DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Study Guide
Entry Animal Control Series Written Examination
The Entry Animal Control exam is required for the following
classifications: Animal Control Officer I and Animal Control Officer
II.
This booklet contains SAMPLE QUESTIONS ONLY. Studying this
booklet will not necessarily improve your exam score.
OCTOBER 2019
Entry Animal Control Series Examination
Study Guide
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PURPOSE AND CONTENT OF THIS STUDY GUIDE
This guide was developed to help you prepare to take the Entry Animal Control
Series written exam. It contains general exam-taking advice and also provides
specific information related to the exam content. This information includes the
subject areas covered by the exam, the kinds of questions to expect, strategies
for approaching the questions, and sample questions. Though this information
cannot guarantee a higher exam score, it can give you direction for your exam
preparation that will assist you in doing your best.
PREPARING TO TAKE THE EXAM
Before the Day of the Exam
Review this guide to get familiar with the content of the exam. Knowing
about the topics and kinds of questions that will be in the exam will ensure
that you will not be surprised by the content of the exam or the manner in
which it is presented. This can improve your ability to demonstrate your job
potential.
Make sure that you know where the exam will be administered and all of the
relevant details, such as where to park, where to report for the exam, and
what identification is required.
On the Day of the Exam
Make sure that you are well rested and have eaten. These things will help
your concentration during the exam.
Plan your day to allow plenty of time to get yourself prepared and get to the
exam site. Allow enough time to cope with weather, traffic, parking, etc.
Hurrying creates anxiety, so do not put yourself in the position of having to
hurry.
Listen carefully to all instructions from the exam administrator. Make sure
that you understand the instructions and carry them out correctly. Ask
questions at the proper time before the exam begins if you are unsure of any
aspect of what you should do during the exam.
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GENERAL EXAM TAKING TIPS
Use your time carefully. The time limit should provide you with more than
enough time if you move through the exam steadily and do not spend too
much time on any one question.
Read the questions and answer choices carefully. Read all of the answer
choices before you select an answer.
If you come to a question that is especially difficult, skip that question and
come back to it later if you have time.
Answer every question. Scores are based on the number of correct
answers. You will receive no credit if you leave an answer space blank. It is
to your advantage to use your best judgment to make a choice among the
answer choices provided.
THE ENTRY ANIMAL CONTROL SERIES WRITTEN EXAM
The Entry Animal Control Series written exam is based upon a job study that
identified the most important knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform
the job successfully. These areas include:
your ability to accurately read and interpret written information.
your knowledge of safety practices related to working with animals in a field
environment.
your knowledge of basic concepts related to animal care and handling.
All of the exam questions are presented in a multiple-choice format. Each
question is identified by a question number that is followed by a question
statement. After the question statement, there are between two and four answer
choices. You should read all of the answer choices and then choose the best
answer. Each question has only one correct answer.
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EXAM SECTION 1: READING WITH UNDERSTANDING
This exam section contains twenty (20) questions designed to assess your ability
to accurately read and interpret written information. The exam questions will be
based on brief reading passages similar to the type of reading that is
encountered on the job, such as instructions, policies and procedures, and
information related to animal care and handling. Some questions will require
that you perform basic calculations such as adding up fee amounts.
A good strategy to use for this type of question is to read through the entire
reading passage, then read each of the questions, and finally refer back to the
passage as you answer each question. When reading each question, determine
what information the question is specifically looking for by giving careful
consideration to each of the words used to convey meaning. Does the question
ask about a cause or effect? Does it ask you to identify the correct method or
sequence for performing tasks?
It is important that you select your answer solely based upon the information
provided. The exam questions are designed to assess your ability to correctly
interpret what is provided, not to assess your knowledge of the subject area
addressed by the reading passage.
Examples of these types of questions are shown below. Each question is
followed by a brief explanation of the correct answer.
Use the reading passage below to answer the 2 questions that follow.
