ISA ARBORIST TEST PAPER QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
●● What is the correct scientific name for the oak tree genus?
(A) Quercus (B) Pyrus (C) Larix (D) Acer
Answer: A
●● Which of the following is not one of the five major categories of soil
horizons?
(A) O (B) E (C) N (D) B
Answer: C
●● Loam is least composed of what soil classification?
(A) Sand(B) Silt(C) Clay(D) Loam is composed of all soils evenly
Answer: C
●● 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
Answer: D
●● 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
Answer: C
●● Field capacity is achieved after the draining of which of the
following?
(A) Gravitational water
(B) Capillary water
(C) Micropore water
(D) Compacted drainage
Answer: A
●● 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
Answer: C
,●● What soil below most likely has the lowest infiltration rate?
(A) Loose sand
(B) Compacted sand
(C) Loose clay
(D) Compacted clay
Answer: D
●● What major soil horizon category is not included in the zone
designated as topsoil?
(A) A (B) O (C) E (D) C
Answer: D
●● What soil type is most easily compacted?
(A) Sand(B) Clay(C) Silt(D) Bedrock
Answer: B
●● 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
Answer: A
, ●● 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
Answer: A
●● 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
Answer: D
●● 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
Answer: B
●● What is the minimum slope for drainage pipes placed above an
impervious layer?
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
●● What is the correct scientific name for the oak tree genus?
(A) Quercus (B) Pyrus (C) Larix (D) Acer
Answer: A
●● Which of the following is not one of the five major categories of soil
horizons?
(A) O (B) E (C) N (D) B
Answer: C
●● Loam is least composed of what soil classification?
(A) Sand(B) Silt(C) Clay(D) Loam is composed of all soils evenly
Answer: C
●● 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
Answer: D
●● 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
Answer: C
●● Field capacity is achieved after the draining of which of the
following?
(A) Gravitational water
(B) Capillary water
(C) Micropore water
(D) Compacted drainage
Answer: A
●● 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
Answer: C
,●● What soil below most likely has the lowest infiltration rate?
(A) Loose sand
(B) Compacted sand
(C) Loose clay
(D) Compacted clay
Answer: D
●● What major soil horizon category is not included in the zone
designated as topsoil?
(A) A (B) O (C) E (D) C
Answer: D
●● What soil type is most easily compacted?
(A) Sand(B) Clay(C) Silt(D) Bedrock
Answer: B
●● 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
Answer: A
, ●● 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
Answer: A
●● 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
Answer: D
●● 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
Answer: B
●● What is the minimum slope for drainage pipes placed above an
impervious layer?
