ICC SOILS Latest Actual Exam with Verified Questions & Correct
Answers
Question 1.
The strength of a soil, or the ability to compact a soil into a suitable construction material
will depend on?
Correct Answer: Soil type Soil density The amount of water in the soil
Question 2.
Types of soils
Correct Answer: Gravel (mm to cm's in size) Sand (mm in size) Silt (fine
particles with little cohesion) Clay (has cohesion, can stick together) Organic
soils (peat, topsoil)
Question 3.
Organic soils (O)
Correct Answer: Have a large componet of dead or decaying plants, and are not
used in construction
Question 4.
Silt and Clay
Correct Answer: Classified based on whether the soil is plastic or non-plastic
(eg. can you roll it into a ball)
Question 5.
Gravel and Sand
Correct Answer: are classified based on whether or not all the particle are
roughly the same size(uniform, like a beach) or if there is large variety in
particle size (well-graded)
Question 6.
Soil layers
Correct Answer: 1. (complex zone) 3 to 4m 2. (glacio-lacustrine clay) 2-12m 3.
Glacial till, up to 9m in thickness 4. Carbonate bedrock, the upper surface of
which is often fractured, weathers and irrgular
Question 7.
Soil has two componets of strength
Correct Answer: Cohesion (clay only) Friction (when individual soil grains move
,across on another)
Question 8.
Soil fail by
Correct Answer: shear
Question 9.
Soil strength is used to determine
Correct Answer: The bearing capacity of a foundation The stability of natural or
man-made earth slopes or retaining walls
Question 10.
Test for soil strength include;
Correct Answer: unconfined compression test direct shear test Triaxial
compression
Question 11.
Soil strength depends upon
Correct Answer: Density and moisture content
Question 12.
Unconfined compression test
Correct Answer: useful for comparing strength of two soils or varion of strength
with dept.
Question 13.
Gradation refers to the range of measured soil particle sizes. Gradation results in
classifying soil as?
Correct Answer: Gravel ( > 2 mm) Sand (between 0.075 and 2 mm) Silt (0.002 to
0.075 mm) Clay (< 0.002 mm)
Question 14.
The particle size distribution of coarse-grained soils is typically determined by?
Correct Answer: Mechanical sieve analysis
Question 15.
The particle size distribution of fine-grained soil is determined using a ?
Correct Answer: hydrometer analysis
, Question 16.
Two parameters help to identify soils that are well-graded?
Correct Answer: The Coefficient of Uniformity (Cu) The Coefficient of Curvature
(Cc)
Question 17.
The hydrometer analysis is used to determine the gradation of
Correct Answer: slit and clay-sized particles.
Question 18.
Only soil particles passing the No. 40 sieve(0.425) are used in the
Correct Answer: hydrometer analysis
Question 19.
Hydrometer readings give us two things?
Correct Answer: The specific gravity, or density, of the fluid tells us the % of
material is still in suspension.
The average downward velosity of the hydrometer can give us the diameter of
the particle hat is just coming out of solution.
Question 20.
The Swedish soil scientist, _____developed a method of quantitatively describing the effect
of soil moisture on the consistency of fine-grained soils.
Correct Answer: Atterberg,
Question 21.
Although Atterberg proposed five limits only the following three are in common useage
today.
Correct Answer: Liquid Limit Plastic limit Shrinkage limit
Question 22.
Only the Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit are normally used to?
Correct Answer: classify soil plasticity
Question 23.
It is important to remember that all values related to the Atterberg limits are simply?
Correct Answer: moisture content values.
Answers
Question 1.
The strength of a soil, or the ability to compact a soil into a suitable construction material
will depend on?
Correct Answer: Soil type Soil density The amount of water in the soil
Question 2.
Types of soils
Correct Answer: Gravel (mm to cm's in size) Sand (mm in size) Silt (fine
particles with little cohesion) Clay (has cohesion, can stick together) Organic
soils (peat, topsoil)
Question 3.
Organic soils (O)
Correct Answer: Have a large componet of dead or decaying plants, and are not
used in construction
Question 4.
Silt and Clay
Correct Answer: Classified based on whether the soil is plastic or non-plastic
(eg. can you roll it into a ball)
Question 5.
Gravel and Sand
Correct Answer: are classified based on whether or not all the particle are
roughly the same size(uniform, like a beach) or if there is large variety in
particle size (well-graded)
Question 6.
Soil layers
Correct Answer: 1. (complex zone) 3 to 4m 2. (glacio-lacustrine clay) 2-12m 3.
Glacial till, up to 9m in thickness 4. Carbonate bedrock, the upper surface of
which is often fractured, weathers and irrgular
Question 7.
Soil has two componets of strength
Correct Answer: Cohesion (clay only) Friction (when individual soil grains move
,across on another)
Question 8.
Soil fail by
Correct Answer: shear
Question 9.
Soil strength is used to determine
Correct Answer: The bearing capacity of a foundation The stability of natural or
man-made earth slopes or retaining walls
Question 10.
Test for soil strength include;
Correct Answer: unconfined compression test direct shear test Triaxial
compression
Question 11.
Soil strength depends upon
Correct Answer: Density and moisture content
Question 12.
Unconfined compression test
Correct Answer: useful for comparing strength of two soils or varion of strength
with dept.
Question 13.
Gradation refers to the range of measured soil particle sizes. Gradation results in
classifying soil as?
Correct Answer: Gravel ( > 2 mm) Sand (between 0.075 and 2 mm) Silt (0.002 to
0.075 mm) Clay (< 0.002 mm)
Question 14.
The particle size distribution of coarse-grained soils is typically determined by?
Correct Answer: Mechanical sieve analysis
Question 15.
The particle size distribution of fine-grained soil is determined using a ?
Correct Answer: hydrometer analysis
, Question 16.
Two parameters help to identify soils that are well-graded?
Correct Answer: The Coefficient of Uniformity (Cu) The Coefficient of Curvature
(Cc)
Question 17.
The hydrometer analysis is used to determine the gradation of
Correct Answer: slit and clay-sized particles.
Question 18.
Only soil particles passing the No. 40 sieve(0.425) are used in the
Correct Answer: hydrometer analysis
Question 19.
Hydrometer readings give us two things?
Correct Answer: The specific gravity, or density, of the fluid tells us the % of
material is still in suspension.
The average downward velosity of the hydrometer can give us the diameter of
the particle hat is just coming out of solution.
Question 20.
The Swedish soil scientist, _____developed a method of quantitatively describing the effect
of soil moisture on the consistency of fine-grained soils.
Correct Answer: Atterberg,
Question 21.
Although Atterberg proposed five limits only the following three are in common useage
today.
Correct Answer: Liquid Limit Plastic limit Shrinkage limit
Question 22.
Only the Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit are normally used to?
Correct Answer: classify soil plasticity
Question 23.
It is important to remember that all values related to the Atterberg limits are simply?
Correct Answer: moisture content values.