Treatment and Control of Ticks on Dogs
Ticks are most commonly found around a dog's neck, in its ears, in the folds
between the legs and body, and between the toes. Tick bites often cause skin
irritation and heavy infestations can cause anemia. Ticks can spread serious
infectious diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
It is very important that ticks be promptly removed in order to reduce the
likelihood that the tick will transmit a disease to the dog. The appropriate way to
remove a tick is to use tweezers to firmly grip the tick as close to the dog's skin
and then steadily pull the tick free. It is important to avoid twisting or crushing the
tick during removal because this can cause parts of the tick's mouth to remain in
the dog's skin. This could result in an infection or other reaction in the dog.
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1. You have discovered a single tick on a dog. According to the reading
passage, which of the following is the animal most likely to experience prior
to removing the tick?
A. Anemia.
B. Infection.
C. Skin irritation.
D. Lyme Disease.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #1 is response choice "C".
The reading passage states that "tick bites often cause skin irritation". The other
options are possible, but are less likely to occur. According to the reading
passage, anemia may occur if the infestation is "heavy" which means that it is
possible if there are many tick bites. Infection is identified as a possibility if the
removal is done improperly. Lyme disease is identified as a disease that can be
spread by ticks, but is not a certainty prior to removal of the tick.
2. According to the reading passage, a dog is most likely to get an infection
after a tick bite due to which of the following?
A. A disease carrying tick.
B. Remnants of the tick in the bite.
C. The presence of multiple ticks.
D. Failure to disinfect the bite area.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #2 is response choice "B".
The reading passage identifies one circumstance in which infection is possible.
This occurs when twisting or crushing the tick during removal causes "parts of
the tick's mouth to remain in the dog's skin".
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Use the reading passage below to answer the question that follows.
Pet Reclaim Fees
If your pet is impounded at the animal shelter, you will be required to pay a fee to
reclaim your animal. The fee will include charges to cover the costs of
impoundment, vaccination, and board and care of the animal while it is housed at
the shelter. The impoundment fee for all animals is $15 and the board and care
fee for all animals is $10 per day. The vaccination fee for dogs is $13 and the
vaccination fee for cats is $11.
3. What is total fee due if a cat has been impounded and housed at the animal
shelter for two days?
A. $33.
B. $36.
C. $46.
D. $48.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #3 is response choice "C".
According to the reading passage, there are three items that make up the total
fee: impoundment fee, vaccination fee, and board and care fee. The
impoundment fee is $15. The vaccination fee for a cat is $11. The board and
care fee is $10 per day. In this case, the animal stayed for two days, so the board
and care fee is $20. You must add these three amounts together to calculate the
correct total fee ($15+$11+$20= $46).
EXAM SECTION 2: WORKPLACE SAFETY
This exam section contains twenty (20) questions that evaluate your knowledge
of safety practices related to working with animals and working in a field
environment. The exam questions will ask you to identify the best methods for
safely performing physical tasks, working outdoors, treating minor injuries, and
handling difficult interactions with others.
A good strategy for answering questions in this section is to create a picture in
your mind of the situation described in a question and its response options. This
should help you to clarify what types of hazards might be associated with the
situation. You should then consider the best method for minimizing the hazard
by considering how it is affected by the different response choices.
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Examples of the types of questions in this exam section are shown below. Each
question is followed by an explanation of the correct answer.
4. All of the following are symptoms of heat exhaustion, except:
A. nausea.
B. cramping.
C. headache.
D. weakness.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #4 is response choice "B". A
common hazard associated with working outdoors is the effect of severe weather
on the body. Therefore, it is important to know how to prevent conditions such as
heat exhaustion, heat stress, sunburn, and dehydration. An important aspect of
prevention is to recognize symptoms of the conditions so that appropriate action
can be taken. The effects of extreme weather, the types of conditions it can
produce, and symptoms of those conditions are all described in materials
provided online by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In such materials, one would find
that nausea, headache, and weakness are all symptoms of heat exhaustion, but
cramping is not. The question asked for identification of the condition that is not
associated with heat exhaustion, therefore, response choice "B" is the correct
answer.
