Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Ethics
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
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1. Which ethical principle should receive the highest priority when an
engineering decision could materially affect the public?
A. Protecting the employer’s profitability
B. Meeting the project schedule
C. Preserving the engineer’s personal interests
D. Protecting the safety, health, and welfare of the public
Rationale: The protection of the public is a fundamental obligation of
engineering practice and takes priority when commercial, organizational,
or personal interests conflict with public welfare.
, 2. An engineering intern discovers a potentially serious safety problem in
a design prepared by the project team. The project manager says that
reporting the issue will delay construction. What should the intern do?
A. Ignore the issue because the project manager is responsible
B. Wait until construction is complete
C. Approve the design because the delay would be expensive
D. Raise the concern through appropriate supervisory and professional
channels
Rationale: Engineers and engineering trainees have a responsibility to
communicate credible safety concerns rather than allowing schedule or
financial pressures to suppress potentially important information.
3. Which practice best demonstrates engineering competence?
A. Accepting every assignment offered by an employer
B. Performing unfamiliar work without consultation
C. Relying exclusively on university knowledge
D. Performing work within one’s education, training, experience, and
demonstrated technical ability
Rationale: Competence requires engineers to recognize the limits of their
knowledge and accept assignments for which they are appropriately
qualified.
, 4. An FE-level engineer is assigned a specialized analysis that exceeds the
engineer’s current experience. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Complete it independently to demonstrate initiative
B. Assume the software will prevent errors
C. Use an old example as the sole technical basis
D. Seek guidance, training, or assistance from a qualified engineer
Rationale: Engineers should not knowingly perform work beyond their
competence without obtaining appropriate assistance and supervision.
5. Which action most clearly violates the principle of professional
competence?
A. Consulting a senior engineer
B. Participating in continuing education
C. Requesting peer review
D. Representing oneself as qualified to perform specialized engineering
work without adequate knowledge or experience
Rationale: Misrepresenting competence can cause clients, employers, and
the public to rely on engineering services that have not been adequately
performed.
6. An engineer discovers an error in a calculation that has already been
submitted to a client. What should the engineer do?
, A. Ignore it because the submission is complete
B. Delete the original calculation
C. Wait until the client discovers the error
D. Evaluate the error, notify appropriate parties, and take corrective action
Rationale: Engineers have a professional responsibility to address
significant errors and prevent continued reliance on incorrect engineering
information.
7. Which action best demonstrates honesty in engineering
communication?
A. Reporting only favorable test results
B. Omitting uncertainties from a report
C. Selecting data that supports the preferred conclusion
D. Presenting relevant facts, assumptions, results, and limitations
accurately
Rationale: Honest engineering communication requires objective
presentation of information rather than selective reporting designed to
influence a decision improperly.
8. An engineer is asked to change test data so a product appears to meet
a specification. What should the engineer do?
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2027 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which ethical principle should receive the highest priority when an
engineering decision could materially affect the public?
A. Protecting the employer’s profitability
B. Meeting the project schedule
C. Preserving the engineer’s personal interests
D. Protecting the safety, health, and welfare of the public
Rationale: The protection of the public is a fundamental obligation of
engineering practice and takes priority when commercial, organizational,
or personal interests conflict with public welfare.
, 2. An engineering intern discovers a potentially serious safety problem in
a design prepared by the project team. The project manager says that
reporting the issue will delay construction. What should the intern do?
A. Ignore the issue because the project manager is responsible
B. Wait until construction is complete
C. Approve the design because the delay would be expensive
D. Raise the concern through appropriate supervisory and professional
channels
Rationale: Engineers and engineering trainees have a responsibility to
communicate credible safety concerns rather than allowing schedule or
financial pressures to suppress potentially important information.
3. Which practice best demonstrates engineering competence?
A. Accepting every assignment offered by an employer
B. Performing unfamiliar work without consultation
C. Relying exclusively on university knowledge
D. Performing work within one’s education, training, experience, and
demonstrated technical ability
Rationale: Competence requires engineers to recognize the limits of their
knowledge and accept assignments for which they are appropriately
qualified.
, 4. An FE-level engineer is assigned a specialized analysis that exceeds the
engineer’s current experience. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Complete it independently to demonstrate initiative
B. Assume the software will prevent errors
C. Use an old example as the sole technical basis
D. Seek guidance, training, or assistance from a qualified engineer
Rationale: Engineers should not knowingly perform work beyond their
competence without obtaining appropriate assistance and supervision.
5. Which action most clearly violates the principle of professional
competence?
A. Consulting a senior engineer
B. Participating in continuing education
C. Requesting peer review
D. Representing oneself as qualified to perform specialized engineering
work without adequate knowledge or experience
Rationale: Misrepresenting competence can cause clients, employers, and
the public to rely on engineering services that have not been adequately
performed.
6. An engineer discovers an error in a calculation that has already been
submitted to a client. What should the engineer do?
, A. Ignore it because the submission is complete
B. Delete the original calculation
C. Wait until the client discovers the error
D. Evaluate the error, notify appropriate parties, and take corrective action
Rationale: Engineers have a professional responsibility to address
significant errors and prevent continued reliance on incorrect engineering
information.
7. Which action best demonstrates honesty in engineering
communication?
A. Reporting only favorable test results
B. Omitting uncertainties from a report
C. Selecting data that supports the preferred conclusion
D. Presenting relevant facts, assumptions, results, and limitations
accurately
Rationale: Honest engineering communication requires objective
presentation of information rather than selective reporting designed to
influence a decision improperly.
8. An engineer is asked to change test data so a product appears to meet
a specification. What should the engineer do?
