CNS 220 Final Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
Masonry units like brick and concrete blocks are strong in compression but weak in tension -
Answers True
Which type of mortar is typically used for load-bearing masonry walls? - Answers Type M
The bond between masonry units and mortar is crucial for the overall strength of the wall -
Answers True
What is the primary purpose of control joints in masonry walls? - Answers To allow of expansion
and contraction
Concrete masonry units can be either load-bearing or non-load-bearing - Answers True
Which of the following is a common defect in masonry construction? - Answers Efflorescence
and spalling
The compressive strength of masonry depends only on the masonry units and not the mortar -
Answers False
Which mortar type is considered the weakest and is typically used for interior non-load-bearing
walls? - Answers Type O
Water absorption in masonry units affects the curing of mortar and bond strength - Answers
True
Which test is commonly used to determine the compressive strength of masonry units? -
Answers Compression Test
Concrete was invented in England during the Industrial Revolution - Answers False
What does w/c refer to? - Answers Water to cement
The hardened mixture of cement, water, and aggregate is technically cement - Answers False
What is concrete that has W/cm ratio of 0.4 or lower used for? - Answers Low permeability, high
strength
Cement is another name for concrete - Answers False
Concrete is a mixture of cement, water, aggregates, and sometimes admixtures or other
cementitious materials - Answers True
The American Concrete Institute is the main source for codes, testing, and specifications in
concrete - Answers True
The American concrete institute refers to the organization that creates all the concrete mixes
, for the United States and supplies them throughout the country - Answers False
The ideal breakdown of air in concrete should amount to 14% by volume - Answers False
What is the average compressive strength for concrete in high rise buildings? - Answers 9000-
12000 psi
Which of the following materials do not make up concrete mixture? - Answers Plaster
Which Portland cement type is incorrectly stated? - Answers Type II, fly ash cement
Which of the following concrete types is no longer made in the U.S.? - Answers Type IV
If aggregate particles are smaller than __ in they are defined as fine - Answers 3/8"
What is the main type of cement? - Answers Portland
What type of Portland cement is low heat of hydration? - Answers Type IV
General purpose cement used in reinforced concrete buildings, bridges, or elsewhere that
concrete is not exposed to aggressive environments or high temperature changes is referred to
as ___ - Answers Type I normal cement
What was the type of Portland cement that was used in massive structure such a gravity dams
and mat foundations that is no longer manufactured? - Answers Type IV
Which type of concrete is used only when it is exposed to severe sulfate action? - Answers Type
V
Aggregates are made up of particles that are all the same size - Answers False
The first step in the mixture proportioning process is ___ - Answers Choosing slump
How many steps are there to find the appropriate concrete mix per the reading? - Answers 7
Harding of concrete speeds up if it's cold and slows down if its warmer - Answers False
Concrete is weak in compression but strong in tension - Answers False
Durability is described and defined as the ability of a material to resist what? - Answers
Weathering action, chemical attack, abrasion, freezing and thawing
What impacts the slump of concrete? - Answers Amount of water used, max aggregate size
used
The slump test performed on concrete as delivered, is used to measure and control consistency
or flowability - Answers True
Concrete must maintain a strength of 500 psi - Answers True
Masonry units like brick and concrete blocks are strong in compression but weak in tension -
Answers True
Which type of mortar is typically used for load-bearing masonry walls? - Answers Type M
The bond between masonry units and mortar is crucial for the overall strength of the wall -
Answers True
What is the primary purpose of control joints in masonry walls? - Answers To allow of expansion
and contraction
Concrete masonry units can be either load-bearing or non-load-bearing - Answers True
Which of the following is a common defect in masonry construction? - Answers Efflorescence
and spalling
The compressive strength of masonry depends only on the masonry units and not the mortar -
Answers False
Which mortar type is considered the weakest and is typically used for interior non-load-bearing
walls? - Answers Type O
Water absorption in masonry units affects the curing of mortar and bond strength - Answers
True
Which test is commonly used to determine the compressive strength of masonry units? -
Answers Compression Test
Concrete was invented in England during the Industrial Revolution - Answers False
What does w/c refer to? - Answers Water to cement
The hardened mixture of cement, water, and aggregate is technically cement - Answers False
What is concrete that has W/cm ratio of 0.4 or lower used for? - Answers Low permeability, high
strength
Cement is another name for concrete - Answers False
Concrete is a mixture of cement, water, aggregates, and sometimes admixtures or other
cementitious materials - Answers True
The American Concrete Institute is the main source for codes, testing, and specifications in
concrete - Answers True
The American concrete institute refers to the organization that creates all the concrete mixes
, for the United States and supplies them throughout the country - Answers False
The ideal breakdown of air in concrete should amount to 14% by volume - Answers False
What is the average compressive strength for concrete in high rise buildings? - Answers 9000-
12000 psi
Which of the following materials do not make up concrete mixture? - Answers Plaster
Which Portland cement type is incorrectly stated? - Answers Type II, fly ash cement
Which of the following concrete types is no longer made in the U.S.? - Answers Type IV
If aggregate particles are smaller than __ in they are defined as fine - Answers 3/8"
What is the main type of cement? - Answers Portland
What type of Portland cement is low heat of hydration? - Answers Type IV
General purpose cement used in reinforced concrete buildings, bridges, or elsewhere that
concrete is not exposed to aggressive environments or high temperature changes is referred to
as ___ - Answers Type I normal cement
What was the type of Portland cement that was used in massive structure such a gravity dams
and mat foundations that is no longer manufactured? - Answers Type IV
Which type of concrete is used only when it is exposed to severe sulfate action? - Answers Type
V
Aggregates are made up of particles that are all the same size - Answers False
The first step in the mixture proportioning process is ___ - Answers Choosing slump
How many steps are there to find the appropriate concrete mix per the reading? - Answers 7
Harding of concrete speeds up if it's cold and slows down if its warmer - Answers False
Concrete is weak in compression but strong in tension - Answers False
Durability is described and defined as the ability of a material to resist what? - Answers
Weathering action, chemical attack, abrasion, freezing and thawing
What impacts the slump of concrete? - Answers Amount of water used, max aggregate size
used
The slump test performed on concrete as delivered, is used to measure and control consistency
or flowability - Answers True
Concrete must maintain a strength of 500 psi - Answers True
