ACI - Aggregate Base Testing Technician
Sampling should be done very carefully because it is as important as ____________. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Testing
What are the four sources from which field samples can be obtained? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Conveyor belts, Transport units, Roadways, Stockpiles
Sampling containers for aggregate samples should be made so that the contents will not be
lost, _____ or _____. - CORRECT ANSWER - contaminated, damaged
Not using correct procedures for reducing samples to testing size can result in a _____. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Nonrepresentative sample
T or F: Generally, small samples are most representative of the total supply. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
T or F: There are some instances in which differences between test samples can't be
avoided. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
What determines whether large-size particles are equally distributed among test samples
that have been reduced? - CORRECT ANSWER - Laws of chance
Which method of reducing a sample must be used with fine, dry aggregate? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Method A, mechanical splitter
What must be done to the sample if method B or C is used? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Moisten the sample
What do you do if the sample is wet and Method A is to be used? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Dry the sample
Method C, miniature stockpiling, cannot be used for which type of aggregate? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Coarse aggregate, or mixtures of coarse and fine aggregate
Which method involves the use of chutes, holding receptacles, and hoppers or straight-
edged pans? - CORRECT ANSWER - Method A
Sample splitters must have how many equal width chutes for coarse aggregate? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 8
, Sample splitters must have how many equal width chutes for fine aggregate? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 12
In Methods B and C the sample is shoveled into a ____ before it is flattened and divided. -
CORRECT ANSWER - conical pile
When using Method B, what is an alternate surface that can be used when reducing the
sample? - CORRECT ANSWER - Canvas blanket or tear resistant tarp
When quartering a sample, retain two _________ quarters and reject the other two. -
CORRECT ANSWER - diagonally opposite
In miniature stockpile sampling, obtain the sample by selecting at least ____ increments of
material from ____ locations in the stockpile. - CORRECT ANSWER - 5, random
The drying apparatus used for dry preparation of a sample is any suitable device capable
of drying samples at a temperature not exceeding _____. - CORRECT ANSWER - 60°C /
140°F
A suitable sample splitter is one capable of obtaining ____ portions of the sample without
appreciable loss of ____. - CORRECT ANSWER - representative, fines
For particle size analysis, material passing a 2.00 mm (No. 10) sieve is required in amounts
equal to approximately ___ g for sandy soils and approximately ___ g for silty or clayey
soils. - CORRECT ANSWER - 110, 60
For specific gravity, material passing a 2.00 mm (No. 10) sieve is required in amounts of at
least ____ g when the volumetric flask is used and at least ____ g when the stoppered bottle
is used. - CORRECT ANSWER - 25, 10
For the physical test, the remaining portion of the material passing the _____ sieve shall be
separated into ____ parts by means of a 0.425 mm (No. 40) sieve. - CORRECT ANSWER -
2.00 mm (No. 10), Two
For the physical test, if the sample contains brittle particles such as flakes of mica,
fragments of seashells, etc., the ____________ shall be done carefully to free the finer
material that adheres to the coarse particles. - CORRECT ANSWER - Pulverizing operation
What is defined as the water content at which the soil passes from a plastic to a liquid? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The liquid limit of a soil
(LL) Suitable containers should be made of material resistant to ____ and not subject to
change in ____ or ___ on repeated heating and cooling. - CORRECT ANSWER - corrosion,
mass, disintegration
Sampling should be done very carefully because it is as important as ____________. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Testing
What are the four sources from which field samples can be obtained? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Conveyor belts, Transport units, Roadways, Stockpiles
Sampling containers for aggregate samples should be made so that the contents will not be
lost, _____ or _____. - CORRECT ANSWER - contaminated, damaged
Not using correct procedures for reducing samples to testing size can result in a _____. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Nonrepresentative sample
T or F: Generally, small samples are most representative of the total supply. - CORRECT
ANSWER - False
T or F: There are some instances in which differences between test samples can't be
avoided. - CORRECT ANSWER - True
What determines whether large-size particles are equally distributed among test samples
that have been reduced? - CORRECT ANSWER - Laws of chance
Which method of reducing a sample must be used with fine, dry aggregate? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Method A, mechanical splitter
What must be done to the sample if method B or C is used? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Moisten the sample
What do you do if the sample is wet and Method A is to be used? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Dry the sample
Method C, miniature stockpiling, cannot be used for which type of aggregate? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Coarse aggregate, or mixtures of coarse and fine aggregate
Which method involves the use of chutes, holding receptacles, and hoppers or straight-
edged pans? - CORRECT ANSWER - Method A
Sample splitters must have how many equal width chutes for coarse aggregate? -
CORRECT ANSWER - 8
, Sample splitters must have how many equal width chutes for fine aggregate? - CORRECT
ANSWER - 12
In Methods B and C the sample is shoveled into a ____ before it is flattened and divided. -
CORRECT ANSWER - conical pile
When using Method B, what is an alternate surface that can be used when reducing the
sample? - CORRECT ANSWER - Canvas blanket or tear resistant tarp
When quartering a sample, retain two _________ quarters and reject the other two. -
CORRECT ANSWER - diagonally opposite
In miniature stockpile sampling, obtain the sample by selecting at least ____ increments of
material from ____ locations in the stockpile. - CORRECT ANSWER - 5, random
The drying apparatus used for dry preparation of a sample is any suitable device capable
of drying samples at a temperature not exceeding _____. - CORRECT ANSWER - 60°C /
140°F
A suitable sample splitter is one capable of obtaining ____ portions of the sample without
appreciable loss of ____. - CORRECT ANSWER - representative, fines
For particle size analysis, material passing a 2.00 mm (No. 10) sieve is required in amounts
equal to approximately ___ g for sandy soils and approximately ___ g for silty or clayey
soils. - CORRECT ANSWER - 110, 60
For specific gravity, material passing a 2.00 mm (No. 10) sieve is required in amounts of at
least ____ g when the volumetric flask is used and at least ____ g when the stoppered bottle
is used. - CORRECT ANSWER - 25, 10
For the physical test, the remaining portion of the material passing the _____ sieve shall be
separated into ____ parts by means of a 0.425 mm (No. 40) sieve. - CORRECT ANSWER -
2.00 mm (No. 10), Two
For the physical test, if the sample contains brittle particles such as flakes of mica,
fragments of seashells, etc., the ____________ shall be done carefully to free the finer
material that adheres to the coarse particles. - CORRECT ANSWER - Pulverizing operation
What is defined as the water content at which the soil passes from a plastic to a liquid? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The liquid limit of a soil
(LL) Suitable containers should be made of material resistant to ____ and not subject to
change in ____ or ___ on repeated heating and cooling. - CORRECT ANSWER - corrosion,
mass, disintegration
