Comprehensive -Question Practice
Bank for the California Certified
Engineering Geologist (CEG) Exam
with Detailed Rationales//Download
PDF
PROJECT PLANNING
Question 1
During initial project planning, what is the first step in assessing
geologic hazards?
Answer: Review existing geologic and seismic maps.
Rationale: Initial planning focuses on gathering available data to
identify potential hazards before fieldwork begins. Maps provide
regional context efficiently and cost-effectively .
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of a site reconnaissance?
Answer: Verify existing geologic interpretations.
Rationale: Reconnaissance helps confirm data from literature and
maps and identify site-specific conditions before detailed
investigations .
,Question 3
When reviewing project documents, what is the most significant
concern if a historic mine is discovered within close proximity to a
proposed building footprint?
Answer: Potential for ground subsidence, unstable openings, and
hazardous materials.
Rationale: Historic mines can present collapse hazards, void
spaces, and environmental contamination that must be evaluated
during project planning .
Question 4
What is the most useful primary source for an initial regional
geologic assessment of a proposed highway corridor?
Answer: Geologic maps and remote sensing data (aerial imagery,
lidar, InSAR).
Rationale: These sources provide broad regional coverage and
allow identification of major geologic structures, faults, and
landslide deposits before site-specific work .
Question 5
Which California agency regulates Certified Engineering
Geologists?
Answer: The Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors,
and Geologists (BPELSG).
Rationale: BPELSG is the state regulatory body responsible for
licensing and regulating professional geologists and engineering
geologists in California .
Question 6
What is the regulatory definition of "Engineering Geology" in
California?
,Answer: The application of geologic data, principles, and
interpretation so that geologic factors and processes affecting
planning, design, construction, maintenance, and vulnerability of
civil engineering works are properly recognized and utilized .
Question 7
During project planning, what on- and off-site conditions should
be reviewed?
Answer: Historical usage, environmental concerns, ecological
factors, cultural resources, community history, geotechnical
conditions, and health and safety issues .
Question 8
What is the purpose of preparing preliminary geologic models of
existing and proposed conditions?
Answer: To provide a conceptual framework for understanding
site geology and guide subsequent investigation and design .
Question 9
When defining the scope of an engineering geologic
investigation, what factors should be considered?
Answer: Preliminary review of available data, coordination with
other project professionals, regulatory requirements, and site
access .
Question 10
Which California law requires investigation and mitigation of
seismic hazards for new development?
Answer: The Seismic Hazards Mapping Act (SHMA).
Rationale: SHMA requires site-specific geotechnical
investigations to determine the potential for seismically induced
landslides, liquefaction, and other ground failures .
, Question 11
What is the primary purpose of the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake
Fault Zoning Act?
Answer: To restrict construction across active fault traces and
mitigate surface fault rupture hazards.
Rationale: The Act was passed in 1972 in response to the San
Fernando earthquake to prevent building across the traces of
active faults .
Question 12
What is the regulatory definition of an "active" fault under the
Alquist-Priolo Act?
Answer: A fault that has shown evidence of surface displacement
within the Holocene (approximately the last 11,700 years).
Rationale: The Act defines active faults based on evidence of
surface displacement during the Holocene epoch .
Question 13
Which geologic hazard is most directly addressed by the Alquist-
Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act?
Answer: Surface fault rupture.
Rationale: The Act focuses specifically on mitigating the hazard of
surface fault rupture near active faults, not landslides, liquefaction,
or subsidence .
Question 14
What does the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act require the
California State Geologist to do?
Answer: Create maps delineating zones where data suggest
amplified ground shaking, liquefaction, or earthquake-induced
landsliding may occur .
Bank for the California Certified
Engineering Geologist (CEG) Exam
with Detailed Rationales//Download
PROJECT PLANNING
Question 1
During initial project planning, what is the first step in assessing
geologic hazards?
Answer: Review existing geologic and seismic maps.
Rationale: Initial planning focuses on gathering available data to
identify potential hazards before fieldwork begins. Maps provide
regional context efficiently and cost-effectively .
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of a site reconnaissance?
Answer: Verify existing geologic interpretations.
Rationale: Reconnaissance helps confirm data from literature and
maps and identify site-specific conditions before detailed
investigations .
,Question 3
When reviewing project documents, what is the most significant
concern if a historic mine is discovered within close proximity to a
proposed building footprint?
Answer: Potential for ground subsidence, unstable openings, and
hazardous materials.
Rationale: Historic mines can present collapse hazards, void
spaces, and environmental contamination that must be evaluated
during project planning .
Question 4
What is the most useful primary source for an initial regional
geologic assessment of a proposed highway corridor?
Answer: Geologic maps and remote sensing data (aerial imagery,
lidar, InSAR).
Rationale: These sources provide broad regional coverage and
allow identification of major geologic structures, faults, and
landslide deposits before site-specific work .
Question 5
Which California agency regulates Certified Engineering
Geologists?
Answer: The Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors,
and Geologists (BPELSG).
Rationale: BPELSG is the state regulatory body responsible for
licensing and regulating professional geologists and engineering
geologists in California .
Question 6
What is the regulatory definition of "Engineering Geology" in
California?
,Answer: The application of geologic data, principles, and
interpretation so that geologic factors and processes affecting
planning, design, construction, maintenance, and vulnerability of
civil engineering works are properly recognized and utilized .
Question 7
During project planning, what on- and off-site conditions should
be reviewed?
Answer: Historical usage, environmental concerns, ecological
factors, cultural resources, community history, geotechnical
conditions, and health and safety issues .
Question 8
What is the purpose of preparing preliminary geologic models of
existing and proposed conditions?
Answer: To provide a conceptual framework for understanding
site geology and guide subsequent investigation and design .
Question 9
When defining the scope of an engineering geologic
investigation, what factors should be considered?
Answer: Preliminary review of available data, coordination with
other project professionals, regulatory requirements, and site
access .
Question 10
Which California law requires investigation and mitigation of
seismic hazards for new development?
Answer: The Seismic Hazards Mapping Act (SHMA).
Rationale: SHMA requires site-specific geotechnical
investigations to determine the potential for seismically induced
landslides, liquefaction, and other ground failures .
, Question 11
What is the primary purpose of the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake
Fault Zoning Act?
Answer: To restrict construction across active fault traces and
mitigate surface fault rupture hazards.
Rationale: The Act was passed in 1972 in response to the San
Fernando earthquake to prevent building across the traces of
active faults .
Question 12
What is the regulatory definition of an "active" fault under the
Alquist-Priolo Act?
Answer: A fault that has shown evidence of surface displacement
within the Holocene (approximately the last 11,700 years).
Rationale: The Act defines active faults based on evidence of
surface displacement during the Holocene epoch .
Question 13
Which geologic hazard is most directly addressed by the Alquist-
Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act?
Answer: Surface fault rupture.
Rationale: The Act focuses specifically on mitigating the hazard of
surface fault rupture near active faults, not landslides, liquefaction,
or subsidence .
Question 14
What does the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act require the
California State Geologist to do?
Answer: Create maps delineating zones where data suggest
amplified ground shaking, liquefaction, or earthquake-induced
landsliding may occur .
