Law of Torts MCQs
1. What is a tort?
a) A criminal offense
b) A civil wrong that causes harm or loss to another
c) A breach of contract
d) A legal agreement
Answer: b) A civil wrong that causes harm or loss to another
2. Which of the following is NOT a type of tort?
a) Negligence
b) Defamation
c) Breach of contract
d) Trespass
Answer: c) Breach of contract
3. What must a claimant prove to establish a case of negligence?
a) Intentional wrongdoing
b) Breach of duty of care
c) Contractual relationship
d) Criminal intent
Answer: b) Breach of duty of care
4. In tort law, what does “duty of care” refer to?
a) The obligation to avoid causing harm to others
b) The obligation to perform contractual duties
c) The obligation to pay damages
d) The obligation to follow the law
Answer: a) The obligation to avoid causing harm to others
5. Which case established the “reasonable person” standard in negligence law?
a) Donoghue v. Stevenson
b) Brown v. Board of Education
c) Roe v. Wade
d) Marbury v. Madison
Answer: a) Donoghue v. Stevenson
6. What is the term for a false statement that damages someone’s reputation?
a) Defamation
b) Assault
c) Battery
d) Fraud
Answer: a) Defamation
7. What is the key difference between libel and slander?
a) Libel is written defamation, while slander is spoken defamation
b) Slander is written defamation, while libel is spoken defamation
c) Libel involves physical harm, while slander involves emotional harm
d) There is no difference; they are the same
Answer: a) Libel is written defamation, while slander is spoken defamation
8. Which of the following is an example of an intentional tort?
a) Negligence
b) Strict liability
c) Assault
d) Nuisance
Answer: c) Assault
9. What is the primary defense against a defamation claim?
a) Denial of harm
b) Truth
c) Negligence
d) Assumption of risk
Answer: b) Truth
10. In tort law, what is “strict liability”?
a) Liability without fault or intent
b) Liability for intentional wrongdoing
c) Liability only when negligence is proven
d) Liability based on contractual obligations
Answer: a) Liability without fault or intent
11. What is the legal term for the unauthorized entry onto someone’s land?
a) Trespass
b) Assault
c) Battery
d) False imprisonment
Answer: a) Trespass
12. What does “false imprisonment” refer to in tort law?
a) Unlawfully detaining someone without their consent
b) Wrongfully inflicting emotional distress
c) Unauthorized use of someone’s personal property
d) Providing false information
Answer: a) Unlawfully detaining someone without their consent
13. What is the concept of “contributory negligence”?
a) When the claimant’s own negligence contributes to the harm suffered
b) When a third party is responsible for the harm
c) When the defendant has no duty of care
d) When the harm was caused by an act of God
Answer: a) When the claimant’s own negligence contributes to the harm suffered
14. What is the main purpose of tort law?
a) To punish offenders
b) To resolve disputes related to contract performance
c) To compensate victims for harm or loss
d) To create laws and regulations
Answer: c) To compensate victims for harm or loss
15. In tort law, what is “vicarious liability”?
a) Liability of one person for their own actions
b) Liability of an employer for the actions of their employees
c) Liability based on personal negligence
d) Liability for damages caused by someone else’s actions
Answer: b) Liability of an employer for the actions of their employees