ISA Arborist Certification Practice
Exams Part 1 2024
The ideal soil ratio for solids to pore space is:
(A) 20:80 (B) 35:65 (C) 40:60 (D) 50:50 - ANSWERSD
What is the correct scientific name for the oak tree genus?
(A) Quercus (B) Pyrus (C) Larix (D) Acer - ANSWERSA
Which of the following is not one of the five major categories of soil horizons?
(A) O (B) E (C) N (D) B - ANSWERSC
Loam is least composed of what soil classification?
(A) Sand(B) Silt(C) Clay(D) Loam is composed of all soils evenly - ANSWERSC
What is the difference in magnitude of acidity between a PH level reading of 4 vs. a PH
reading of 7?
(A) 1(B) 3(C) 100 (D) 1000 - ANSWERSD
What is not a detrimental impact on tree growth from compaction?
(A) Restricted root growth
(B) Reduction of water availability
(C) Increasing organic material
(D) Restricting air movement - ANSWERSC
Field capacity is achieved after the draining of which of the following?
(A) Gravitational water
(B) Capillary water
(C) Micropore water
(D) Compacted drainage - ANSWERSA
What best defines the permanent wilting point soil moisture condition?
(A) Water is present in macro and micropores
(B) The condition present immediately after the removal of gravitational water
(C) Water is held by soil but unavailable to plants such that they can't recover
(D) No water present in soil - ANSWERSC
What soil below most likely has the lowest infiltration rate?
(A) Loose sand
(B) Compacted sand
(C) Loose clay
(D) Compacted clay - ANSWERSD
What major soil horizon category is not included in the zone designated as topsoil?
,(A) A (B) O (C) E (D) C - ANSWERSD
What soil type is most easily compacted?
(A) Sand(B) Clay(C) Silt(D) Bedrock - ANSWERSB
What is not a tree characteristic which helps to prevent the loss of water?
(A) Increased leaf surface area (B) Deep root systems(C) Leaf hairs(D) Waxy outer leaf
layer - ANSWERSA
What irrigation system type provides water slowly to specific areas of the tree root
zone?
(A) Drip irrigation(B) High-pressure injection (C) Basin irrigation
(D) Soaker hose - ANSWERSA
Trees help to control stormwater runoff by all of the following means except:
(A) Trees hold water on bark and leaves
(B) Roots intercept and retain runoff
(C) Fallen leaves create a layer of absorption on the ground
(D) All of the above - ANSWERSD
What is not an advantage of the use of mulching?
(A) Improve infiltration
(B) Promote deep root system
(C) Reduce soil evaporation
(D) Limit weed competition - ANSWERSB
What is the minimum slope for drainage pipes placed above an impervious layer?
(A) 1/16" per ft (B) 1/8" per ft (C) 1/4" per ft (D) 1/2" per ft - ANSWERSC
The main function of a rain garden is which of the following?
(A) Collect and hold stormwater runoff
(B) Increase water infiltration
(C) Distribute runoff to dry areas
(D) Facilitate deep root systems - ANSWERSA
What macronutrient most often has the largest requirement for the health of trees?
(A) Iron(B) Sulfur(C) Potassium (D) Nitrogen - ANSWERSD
What essential element is more readily available in an acidic environment than
alkaline?
(A) Iron(B) Calcium (C) Sulfur (D) Potassium - ANSWERSA
Required fertilizer distribution rates for quick release are ______________ than for that
of slow-release.
(A) Greater(B) Less(C) Equal(D) No relationship - ANSWERSB
, What project factor listed below has a detrimental effect on the surface application of
fertilizer?
(A) Constrained time(B) Inexperienced workers (C) Surface runoff(D) Shallow root
structure - ANSWERSC
What element can be classified as a micronutrient?
(A) Magnesium (B) Calcium(C) Iron(D) Sulfur - ANSWERSC
What method of fertilizer application may result in the development of thick patches of
grass in spots surrounding the tree?
(A) Liquid injection(B) Surface application (C) Foliar application (D) Implants -
ANSWERSA
What characteristic is used to differentiate between vascular plant classifications?
(A) Roots (B) Leaves (C) Seeds (D) Skin - ANSWERSC
Of the options listed below which has the broadest level of taxonomic hierarchy?
(A) Genus (B) Order (C) Class (D) Family - ANSWERSC
What characteristic below is used to differentiate between a simple leaf and a
compound leaf?
(A) Number of buds (B) Length of petiole (C) Shape of leaflet (D) Number of leaflets -
ANSWERSD
What major group of conifers is defined by needles borne in clusters?
(A) Pine (B) Spruce (C) Fir(D) Juniper - ANSWERSA
What leaf margin type is characterized by having a smooth edge?
(A) Entire (B) Serrate (C) Serrulate (D) Dentate - ANSWERSA
What characteristic below is associated with dicots rather than monocots?
(A) Parallel leaf veins(B) Floral parts usually in multiples of four or five (C) Fibrous root
system(D) One cotyledon - ANSWERSB
A tree is to be planted close to a newly built retaining wall for beautification. What habit
is most likely appropriate for the selection of the tree.
(A) Pyramidal (B) Upright (C) Weeping (D) Spread - ANSWERSB
Hardiness refers to a plant's ability to survive which of the following?
(A) Drought(B) Low temperatures (C) Impact(D) Shade - ANSWERSB
What tree can be identified as having palmately compound leaves?
(A) Buckeye (B) Ash(C) Ailanthus (D) Walnut - ANSWERSC
What statement is true below regarding deciduous trees?
