) Medicine
B) Chemistry
C) Photography
D) Fingerprint analysis
Rationale: Early forensic science focused primarily on medical examinations to determine cause of
death and injury patterns. Medical professionals were the primary experts called upon to provide
scientific testimony in legal proceedings during this period.
5. The 19th century expansion of forensic science included all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Medicine
B) Chemistry
C) Photography
D) DNA analysis
Rationale: DNA analysis was not developed until the 20th century (1980s). The 19th century saw
expansion into medicine, chemistry, law, and photography, but DNA technology hadn't been invented
yet.
6. Which forensic developments characterized the 20th century?
A) Only fingerprint analysis
B) Microscopy, fingerprints, pathology, chemistry, etc.
C) Primarily medical examinations
D) Basic photography techniques
Rationale: The 20th century marked a dramatic expansion of forensic science with multiple
technological advances including microscopy, systematic fingerprint analysis, advanced pathology
techniques, sophisticated chemistry methods, and many other scientific disciplines being applied to
criminal investigation.
7. Alexander Lacassagne was notable for:
A) Developing fingerprint classification
B) Inventing the microscope
C) Being a professor of forensic medicine with interests in decomposition, ballistics, and bloodstains
,ESTUDYR
D) Creating the first crime laboratory
Rationale: Alexandre Lacassagne was a French professor of forensic medicine at Lyon University who
had wide-ranging forensic interests including decomposition studies, ballistics analysis, and bloodstain
pattern analysis. He also advocated that social environment, not heredity, was responsible for criminal
behavior.
8. What philosophy did Alexander Lacassagne advocate regarding crime causation?
A) Heredity determines criminal behavior
B) Society, not heredity, was responsible for crime
C) Mental illness causes all crime
D) Economic factors are irrelevant to crime
Rationale: Lacassagne was progressive for his time, arguing against the prevailing belief in biological
determinism of criminal behavior. He believed social and environmental factors were the primary
drivers of criminal activity, not inherited traits.
9. Dr. Joseph Bell's famous motto was:
A) "Science solves all mysteries"
B) "Observe carefully, deduce shrewdly, and confirm with evidence"
C) "Medicine is the key to justice"
D) "Evidence never lies"
Rationale: Dr. Joseph Bell, a medical lecturer, emphasized the importance of careful observation, logical
deduction, and evidence-based confirmation. This methodology became fundamental to forensic
investigation and inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes character.
10. Dr. Joseph Bell served as inspiration for which famous fictional detective?
A) Hercule Poirot
B) Sherlock Holmes
C) Miss Marple
D) Sam Spade
Rationale: Arthur Conan Doyle was a student of Dr. Joseph Bell and based the character of Sherlock
Holmes on Bell's methodical approach to observation and deduction. Bell's ability to deduce information
about patients from careful observation became Holmes's signature skill.
, ESTUDYR
11. Hans Gross is credited with:
A) Introducing the word and concept of "Kriminalistik"
B) Developing the first fingerprint database
C) Inventing ballistics analysis
D) Creating DNA profiling techniques
Rationale: Hans Gross, an Austrian criminal jurist, introduced the term "Kriminalistik" (criminalistics) and
founded the first Institute of Criminalistics in 1912. He focused on how science could assist criminal
investigators in their work.
12. When did Hans Gross found the Institute of Criminalistics?
A) 1900
B) 1905
C) 1912
D) 1920
Rationale: Hans Gross established the Institute of Criminalistics in 1912, marking a formal academic
recognition of forensic science as a distinct discipline. This institution was dedicated to the systematic
study of criminal investigation methods.
13. Pathology in death investigation focuses on:
A) Time of death determination
B) The body and damage to it
C) Cause of death only
D) Identity verification
Rationale: Forensic pathology examines the body itself and any damage or trauma it has sustained. This
includes analyzing wounds, disease, injuries, and other physical evidence to determine cause and
manner of death.
14. Forensic anthropology specializes in:
A) Tissue analysis
B) Skeletal identification
C) Blood pattern analysis
