NORTH CAROLINA PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CORE EXAM
SET QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
✔✔Broadcast Application - ✔✔The uniform application of a pesticide or other material
over an entire field or area
✔✔Broadleaf Plants - ✔✔Plants with broad, rounded, or flattened leaves with netted
veins. Examples: dandelions and roses. Different from the narrow, bladelike leaves with
parallel veins of grasses, sedges, ruses, and onions
✔✔Broad-Spectrum pesticide - ✔✔a pesticide that is effect against a wide range of pest
✔✔Buffers - ✔✔Adjuvants used to retard chemical degradation of some pesticides by
lower the pH of alkaline water and maintaining the pH within a narrow range even with
the addition of acidic or alkaline materials.
✔✔Calibrate/ Calibration - ✔✔To properly adjust equipment; to determine the correct
amount of material to be applied to the target area
✔✔Carcinogen - ✔✔A substance or agent able to produce malignant tumors (cancer)
✔✔Carrier - ✔✔An inert liquid, solid, or gas added to an active ingredient to make a
pesticide formulation. A carrier is also the material, usually water or oil, used dilute the
formulated product for application
✔✔Caution - ✔✔The signal word associated with pesticide products classified as
slightly toxic
✔✔Certified Applicator - ✔✔A person qualified to apply or supervise the application of
restricted use pesticides
✔✔Chemical name - ✔✔The technical name of the active ingredient(s) found in the
formulated product. This complex product is derived from the chemical structure of the
active ingredient.
✔✔Chemigation - ✔✔The application of pesticides or fertilizers to a target site in
irrigation water. Also known as injector systems when used in greenhouses.
✔✔Chronic Toxicity - ✔✔The ability of small amounts of pesticide from repeated,
prolongs exposure to cause injury
✔✔Commerical Applicator - ✔✔A certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of
pesticides for purpose other than those covered under a private applicator certification
,✔✔Common Name - ✔✔A name given to a pesticide active ingredient by a recognized
committee on pesticide nomenclature. Many pesticides are known by a number of trade
or brand names, but each active ingredient has only one recognized common name.
Example; the common name for sevin insecticide is carbaryl.
✔✔Compatibility Agent - ✔✔An adjuvant used to enhance the mixing of two or more
pesticide products and/or fertilizers
✔✔Compatible - ✔✔When two or more chemicals can be mixed together without
reducing the effectiveness or characteristics of any individual chemical in the mixture,
they are said to be compatible.
✔✔Contact effects - ✔✔Injury at the point of contact, including skin discoloration and
irritation (dermatitis) such as itching, redness, rashes, blisters, and burns. Also,
swelling, stinging, and burning of the eyes, noses, mouth, or throat are contact effect.
✔✔Contact Pesticide - ✔✔Any pesticide that controls pest organisms upon contact.
These may be insecticides, miticides, fungicides, or herbicides
✔✔Containment pad - ✔✔An impermeable pad used for mixing and loading pesticides
and cleaning equipment that is designed to catch spills, leaks, overflows, and wash
water for reuse or disposal
✔✔Contamination - ✔✔the presence of an unwanted substance in or on a plant, animal,
soil, water, air, or structure
✔✔Corrosive poison - ✔✔A poison containing a strong acid or base that will severely
burn the skin, mouth, stomach, or respiratory tract.
✔✔Cross-contamination - ✔✔when one pesticide accidentally mixes with another
pesticide, usually in an improperly cleaned sprayer or in storage because of the
airborne movement of a volatile pesticide
✔✔Curative pesticide - ✔✔A pesticide that can inhibit or kill a disease-causing organism
after it is established in the plant or animal
✔✔Danger-Poison - ✔✔The signal word associated with pesticide products classified as
highly toxic. This signal word is also associated with pesticide products that are
corrosive or highly irritating to skin and eyes
✔✔Decontaminate - ✔✔To remove or degrade a chemical residue from the skin or a
surface
, ✔✔Defoaming agent - ✔✔an adjuvant used to reduce the foaming of a spray mixture
due to agitation
✔✔Defoliant - ✔✔A chemical that initiates the premature drop leaves, often as a aid in
harvesting a crop
✔✔Degradation - ✔✔The process by which a chemical compound is broken down to
simpler compounds by the action of microorganism, water, air, sunlight, or other agents.
