Misdemeanor: lesser seriousness than a felony with punishment that might include a fine or jail for not more than one year.

Misdemeanor: lesser seriousness than a felony with punishment that might include a fine or jail for not more than one year.

• A. A crime punishable by imprisonment in a state penitentiary
• B. A crime of lesser seriousness than a felony with punishment not more than one year
• C. A crime punished by life imprisonment
• D. A crime punished by probation only

Answer: (B)

Misdemeanors are crimes of lesser seriousness than felonies and are punished by lighter penalties, typically up to one year in jail and/or fines in a local or county facility. The described option matches exactly this definition: a crime of lesser seriousness than a felony with punishment not more than one year. Imprisonment in a state penitentiary or life imprisonment signals felonies, not misdemeanors. Probation alone can be part of penalties but doesn’t define the category; the essential idea is the lesser seriousness and the capped punishment.

Misdemeanors are crimes of lesser seriousness than felonies and are punished by lighter penalties, typically up to one year in jail and/or fines in a local or county facility. The described option matches exactly this definition: a crime of lesser seriousness than a felony with punishment not more than one year. Imprisonment in a state penitentiary or life imprisonment signals felonies, not misdemeanors. Probation alone can be part of penalties but doesn’t define the category; the essential idea is the lesser seriousness and the capped punishment.