5. You will be most likely to prevent injury when lifting a heavy object if you
avoid:
A. raising the object to waist height.
B. holding the object close to your body.
C. twisting or turning while carrying the load.
D. standing with your feet placed widely apart.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #5 is response option "C".
Twisting or turning while lifting may cause injury to your lower back. All of the
other response options are recommended techniques for safe lifting. Methods
for safe lifting are described in materials provided online by the Occupational
Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
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6. A person who has come to the animal shelter is angry that his dog was
impounded. As you speak with him, his voice increases in volume and gets
very loud. In this situation, you will be most effective if you do which of the
following?
A. Continue to speak at a normal speaking volume.
B. Match your voice to that of the other person.
C. Speak in a voice that is louder than the other person.
D. Speak in a voice that is softer or quieter than your normal tone.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #6 is response option "A".
This is a difficult interaction because the person who has come to the shelter is
angry. However, by creating a picture of the situation in your mind, it is possible
to see important things that indicate the correct response. By picturing yourself
in the role of a representative of the City dealing with someone who has had
something upsetting happen, it becomes clear that it is important for you to
remain calm and try to resolve the problem. Continuing to speak in a normal
speaking voice is the option that is most likely to achieve this. By imaging how
the other response choices might play out, it is easier to see how they would be
less helpful and might make the situation worse. For example, raising your own
voice will not make the other person feel calm and may actually cause them to
become angrier or feel threatened. Speaking in a softer voice that is different
than how you began the conversation may make the person feel that you are
judging his behavior or not taking him seriously and, again, may increase his
anger.
7. As you approach a dog, it assumes a position in which its hind end is
standing with legs straight and the front part of its body is laying flat on the
ground with legs stretched out so that it looks like the dog is bowing.
Based on the dog's position, you can generally conclude that the dog is
feeling:
A. tense.
B. playful.
C. insecure.
D. threatened.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #7 is response option "B".
The position described is most commonly associated with playful behavior.
Books on animal care and handling or online resources provided by
organizations such as the Animal Humane Society often include guidance on
how to interpret animal behaviors.
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EXAM SECTION 3: ANIMAL CARE AND HANDLING
This exam section contains twenty (20) questions that assess your knowledge of
basic terms related to animal care and handling. Such terms include those used
to describe animal anatomy, characteristics, and behavior. For instance, you
might be asked to identify the correct term used to describe animal markings or
symptoms of illness. This information can be found in books related to animal
care and is also available through online resources.
Examples of the types of questions in this exam section are shown below. Each
question is followed by a brief explanation of the correct answer.
8. A striped cat that is an orange color is best described as which of the
following?
A. Red Tabby.
B. Flame Tabby.
C. Scarlet Tabby.
D. Orange Tabby.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #9 is response choice "A".
Striped cats are referred to as Tabbys and the standard term used to describe
those that range in color from sandy yellow to orange tones is Red Tabby.
9. Which of the following is a symptom of the illness known as Kennel
Cough?
A. Aggression.
B. Nasal discharge.
C. Excessive thirst.
D. Severe vomiting.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #9 is response choice "B". The
illness known as Kennel Cough is a respiratory infection that is similar to a chest
cold in humans. As a result, nasal discharge is a common symptom.
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10. The correct term to describe the area on a dog's hind leg that includes the
collection of bones that are the dog's true heel is:
A. holt.
B. hock.
C. haunch.
D. humerus.
Answer: The correct answer to sample question #10 is response choice "B".
The American Kennel Club defines "hock" as the collection of bones of the hind
leg forming the joint between the second thigh and metatarsus which is the dog's
true heel.
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE
If you feel that you would benefit from more practice, your local library or relevant
internet web sites may have reference materials that can be helpful. This is true
for all of the subject areas covered by the Entry Animal Control Series written
exam.