(A) Allows light in the summer and allows light in the winter
Exams Part 1 2024
The ideal soil ratio for solids to pore space is:
(A) 20:80 (B) 35:65 (C) 40:60 (D) 50:50 - ANSWERSD
What is the correct scientific name for the oak tree genus?
(A) Quercus (B) Pyrus (C) Larix (D) Acer - ANSWERSA
Which of the following is not one of the five major categories of soil horizons?
(A) O (B) E (C) N (D) B - ANSWERSC
Loam is least composed of what soil classification?
(A) Sand(B) Silt(C) Clay(D) Loam is composed of all soils evenly - ANSWERSC
What is the difference in magnitude of acidity between a PH level reading of 4 vs. a PH
reading of 7?
(A) 1(B) 3(C) 100 (D) 1000 - ANSWERSD
What is not a detrimental impact on tree growth from compaction?
(A) Restricted root growth
(B) Reduction of water availability
(C) Increasing organic material
(D) Restricting air movement - ANSWERSC
Field capacity is achieved after the draining of which of the following?
(A) Gravitational water
(B) Capillary water
(C) Micropore water
(D) Compacted drainage - ANSWERSA
What best defines the permanent wilting point soil moisture condition?
(A) Water is present in macro and micropores
(B) The condition present immediately after the removal of gravitational water
(C) Water is held by soil but unavailable to plants such that they can't recover
(D) No water present in soil - ANSWERSC
What soil below most likely has the lowest infiltration rate?
(A) Loose sand
(B) Compacted sand
(C) Loose clay
(D) Compacted clay - ANSWERSD
What major soil horizon category is not included in the zone designated as topsoil?
,(A) A (B) O (C) E (D) C - ANSWERSD
What soil type is most easily compacted?
(A) Sand(B) Clay(C) Silt(D) Bedrock - ANSWERSB
What is not a tree characteristic which helps to prevent the loss of water?
(A) Increased leaf surface area (B) Deep root systems(C) Leaf hairs(D) Waxy outer leaf
layer - ANSWERSA
What irrigation system type provides water slowly to specific areas of the tree root
zone?
(A) Drip irrigation(B) High-pressure injection (C) Basin irrigation
(D) Soaker hose - ANSWERSA
Trees help to control stormwater runoff by all of the following means except:
(A) Trees hold water on bark and leaves
(B) Roots intercept and retain runoff
(C) Fallen leaves create a layer of absorption on the ground
(D) All of the above - ANSWERSD
What is not an advantage of the use of mulching?
(A) Improve infiltration
(B) Promote deep root system
(C) Reduce soil evaporation
(D) Limit weed competition - ANSWERSB
What is the minimum slope for drainage pipes placed above an impervious layer?
(A) 1/16" per ft (B) 1/8" per ft (C) 1/4" per ft (D) 1/2" per ft - ANSWERSC
The main function of a rain garden is which of the following?
(A) Collect and hold stormwater runoff
(B) Increase water infiltration
(C) Distribute runoff to dry areas
(D) Facilitate deep root systems - ANSWERSA
What macronutrient most often has the largest requirement for the health of trees?
(A) Iron(B) Sulfur(C) Potassium (D) Nitrogen - ANSWERSD
What essential element is more readily available in an acidic environment than
alkaline?
(A) Iron(B) Calcium (C) Sulfur (D) Potassium - ANSWERSA
Required fertilizer distribution rates for quick release are ______________ than for that
of slow-release.
(A) Greater(B) Less(C) Equal(D) No relationship - ANSWERSB
, What project factor listed below has a detrimental effect on the surface application of
fertilizer?
(A) Constrained time(B) Inexperienced workers (C) Surface runoff(D) Shallow root
structure - ANSWERSC
What element can be classified as a micronutrient?
(A) Magnesium (B) Calcium(C) Iron(D) Sulfur - ANSWERSC
What method of fertilizer application may result in the development of thick patches of
grass in spots surrounding the tree?
(A) Liquid injection(B) Surface application (C) Foliar application (D) Implants -
ANSWERSA
What characteristic is used to differentiate between vascular plant classifications?
(A) Roots (B) Leaves (C) Seeds (D) Skin - ANSWERSC
Of the options listed below which has the broadest level of taxonomic hierarchy?
(A) Genus (B) Order (C) Class (D) Family - ANSWERSC
What characteristic below is used to differentiate between a simple leaf and a
compound leaf?
(A) Number of buds (B) Length of petiole (C) Shape of leaflet (D) Number of leaflets -
ANSWERSD
What major group of conifers is defined by needles borne in clusters?
(A) Pine (B) Spruce (C) Fir(D) Juniper - ANSWERSA
What leaf margin type is characterized by having a smooth edge?
(A) Entire (B) Serrate (C) Serrulate (D) Dentate - ANSWERSA
What characteristic below is associated with dicots rather than monocots?
(A) Parallel leaf veins(B) Floral parts usually in multiples of four or five (C) Fibrous root
system(D) One cotyledon - ANSWERSB
A tree is to be planted close to a newly built retaining wall for beautification. What habit
is most likely appropriate for the selection of the tree.
(A) Pyramidal (B) Upright (C) Weeping (D) Spread - ANSWERSB
Hardiness refers to a plant's ability to survive which of the following?
(A) Drought(B) Low temperatures (C) Impact(D) Shade - ANSWERSB
What tree can be identified as having palmately compound leaves?
(A) Buckeye (B) Ash(C) Ailanthus (D) Walnut - ANSWERSC
What statement is true below regarding deciduous trees?
(A) Allows light in the summer and allows light in the winter
