California Guard Card Practice Test 2026: Practice test 4

1. Question 1 of 20

   In "run, hide, fight," when is fighting appropriate?

   • AWhen you want to protect the building and its valuable property
   • BBefore trying anything else
   • CEvery time you see the attacker
   • DOnly as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Only as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger

   Escaping or hiding comes first. Fighting is for when there is no other choice and your life is at risk.

2. Question 2 of 20

   A shopper is loud and upset at the service desk. What should the security officer try first?

   • AHolding the shopper's arms
   • BCalm, respectful conversation
   • CThreatening to call the police right away
   • DPepper spray
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Calm, respectful conversation

   Talking is the first and safest option. Physical force is a last resort and only when it is lawful and necessary.

3. Question 3 of 20

   What does federal guidance tell people to do in an active shooter situation?

   • ARun, hide, fight
   • BStop, drop and roll
   • CDuck, cover and hold
   • DStay, call and wait
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Run, hide, fight

   The Department of Homeland Security advises running if there is a safe way out, hiding if not, and fighting only as a last resort.

4. Question 4 of 20

   A person is on private property, is told by the owner's agent to leave, and refuses. What is the person usually doing?

   • AUsing a legal right to stay
   • BCommitting robbery
   • CTrespassing
   • DCommitting burglary
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Trespassing

   In most states, staying on private property after the owner or the owner's agent says to leave is trespass.

5. Question 5 of 20

   A trespasser refuses to leave and becomes angry. What should the officer usually do?

   • AKeep a safe distance and call the police, as the post orders say
   • BBlock the exit so the person has to stay there until the police arrive
   • CLock the person in an office
   • DDrag the person off the property
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Keep a safe distance and call the police, as the post orders say

   Officers should avoid physical confrontation. Police can deal with a person who will not leave.

6. Question 6 of 20

   An upset person is shouting at you. Which reply is most likely to calm things down?

   • A"I can see you're frustrated. Let's see how I can help."
   • B"Calm down right now, or I'm going to have to ask you to leave!"
   • C"That's not my problem, go ask someone else."
   • D"You're being ridiculous about this."
   Show answer

   Answer: A. "I can see you're frustrated. Let's see how I can help."

   Showing empathy and offering help lowers tension. Orders and insults usually make people angrier.

7. Question 7 of 20

   A good incident report answers which questions?

   • AOnly who and when
   • BOnly what happened to the officer
   • CWho, what, when, where, why and how
   • DOnly what the client wants to hear about
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Who, what, when, where, why and how

   The six basic questions make sure the reader understands the full incident.

8. Question 8 of 20

   A caller says there is a bomb in the building. What should you do?

   • AIgnore it because most calls are jokes
   • BStay calm, keep the caller talking, write down everything and follow the bomb threat procedure
   • CHang up immediately
   • DSearch the building alone first so that you do not cause a panic
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Stay calm, keep the caller talking, write down everything and follow the bomb threat procedure

   Details from the call help police judge the threat. Follow your site's procedure and notify authorities.

9. Question 9 of 20

   When should a security officer write notes about an incident?

   • AOnly if the police come to the site
   • BAt the end of the week
   • CAs soon as possible, while the details are fresh
   • DOnly if a supervisor asks for them at the end of the shift
   Show answer

   Answer: C. As soon as possible, while the details are fresh

   Memory fades quickly. Notes written right away are more accurate and more believable in court.

10. Question 10 of 20

    A security officer harms someone while doing their job. Who else may be held responsible?

    • AThe local police department
    • BOnly the person who was harmed
    • CThe officer's employer, and sometimes the client
    • DNo one, because the officer was doing their job at the time
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The officer's employer, and sometimes the client

    Employers can be held responsible for what employees do within the scope of their job. This is called vicarious liability.

11. Question 11 of 20

    What three things does a fire need to burn?