Degradation products are usually, but not always, less toxic than the original compound
✔✔Delayed Toxicity - ✔✔Illnesses or injuries that do not appear immediately after
exposure to pesticide. The effects generally occur between 24 hours and several days
after exposure.
✔✔Deposit - ✔✔The presence of a pesticide on a treated surface after application
✔✔Dermal - ✔✔Pertaining to the skin
✔✔Dermal Toxicity - ✔✔The ability of a pesticide to cause injury to a human or animal
when absorbed through the skin
✔✔Dermatits - ✔✔The inflammation, itching, irritation, or occurrence of a skin rash after
exposure to a chemical
✔✔Desiccant - ✔✔A chemical that promotes drying or loss of moisture from leaves or
other plant parts. Also, a chemical that removes water from arthropods or destroys the
waxy covering that protects these organisms from water loss
✔✔Direct Application - ✔✔A precise application to a specific area or site, such as a
basal application to woody plants or a crack and crevice treatment in a building
✔✔Disinfectant - ✔✔A chemical or other agent that kills or inactivates disease-
producing microorganisms in animals, seeds, or other plant parts. Also, commonly
refers to chemicals used to clean or surface-sterilize inanimate objects
✔✔Dose, Dosage - ✔✔The quality of pesticide applied to a given site or target.
✔✔Drift - ✔✔The airborne movement of a pesticide spray, particle, or vapor beyond the
intended contact area
✔✔Drift control additive - ✔✔An adjuvant added to a spray mixture to reduce drift.
✔✔Dry flowable - ✔✔a dry, granular pesticide formu-lation that forms a suspension
when added to water. Same as water dispersible granule
SET QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2025/2026 GRADED A+
✔✔Broadcast Application - ✔✔The uniform application of a pesticide or other material
over an entire field or area
✔✔Broadleaf Plants - ✔✔Plants with broad, rounded, or flattened leaves with netted
veins. Examples: dandelions and roses. Different from the narrow, bladelike leaves with
parallel veins of grasses, sedges, ruses, and onions
✔✔Broad-Spectrum pesticide - ✔✔a pesticide that is effect against a wide range of pest
✔✔Buffers - ✔✔Adjuvants used to retard chemical degradation of some pesticides by
lower the pH of alkaline water and maintaining the pH within a narrow range even with
the addition of acidic or alkaline materials.
✔✔Calibrate/ Calibration - ✔✔To properly adjust equipment; to determine the correct
amount of material to be applied to the target area
✔✔Carcinogen - ✔✔A substance or agent able to produce malignant tumors (cancer)
✔✔Carrier - ✔✔An inert liquid, solid, or gas added to an active ingredient to make a
pesticide formulation. A carrier is also the material, usually water or oil, used dilute the
formulated product for application
✔✔Caution - ✔✔The signal word associated with pesticide products classified as
slightly toxic
✔✔Certified Applicator - ✔✔A person qualified to apply or supervise the application of
restricted use pesticides
✔✔Chemical name - ✔✔The technical name of the active ingredient(s) found in the
formulated product. This complex product is derived from the chemical structure of the
active ingredient.
✔✔Chemigation - ✔✔The application of pesticides or fertilizers to a target site in
irrigation water. Also known as injector systems when used in greenhouses.
✔✔Chronic Toxicity - ✔✔The ability of small amounts of pesticide from repeated,
prolongs exposure to cause injury
✔✔Commerical Applicator - ✔✔A certified applicator who uses or supervises the use of
pesticides for purpose other than those covered under a private applicator certification
,✔✔Common Name - ✔✔A name given to a pesticide active ingredient by a recognized
committee on pesticide nomenclature. Many pesticides are known by a number of trade
or brand names, but each active ingredient has only one recognized common name.
