Which term best describes a recurring pattern of two or more similar incidents in a community?

• A. Problem
• B. Incident
• C. Pattern
• D. Crisis

Answer: (A)

A recurring pattern of two or more similar incidents is best described as a pattern. The idea centers on repetition and similarity across events, which signals that these incidents are connected by shared characteristics such as location, time, method, or underlying causes. Recognizing a pattern helps analysts see that there may be a common source or process driving the incidents, making it possible to analyze root factors and target the response effectively.

An incident refers to a single event, so it doesn’t capture the idea of repetition. A crisis describes a sudden, urgent disruption rather than a repeating sequence. A problem points to the underlying condition that produces incidents, but the term that specifically conveys the idea of repeated, similar events is pattern.