What does the abbreviation M.O. stand for?

• A. Means Of Investigation
• B. Mode Of Operation
• C. Modus Operandi
• D. Method Of Offense

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is how investigators describe the way a crime is carried out by an offender. M.O. stands for Modus Operandi, Latin for "method of operation." It refers to the offender’s habitual approach to committing crimes—the sequence of steps, tools, planning, timing, and other techniques that tend to recur. This pattern helps link different crimes to the same person and can show how the method evolves over time. It’s distinct from a signature, which involves unique, ritualistic aspects that satisfy psychological needs beyond the crime’s practical method.

The best choice matches the exact term Modus Operandi. The other options describe things that aren’t the standard term used in this context: Means Of Investigation describes how an investigation is conducted, Mode Of Operation is a close idea but not the established phrase, and Method Of Offense is a generic description rather than the recognized term.