Example; the common name for sevin insecticide is carbaryl.
✔✔Compatibility Agent - ✔✔An adjuvant used to enhance the mixing of two or more
pesticide products and/or fertilizers
✔✔Compatible - ✔✔When two or more chemicals can be mixed together without
reducing the effectiveness or characteristics of any individual chemical in the mixture,
they are said to be compatible.
✔✔Contact effects - ✔✔Injury at the point of contact, including skin discoloration and
irritation (dermatitis) such as itching, redness, rashes, blisters, and burns. Also,
swelling, stinging, and burning of the eyes, noses, mouth, or throat are contact effect.
✔✔Contact Pesticide - ✔✔Any pesticide that controls pest organisms upon contact.
These may be insecticides, miticides, fungicides, or herbicides
✔✔Containment pad - ✔✔An impermeable pad used for mixing and loading pesticides
and cleaning equipment that is designed to catch spills, leaks, overflows, and wash
water for reuse or disposal
✔✔Contamination - ✔✔the presence of an unwanted substance in or on a plant, animal,
soil, water, air, or structure
✔✔Corrosive poison - ✔✔A poison containing a strong acid or base that will severely
burn the skin, mouth, stomach, or respiratory tract.
✔✔Cross-contamination - ✔✔when one pesticide accidentally mixes with another
pesticide, usually in an improperly cleaned sprayer or in storage because of the
airborne movement of a volatile pesticide
✔✔Curative pesticide - ✔✔A pesticide that can inhibit or kill a disease-causing organism
after it is established in the plant or animal
✔✔Danger-Poison - ✔✔The signal word associated with pesticide products classified as
highly toxic. This signal word is also associated with pesticide products that are
corrosive or highly irritating to skin and eyes
✔✔Decontaminate - ✔✔To remove or degrade a chemical residue from the skin or a
surface
, ✔✔Defoaming agent - ✔✔an adjuvant used to reduce the foaming of a spray mixture
due to agitation
✔✔Defoliant - ✔✔A chemical that initiates the premature drop leaves, often as a aid in
harvesting a crop
✔✔Degradation - ✔✔The process by which a chemical compound is broken down to
simpler compounds by the action of microorganism, water, air, sunlight, or other agents.
Degradation products are usually, but not always, less toxic than the original compound
✔✔Delayed Toxicity - ✔✔Illnesses or injuries that do not appear immediately after
exposure to pesticide. The effects generally occur between 24 hours and several days
after exposure.
✔✔Deposit - ✔✔The presence of a pesticide on a treated surface after application
✔✔Dermal - ✔✔Pertaining to the skin
✔✔Dermal Toxicity - ✔✔The ability of a pesticide to cause injury to a human or animal
when absorbed through the skin
✔✔Dermatits - ✔✔The inflammation, itching, irritation, or occurrence of a skin rash after
exposure to a chemical
✔✔Desiccant - ✔✔A chemical that promotes drying or loss of moisture from leaves or
other plant parts. Also, a chemical that removes water from arthropods or destroys the
waxy covering that protects these organisms from water loss
✔✔Direct Application - ✔✔A precise application to a specific area or site, such as a
basal application to woody plants or a crack and crevice treatment in a building
✔✔Disinfectant - ✔✔A chemical or other agent that kills or inactivates disease-
producing microorganisms in animals, seeds, or other plant parts. Also, commonly
refers to chemicals used to clean or surface-sterilize inanimate objects
✔✔Dose, Dosage - ✔✔The quality of pesticide applied to a given site or target.
✔✔Drift - ✔✔The airborne movement of a pesticide spray, particle, or vapor beyond the
intended contact area
✔✔Drift control additive - ✔✔An adjuvant added to a spray mixture to reduce drift.
✔✔Dry flowable - ✔✔a dry, granular pesticide formu-lation that forms a suspension
when added to water. Same as water dispersible granule
