ISA Arborist Certification Practice
Exams Part 1 Questions & Actual
Answers
D - correct answer ✔✔The ideal soil ratio for solids to pore space is:
(A) 20:80 (B) 35:65 (C) 40:60 (D) 50:50
A - correct answer ✔✔What is the correct scientific name for the oak tree genus?
(A) Quercus (B) Pyrus (C) Larix (D) Acer
C - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is not one of the five major categories of soil
horizons?
(A) O (B) E (C) N (D) B
C - correct answer ✔✔Loam is least composed of what soil classification?
(A) Sand(B) Silt(C) Clay(D) Loam is composed of all soils evenly
D - correct answer ✔✔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
C - correct answer ✔✔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
A - correct answer ✔✔Field capacity is achieved after the draining of which of the following?
(A) Gravitational water
(B) Capillary water
(C) Micropore water
(D) Compacted drainage
C - correct answer ✔✔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
D - correct answer ✔✔What soil below most likely has the lowest infiltration rate?
(A) Loose sand
(B) Compacted sand
(C) Loose clay
(D) Compacted clay
D - correct answer ✔✔What major soil horizon category is not included in the zone designated
as topsoil?
(A) A (B) O (C) E (D) C
B - correct answer ✔✔What soil type is most easily compacted?
(A) Sand(B) Clay(C) Silt(D) Bedrock
,A - correct answer ✔✔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
A - correct answer ✔✔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
D - correct answer ✔✔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
B - correct answer ✔✔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
C - correct answer ✔✔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
, A - correct answer ✔✔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
D - correct answer ✔✔What macronutrient most often has the largest requirement for the
health of trees?
(A) Iron(B) Sulfur(C) Potassium (D) Nitrogen
A - correct answer ✔✔What essential element is more readily available in an acidic
environment than alkaline?
(A) Iron(B) Calcium (C) Sulfur (D) Potassium
B - correct answer ✔✔Required fertilizer distribution rates for quick release are
______________ than for that of slow-release.
(A) Greater(B) Less(C) Equal(D) No relationship
C - correct answer ✔✔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
C - correct answer ✔✔What element can be classified as a micronutrient?
(A) Magnesium (B) Calcium(C) Iron(D) Sulfur
A - correct answer ✔✔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
Exams Part 1 Questions & Actual
Answers
D - correct answer ✔✔The ideal soil ratio for solids to pore space is:
(A) 20:80 (B) 35:65 (C) 40:60 (D) 50:50
A - correct answer ✔✔What is the correct scientific name for the oak tree genus?
(A) Quercus (B) Pyrus (C) Larix (D) Acer
C - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is not one of the five major categories of soil
horizons?
(A) O (B) E (C) N (D) B
C - correct answer ✔✔Loam is least composed of what soil classification?
(A) Sand(B) Silt(C) Clay(D) Loam is composed of all soils evenly
D - correct answer ✔✔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
C - correct answer ✔✔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
A - correct answer ✔✔Field capacity is achieved after the draining of which of the following?
(A) Gravitational water
(B) Capillary water
(C) Micropore water
(D) Compacted drainage
C - correct answer ✔✔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
D - correct answer ✔✔What soil below most likely has the lowest infiltration rate?
(A) Loose sand
(B) Compacted sand
(C) Loose clay
(D) Compacted clay
D - correct answer ✔✔What major soil horizon category is not included in the zone designated
as topsoil?
(A) A (B) O (C) E (D) C
B - correct answer ✔✔What soil type is most easily compacted?
(A) Sand(B) Clay(C) Silt(D) Bedrock
,A - correct answer ✔✔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
A - correct answer ✔✔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
D - correct answer ✔✔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
B - correct answer ✔✔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
C - correct answer ✔✔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
, A - correct answer ✔✔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
D - correct answer ✔✔What macronutrient most often has the largest requirement for the
health of trees?
(A) Iron(B) Sulfur(C) Potassium (D) Nitrogen
A - correct answer ✔✔What essential element is more readily available in an acidic
environment than alkaline?
(A) Iron(B) Calcium (C) Sulfur (D) Potassium
B - correct answer ✔✔Required fertilizer distribution rates for quick release are
______________ than for that of slow-release.
(A) Greater(B) Less(C) Equal(D) No relationship
C - correct answer ✔✔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
C - correct answer ✔✔What element can be classified as a micronutrient?
(A) Magnesium (B) Calcium(C) Iron(D) Sulfur
A - correct answer ✔✔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
