NRMCA Concrete Technologist Level 2
Certification Exam PRACTICE 250
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS |DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM PREP GRADED
A+*INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
1.
What is the primary function of cement in concrete?
A. Increase aggregate size
B. Reduce aggregate absorption
C. Bind the aggregate particles together
D. Eliminate the need for curing
Rationale: Cement reacts chemically with water to form hydration
products that bind aggregate particles into a hardened concrete
mass.
2.
Concrete is primarily composed of:
A. Cement and water only
B. Sand and cement only
C. Cementitious materials, water, aggregates, and often admixtures
D. Water and coarse aggregate only
Rationale: Conventional concrete contains cementitious materials,
water, fine and coarse aggregates, and may contain chemical or
mineral admixtures.
,3.
Which component generally occupies the greatest volume in normal-
weight concrete?
A. Cement
B. Water
C. Admixture
D. Aggregate
Rationale: Aggregates commonly comprise roughly 60–75% of
concrete volume.
4.
Hydration of portland cement is best described as:
A. Drying of cement
B. Evaporation of mixing water
C. Chemical reactions between cement compounds and water
D. Absorption of aggregate moisture
Rationale: Hydration involves chemical reactions that produce
compounds responsible for setting and strength development.
5.
The hardened concrete property most directly associated with
resistance to applied load is:
A. Slump
B. Air content
C. Strength
D. Temperature
Rationale: Strength measures the ability of hardened concrete to
resist specified types of loading.
6.
,Which property describes the ease with which fresh concrete can be
placed and consolidated?
A. Modulus of elasticity
B. Workability
C. Permeability
D. Compressive strength
Rationale: Workability describes how readily concrete can be mixed,
placed, consolidated, and finished.
7.
What is the principal reason concrete requires curing?
A. To remove all water
B. To increase evaporation
C. To provide conditions favorable for continued hydration
D. To decrease cement hydration
Rationale: Proper curing maintains moisture and temperature
conditions that allow cement hydration and strength development.
8.
Which factor generally has the strongest influence on concrete
strength when other factors are controlled?
A. Aggregate color
B. Truck manufacturer
C. Water-to-cementitious materials ratio
D. Concrete delivery company name
Rationale: Lower water-to-cementitious materials ratios generally
produce stronger, less permeable concrete when adequate
consolidation and curing occur.
9.
What happens when excessive water is added to a concrete mixture?
, A. Strength always increases
B. Permeability decreases
C. Strength and durability may decrease
D. Cement hydration stops immediately
Rationale: Excess water increases capillary pore space after
evaporation, potentially reducing strength and durability.
10.
The term "fresh concrete" refers to concrete that:
A. Has reached design strength
B. Has been cured for 28 days
C. Has not yet hardened
D. Contains no water
Rationale: Fresh concrete is concrete in its plastic or workable state
before significant hardening.
Section 2 — Cementitious Materials
11.
The primary cementitious material used in conventional concrete is:
A. Gypsum board
B. Limestone aggregate
C. Portland cement
D. Silica sand
Rationale: Portland cement is a principal hydraulic cement used to
produce conventional concrete.
12.
What does hydraulic cement mean?
Certification Exam PRACTICE 250
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS |DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM PREP GRADED
A+*INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
1.
What is the primary function of cement in concrete?
A. Increase aggregate size
B. Reduce aggregate absorption
C. Bind the aggregate particles together
D. Eliminate the need for curing
Rationale: Cement reacts chemically with water to form hydration
products that bind aggregate particles into a hardened concrete
mass.
2.
Concrete is primarily composed of:
A. Cement and water only
B. Sand and cement only
C. Cementitious materials, water, aggregates, and often admixtures
D. Water and coarse aggregate only
Rationale: Conventional concrete contains cementitious materials,
water, fine and coarse aggregates, and may contain chemical or
mineral admixtures.
,3.
Which component generally occupies the greatest volume in normal-
weight concrete?
A. Cement
B. Water
C. Admixture
D. Aggregate
Rationale: Aggregates commonly comprise roughly 60–75% of
concrete volume.
4.
Hydration of portland cement is best described as:
A. Drying of cement
B. Evaporation of mixing water
C. Chemical reactions between cement compounds and water
D. Absorption of aggregate moisture
Rationale: Hydration involves chemical reactions that produce
compounds responsible for setting and strength development.
5.
The hardened concrete property most directly associated with
resistance to applied load is:
A. Slump
B. Air content
C. Strength
D. Temperature
Rationale: Strength measures the ability of hardened concrete to
resist specified types of loading.
6.
,Which property describes the ease with which fresh concrete can be
placed and consolidated?
A. Modulus of elasticity
B. Workability
C. Permeability
D. Compressive strength
Rationale: Workability describes how readily concrete can be mixed,
placed, consolidated, and finished.
7.
What is the principal reason concrete requires curing?
A. To remove all water
B. To increase evaporation
C. To provide conditions favorable for continued hydration
D. To decrease cement hydration
Rationale: Proper curing maintains moisture and temperature
conditions that allow cement hydration and strength development.
8.
Which factor generally has the strongest influence on concrete
strength when other factors are controlled?
A. Aggregate color
B. Truck manufacturer
C. Water-to-cementitious materials ratio
D. Concrete delivery company name
Rationale: Lower water-to-cementitious materials ratios generally
produce stronger, less permeable concrete when adequate
consolidation and curing occur.
9.
What happens when excessive water is added to a concrete mixture?
, A. Strength always increases
B. Permeability decreases
C. Strength and durability may decrease
D. Cement hydration stops immediately
Rationale: Excess water increases capillary pore space after
evaporation, potentially reducing strength and durability.
10.
The term "fresh concrete" refers to concrete that:
A. Has reached design strength
B. Has been cured for 28 days
C. Has not yet hardened
D. Contains no water
Rationale: Fresh concrete is concrete in its plastic or workable state
before significant hardening.
Section 2 — Cementitious Materials
11.
The primary cementitious material used in conventional concrete is:
A. Gypsum board
B. Limestone aggregate
C. Portland cement
D. Silica sand
Rationale: Portland cement is a principal hydraulic cement used to
produce conventional concrete.
12.
What does hydraulic cement mean?
