FHWA Subsurface
Investigation
Qualification Exam
,FHWA Subsurface Investigation Qualification Exam
Question 1
Match each numbered concern to its subject area. Which answer preserves all of the
associations?
1. Seismic methods
2. Selection, assignment, and coordination of laboratory testing programs based on field
findings
3. Rock core drilling techniques, coring bit selection, and drilling fluid management
A. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: Laboratory Testing of Soil and Rock; 3: Soil and Rock
Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods
B. 1: Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods; 2: Geophysical Exploration Methods;
3: Laboratory Testing of Soil and Rock
C. 1: Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods; 2: Laboratory Testing of Soil and
Rock; 3: Geophysical Exploration Methods
D. 1: Laboratory Testing of Soil and Rock; 2: Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling
Methods; 3: Geophysical Exploration Methods
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: The correct associations are 1 with Geophysical Exploration Methods (Seismic
methods); 2 with Laboratory Testing of Soil and Rock (Selection, assignment, and coordination of
laboratory testing programs based on field findings); 3 with Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and
Sampling Methods (Rock core drilling techniques, coring bit selection, and drilling fluid
management). Exchanging these topics changes the subject of one or more concerns rather than
preserving their distinct meanings.
Questions and Explanations 2
,FHWA Subsurface Investigation Qualification Exam
Question 2
Consider the following concerns in order. Which answer associates each one with its most
direct topic?
1. Electrical resistivity and conductivity profiling
2. e.g., liquefiable soils, collapsible soils, expansive clays, organic soils, and corrosive
environments
3. Seismic methods
A. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: Identification, characterization, and risk evaluation of
problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards; 3: Identification, characterization, and
risk evaluation of problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards
B. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: Identification, characterization, and risk evaluation of
problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards; 3: Geophysical Exploration Methods
C. 1: Identification, characterization, and risk evaluation of problematic geomaterials and
geotechnical hazards; 2: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 3: Geophysical Exploration
Methods
D. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 3: Identification,
characterization, and risk evaluation of problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation: The correct associations are 1 with Geophysical Exploration Methods
(Electrical resistivity and conductivity profiling); 2 with Identification, characterization, and risk
evaluation of problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards (e.g., liquefiable soils,
collapsible soils, expansive clays, organic soils, and corrosive environments); 3 with Geophysical
Exploration Methods (Seismic methods). Exchanging these topics changes the subject of one or
more concerns rather than preserving their distinct meanings.
Question 3
Which subject would most directly address a task concerning Rock core drilling techniques,
coring bit selection, and drilling fluid management?
A. Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods
B. Subsurface Exploration Planning and Program Scoping
C. Geophysical Exploration Methods
D. Seismic methods
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods is the most direct match
because its subject matter includes Rock core drilling techniques, coring bit selection, and drilling
fluid management. By contrast, Seismic methods concerns seismic refraction, reflection,
cross-hole, down-hole wave propagation, and parallel seismic tests. The relevant distinction is the
specific focus of the discussion, rather than a broad similarity between topics.
Questions and Explanations 3
, FHWA Subsurface Investigation Qualification Exam
Question 4
Several different issues need to be distinguished. Which answer identifies their topics in the
order shown?
1. Field vane shear testing for soft cohesive soils
2. Pressuremeter testing (including self-boring types) and Marchetti dilatometer testing
3. Principles and applications of surface and borehole geophysical methods in site
characterization
A. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: In-Situ Testing Methods; 3: Geophysical Exploration
Methods
B. 1: In-Situ Testing Methods; 2: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 3: In-Situ Testing Methods
C. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: In-Situ Testing Methods; 3: In-Situ Testing Methods
D. 1: In-Situ Testing Methods; 2: In-Situ Testing Methods; 3: Geophysical Exploration Methods
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation: The correct associations are 1 with In-Situ Testing Methods (Field vane shear
testing for soft cohesive soils); 2 with In-Situ Testing Methods (Pressuremeter testing (including
self-boring types) and Marchetti dilatometer testing); 3 with Geophysical Exploration Methods
(Principles and applications of surface and borehole geophysical methods in site characterization).
Exchanging these topics changes the subject of one or more concerns rather than preserving their
distinct meanings.
Question 5
For Subsurface Exploration Planning and Program Scoping and Field Logging, Visual
Identification, and Classification, respectively, which pair of discussion points preserves the
subject distinction?
A. 1: Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation (RQD); 2:
Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps, and historical
records)
B. 1: Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps, and historical
records); 2: Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation
(RQD)
C. 1: Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps, and historical
records); 2: Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps,
and historical records)
D. 1: Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation (RQD); 2:
Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation: The first topic, Subsurface Exploration Planning and Program Scoping, includes
Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps, and historical
records). The second, Field Logging, Visual Identification, and Classification, includes
Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation (RQD). Reversing the
two or repeating the same discussion point for both would lose the distinction required by the
question.
Questions and Explanations 4
Investigation
Qualification Exam
,FHWA Subsurface Investigation Qualification Exam
Question 1
Match each numbered concern to its subject area. Which answer preserves all of the
associations?
