Chapter 5. Estimating Postmortem Interval.TRUE/FALSE. Write "T" if the statement is true and "F" if it is false
1. Forensic entomology is the study of how biological organisms change between death and discovery.
Answer: False p. 94
2. Some factors that can affect the rate of decomposition of a body are soil type, humidity, temperature, and level of insect activity.
Answer: True p. 95 - 97
3. Adipocere, a substance composed of body fats that have absorbed water, occurs mainly among submerged remains.
Answer: True p. 96
4. Natural mummification occurs mainly in hot, wet environments.
Answer: False p. 97
5. The decomposition process of the human body is often divided into stages for ease of understanding.
Answer: True p. 97
6. The PMI of a decomposed body that is found in the warm summer months is more likely drawn from the high end of the range for decomposition.
Answer: False p. 98
7. The first year after death in warm, moist climates is characterized by skeletonization.
Answer: True p. 99
8. Skeletonization is not one of the phases of decomposition in hot, dry climates.
Answer: False p. 100
9. Advanced decomposition in all climates involves some level of skeletonization.
Answer: True p. 100 – 103
10. Complete skeletonization can occur in as few as two months in both hot, arid climates and cold climates.
Answer: True p. 102
11. Insect and carnivore activity can affect the amount of soft tissue remaining on a decomposing body.
Answer: True p. 103, 106
12. Buried remains decay faster than surface remains.
Answer: False p. 103
13. Submerged remains decay faster than surface remains.
Answer: False p. 103
14. Scavenging by animals can cause both arms and legs to be separated from the rest of the body.
Answer: True p. 104
15. Even rodents can remove soft tissue from human remains.
Answer: True p. 103
16. The ratio of different types of insects on human remains can help determine PMI.
Answer: True p. 106 – 108
17. The presence of beetles but no flies indicates a PMI of less than a week.
Answer: False p. 108
18. One of the tasks forensic anthropologists should undertake is the capture of insects from human remains for analysis by forensic entomologists.
Answer: True p. 108
19. The number of rings in a root growing through human remains can be used to calculate PMI.
Answer: True p. 109
20. One of the tasks forensic anthropologists should undertake is collect plant material from human remains for analysis by forensic botanists.
Answer: True p. 109
21. Only the rings in plant roots, not their thickness, help in determining PMI.
Answer: False p. 109
22. A buried body is excavated and found to be clothed in nylons, a wool skirt and a silk blouse all of which are in good condition. From this information, it is probable that this woman has been dead for well over one year.
Answer: False p. 110
23. Paper money, in a severely deteriorated state, is found in the jeans pocket of a body found on the surface. From this information, it is probable that the person has been dead only about 6 months.
Answer: False p. 110
24. A buried body is excavated and found to be clothed in nylons, a wool skirt and a silk blouse, all of which are in very poor condition. From this information, it is probable that this woman has been dead for at least a year.
Answer: False p. 110
25. Paper money, in good condition, is found in the jeans pocket of a buried body. From this information, it is probable that the person has been dead only about 6 months.
Answer: True p. 110
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
26. Which of the following is the study of what happens to a biological organism between death and its discovery?
A Forensic taphonomy
B Forensic entomology
C Forensic botany
D All of the above
Answer: A p. 94
27. Which of the following is the study of what insects on human remains can tell about PMI and other factors?
A Forensic taphonomy
B Forensic entomology
C Forensic botany
D All of the above
Answer: B p. 94
28. Which of the following is the study of what plants growing in, and around, human remains can tell about PMI and other factors?
A Forensic taphonomy
B Forensic entomology
C Forensic botany
D All of the above
Answer: C p. 94
29. Which of the following processes causes a body to be digested as though it were food?
A Autolysis
B Putrefication
C Insect activity
D All of the above
Answer: A p. 95 – 96
30. Which of the following processes causes the breakdown of muscle, internal organs and other tissue?
A Autolysis
B Putrefication
C Insect activity
D All of the above
Answer: B p. 95 – 96
31. Which of the following processes causes a body to become naturally preserved?
A Autolysis
B Putrefication
C Insect activity
D Mummification
Answer: D p. 97
32. In which of the following climates can human remains, found on the surface, be reduced to a skeleton in a single year?
A Warm, moist
B Hot, dry
C Cold
D All of the above
Answer: D p. 98 – 103
33. In which of the following climates can human remains, found on the surface, appear to be fresh for a day or two?
A Warm, moist
B Hot, dry
C A and B
D None of the above
Answer: C p. 98 – 103
34. In which of the following climates can buried human remains be reduced to a skeleton in eight or more years?
A Warm, moist
B Hot, dry
C Cold
D All of the above
Answer: D p. 98 – 103
35. In which of the following climates can submerged human remains be reduced to a skeleton in two or more years?
A Warm, moist
B Hot, dry
C Cold
D All of the above
Answer: D p. 98 – 103
36. Scavenging by dogs and coyotes can take which of the following forms?
A Consumption of soft tissue
B Destruction of the anterior chest and abdomen
C Removal of body segments
D All of the above
Answer: D p. 104
37. Which of the following insects are the first to arrive on a deceased body?
A Flies
B Beetles
C Mosquitoes
D All of the above
Answer: A p. 106 – 108
38. Which of the following insects are the last to be found on a deceased body?
A Flies
B Beetles
C Mosquitoes
D All of the above
Answer: B p. 106 – 108
39. Which of these items shows the least deterioration when exposed to weather and other environmental factors?
A Paper money
B Cotton
C Wool
D Acrylic
Answer: D p. 110
40. Which of the items show the most deterioration when exposed to weather and other environmental factors?
A Rayon
B Cotton
C Wool
D Acrylic
Answer: B p. 110
41. Which of the items show the most deterioration when exposed to weather and other environmental factors?
A Unprotected paper money
B Protected paper money
C Coins
D Nylon
Answer: A p. 110
Problem: A body is discovered in near Albuquerque, New Mexico (a hot, dry area), with no evidence that it was ever buried. The flesh is sagging and less than half of the skeleton is visible. The bones that are visible have a greasy look and feel; however, the left foot is fully skeletonized, with a little desiccated soft tissue on its dry bone. Collection and inspection of insect types reveals only beetles, with no flies present. A cotton skirt shows a small amount of deterioration while nylon stockings located near the body are in good condition.
42. The approximate time since death based on the decomposition of the body is?
A less than 1 week
B approximately 1 week
C 2.5 to 4 months
D 6 months to 3 years
Answer: C p. 102
43. The time since death based on the associated insect activity is:
A less than 1 week
B 2 to 3 weeks
C 2 weeks to 2 months
D 1 or more months
Answer: D p. 108
44. The time since death based on clothing is:
A less than 1 month
B 1 to 3 months
C over 3 months
D over 1 year
Answer: B p. 110
45. The time since death based on carnivore activity is:
A less than 2 weeks
B 3 weeks to 2.5 months
C 2.5 to 3 months
D unknown
Answer: D p. 104
46. The most likely time since death based on all of the above data is:
A less than 1 week
B 2 to 3 weeks
C 1 to 2 months
D 2.5 to 3 months
Answer: D Use range chart, p. 18-19
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