    • AHeat, fuel and oxygen
    • BGas, smoke and oxygen
    • CWater, wood and wind
    • DSmoke, flames and heat
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Heat, fuel and oxygen

    This is the fire triangle. Remove any one of the three and the fire goes out.

12. Question 12 of 20

    What does "civil liability" mean?

    • ABeing legally responsible to pay money for harm you caused someone
    • BLosing your driver's license because of unpaid parking and traffic tickets
    • CBeing sent to prison for a serious crime
    • DHaving to work extra shifts as a punishment
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Being legally responsible to pay money for harm you caused someone

    Civil liability is decided in a lawsuit. A court can order the person who caused harm, and sometimes the employer, to pay damages.

13. Question 13 of 20

    Which federal agency sets workplace safety rules for most US employers?

    • AFBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
    • BFEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
    • CTSA (Transportation Security Administration)
    • DOSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
    Show answer

    Answer: D. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

    OSHA sets and enforces safety and health standards for most private-sector workplaces.

14. Question 14 of 20

    What is "deadly force"?

    • ATouching someone's shoulder or arm without their permission
    • BForce likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
    • CAny force used at night
    • DPlacing handcuffs on a person
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Force likely to cause death or serious bodily injury

    State laws allow deadly force only in very narrow situations, such as an immediate threat of death or serious injury.

15. Question 15 of 20

    You find a person who has collapsed and is not breathing. What should you do?

    • AWait to see if the person wakes up
    • BMove the person to a car to drive them to the hospital
    • CCall 911 or have someone call, send for an AED and start CPR if you are trained
    • DGive the person sips of water and wait a few minutes to see if they recover
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Call 911 or have someone call, send for an AED and start CPR if you are trained

    Fast action matters in cardiac arrest. Calling 911, CPR and an AED give the person the best chance.

16. Question 16 of 20

    What is the best way to ask a trespasser to leave?

    • AShout at them in front of other people
    • BTake their ID card and keep it until they leave
    • CExplain politely and clearly that they must leave, and give them time to go
    • DTake their arm firmly and walk them out the nearest door without saying much
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Explain politely and clearly that they must leave, and give them time to go

    A clear, polite request gives the person a chance to comply and reduces the chance of a fight.

17. Question 17 of 20

    On patrol you find a broken window and signs that someone forced their way in. What should you do first?

    • AGo inside alone to catch the intruder
    • BStay outside, call the police and your supervisor, and watch from a safe place
    • CClean up the broken glass so no one is hurt
    • DWait until morning so the day shift supervisor can decide what to do next about it
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Stay outside, call the police and your supervisor, and watch from a safe place

    An intruder may still be inside. Entering alone is dangerous and can destroy evidence.

18. Question 18 of 20

    What should a security officer do after any use of force?

    • AAsk the person to sign a paper saying they were not hurt
    • BSay nothing unless the person who was hurt makes a formal complaint to the client later
    • CLeave the site before anyone asks questions
    • DGet medical help if needed, tell a supervisor and write a detailed report
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Get medical help if needed, tell a supervisor and write a detailed report

    Every use of force must be reported in detail. Medical care comes first if anyone is hurt.

19. Question 19 of 20

    What is access control?

    • ALocking all fire exits during business hours
    • BMaking sure only authorized people and vehicles enter an area
    • CCounting visitors for marketing reports
    • DTurning the building lights and alarms on and off at set times
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Making sure only authorized people and vehicles enter an area

    Access control uses checks such as ID badges, sign-in sheets and locks to keep unauthorized people out.

20. Question 20 of 20

    An employee forgot their ID badge and says, "Everyone knows me, just let me in." What should you do?

    • ALet them in because they look familiar
    • BLet them in if they promise to bring the badge tomorrow and sign the log
    • CTell them to go home for the day
    • DFollow site procedure to confirm who they are before letting them in
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Follow site procedure to confirm who they are before letting them in

    Access rules apply to everyone. Confirming identity the approved way protects the site from people who only pretend to belong.

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The real test: 100%