1. Seismic methods
2. Selection, assignment, and coordination of laboratory testing programs based on field
findings
3. Rock core drilling techniques, coring bit selection, and drilling fluid management
A. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: Laboratory Testing of Soil and Rock; 3: Soil and Rock
Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods
B. 1: Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods; 2: Geophysical Exploration Methods;
3: Laboratory Testing of Soil and Rock
C. 1: Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods; 2: Laboratory Testing of Soil and
Rock; 3: Geophysical Exploration Methods
D. 1: Laboratory Testing of Soil and Rock; 2: Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling
Methods; 3: Geophysical Exploration Methods
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: The correct associations are 1 with Geophysical Exploration Methods (Seismic
methods); 2 with Laboratory Testing of Soil and Rock (Selection, assignment, and coordination of
laboratory testing programs based on field findings); 3 with Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and
Sampling Methods (Rock core drilling techniques, coring bit selection, and drilling fluid
management). Exchanging these topics changes the subject of one or more concerns rather than
preserving their distinct meanings.
Questions and Explanations 2
,FHWA Subsurface Investigation Qualification Exam
Question 2
Consider the following concerns in order. Which answer associates each one with its most
direct topic?
1. Electrical resistivity and conductivity profiling
2. e.g., liquefiable soils, collapsible soils, expansive clays, organic soils, and corrosive
environments
3. Seismic methods
A. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: Identification, characterization, and risk evaluation of
problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards; 3: Identification, characterization, and
risk evaluation of problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards
B. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: Identification, characterization, and risk evaluation of
problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards; 3: Geophysical Exploration Methods
C. 1: Identification, characterization, and risk evaluation of problematic geomaterials and
geotechnical hazards; 2: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 3: Geophysical Exploration
Methods
D. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 3: Identification,
characterization, and risk evaluation of problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation: The correct associations are 1 with Geophysical Exploration Methods
(Electrical resistivity and conductivity profiling); 2 with Identification, characterization, and risk
evaluation of problematic geomaterials and geotechnical hazards (e.g., liquefiable soils,
collapsible soils, expansive clays, organic soils, and corrosive environments); 3 with Geophysical
Exploration Methods (Seismic methods). Exchanging these topics changes the subject of one or
more concerns rather than preserving their distinct meanings.
Question 3
Which subject would most directly address a task concerning Rock core drilling techniques,
coring bit selection, and drilling fluid management?
A. Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods
B. Subsurface Exploration Planning and Program Scoping
C. Geophysical Exploration Methods
D. Seismic methods
Correct Answer: A
Full Explanation: Soil and Rock Drilling, Boring, and Sampling Methods is the most direct match
because its subject matter includes Rock core drilling techniques, coring bit selection, and drilling
fluid management. By contrast, Seismic methods concerns seismic refraction, reflection,
cross-hole, down-hole wave propagation, and parallel seismic tests. The relevant distinction is the
specific focus of the discussion, rather than a broad similarity between topics.
Questions and Explanations 3
, FHWA Subsurface Investigation Qualification Exam
Question 4
Several different issues need to be distinguished. Which answer identifies their topics in the
order shown?
1. Field vane shear testing for soft cohesive soils
2. Pressuremeter testing (including self-boring types) and Marchetti dilatometer testing
3. Principles and applications of surface and borehole geophysical methods in site
characterization
A. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: In-Situ Testing Methods; 3: Geophysical Exploration
Methods
B. 1: In-Situ Testing Methods; 2: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 3: In-Situ Testing Methods
C. 1: Geophysical Exploration Methods; 2: In-Situ Testing Methods; 3: In-Situ Testing Methods
D. 1: In-Situ Testing Methods; 2: In-Situ Testing Methods; 3: Geophysical Exploration Methods
Correct Answer: D
Full Explanation: The correct associations are 1 with In-Situ Testing Methods (Field vane shear
testing for soft cohesive soils); 2 with In-Situ Testing Methods (Pressuremeter testing (including
self-boring types) and Marchetti dilatometer testing); 3 with Geophysical Exploration Methods
(Principles and applications of surface and borehole geophysical methods in site characterization).
Exchanging these topics changes the subject of one or more concerns rather than preserving their
distinct meanings.
Question 5
For Subsurface Exploration Planning and Program Scoping and Field Logging, Visual
Identification, and Classification, respectively, which pair of discussion points preserves the
subject distinction?
A. 1: Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation (RQD); 2:
Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps, and historical
records)
B. 1: Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps, and historical
records); 2: Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation
(RQD)
C. 1: Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps, and historical
records); 2: Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps,
and historical records)
D. 1: Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation (RQD); 2:
Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
Correct Answer: B
Full Explanation: The first topic, Subsurface Exploration Planning and Program Scoping, includes
Review of existing data sources (geological, topographical, hydrological maps, and historical
records). The second, Field Logging, Visual Identification, and Classification, includes
Measurement and calculation of core recovery and Rock Quality Designation (RQD). Reversing the
two or repeating the same discussion point for both would lose the distinction required by the
question.
Questions and Explanations 4
