Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS)
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
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1. A boundary surveyor discovers a deed describing a property corner as
“the old oak tree.” The tree is gone, but long-standing occupation lines and
testimony from adjoining owners exist. What is the best approach?
A. Reject the deed as void for uncertainty
B. Use only the record bearings and distances
C. Re-establish the corner using the best available evidence of the
original location, including occupation and testimony
D. Set a new corner where the tree would be convenient today
Rationale: Boundary retracement seeks the original monument location
using the best available evidence. When a called-for natural monument is
lost, occupation, witness testimony, and other collateral evidence may be
used to reconstruct its original position.
2. In the hierarchy of deed calls, which generally has the highest priority
when resolving a boundary conflict?
A. Area (acreage)
, B. Natural monuments
C. Bearings and distances
D. Coordinate values
Rationale: Natural monuments typically control over artificial monuments,
courses, distances, and area because they are considered the most reliable
evidence of original intent.
3. A deed states a parcel contains “100 acres, more or less.” A later survey
computes 97.8 acres. Which statement is most accurate?
A. The deed is automatically invalid
B. The acreage statement is generally subordinate to the boundary
description
C. The owner must receive 100.0 acres exactly
D. The surveyor should adjust the boundary to force 100 acres
Rationale: Area is usually the least controlling deed element. If the boundary
can be identified, the stated acreage is commonly treated as descriptive
rather than controlling.
4. A subdivision plat shows iron pipes set at lot corners. One pipe is found
0.15 ft from the record position. What is the surveyor’s primary obligation?
A. Ignore the pipe and use coordinates only
B. Move the pipe to the computed location
C. Evaluate whether the pipe is the original monument and, if so, give
it controlling weight
D. Replace all subdivision monuments
,Rationale: Original monuments generally control over computed positions. A
small positional discrepancy does not automatically negate a monument’s
authority.
5. Two adjoining deeds overlap because one deed calls 500.00 ft and the
other calls 505.00 ft along the same line. There is no evidence of adverse
possession. What principle is most relevant?
A. Senior rights
B. Riparian rights
C. Simultaneous conveyance
D. Junior rights yield to senior rights
Rationale: When overlapping grants exist, the earlier (senior) conveyance
generally has priority over the later (junior) conveyance.
6. A highway right-of-way is described as 60 ft wide, centered on a baseline.
What is the width on each side of the baseline?
A. 15 ft
B. 30 ft
C. 60 ft
D. 120 ft
Rationale: A 60-ft-wide right-of-way centered on a baseline extends 30 ft on
each side of that centerline.
7. A surveyor is retracing a section corner established under the Public Land
Survey System (PLSS). Which evidence is generally most important?
A. Current GIS parcel lines
B. Tax map dimensions
, C. Original government survey evidence and accessories
D. Recent aerial imagery only
Rationale: PLSS retracement emphasizes recovery and evaluation of original
government survey evidence, including monuments, witness trees, and field
notes.
8. Which document is typically recorded to create lots, streets, and
easements within a new subdivision?
A. Title commitment
B. Subdivision plat
C. Mortgage
D. ALTA/NSPS survey
Rationale: A subdivision plat is the recorded instrument that creates lots,
streets, and associated easements or dedications.
9. A surveyor discovers an unrecorded fence line that has been accepted by
neighboring owners for 40 years. Which legal doctrine may be implicated?
A. Eminent domain
B. Boundary by acquiescence
C. Escheat
D. Lis pendens
Rationale: Long-standing mutual recognition of a boundary can support a
claim of boundary by acquiescence, depending on state law.
10. Which statement best describes adverse possession?
A. A survey error automatically transfers title
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationale 2026 Q&A| Instant Download
1. A boundary surveyor discovers a deed describing a property corner as
“the old oak tree.” The tree is gone, but long-standing occupation lines and
testimony from adjoining owners exist. What is the best approach?
A. Reject the deed as void for uncertainty
B. Use only the record bearings and distances
C. Re-establish the corner using the best available evidence of the
original location, including occupation and testimony
D. Set a new corner where the tree would be convenient today
Rationale: Boundary retracement seeks the original monument location
using the best available evidence. When a called-for natural monument is
lost, occupation, witness testimony, and other collateral evidence may be
used to reconstruct its original position.
2. In the hierarchy of deed calls, which generally has the highest priority
when resolving a boundary conflict?
A. Area (acreage)
, B. Natural monuments
C. Bearings and distances
D. Coordinate values
Rationale: Natural monuments typically control over artificial monuments,
courses, distances, and area because they are considered the most reliable
evidence of original intent.
3. A deed states a parcel contains “100 acres, more or less.” A later survey
computes 97.8 acres. Which statement is most accurate?
A. The deed is automatically invalid
B. The acreage statement is generally subordinate to the boundary
description
C. The owner must receive 100.0 acres exactly
D. The surveyor should adjust the boundary to force 100 acres
Rationale: Area is usually the least controlling deed element. If the boundary
can be identified, the stated acreage is commonly treated as descriptive
rather than controlling.
4. A subdivision plat shows iron pipes set at lot corners. One pipe is found
0.15 ft from the record position. What is the surveyor’s primary obligation?
A. Ignore the pipe and use coordinates only
B. Move the pipe to the computed location
C. Evaluate whether the pipe is the original monument and, if so, give
it controlling weight
D. Replace all subdivision monuments
,Rationale: Original monuments generally control over computed positions. A
small positional discrepancy does not automatically negate a monument’s
authority.
5. Two adjoining deeds overlap because one deed calls 500.00 ft and the
other calls 505.00 ft along the same line. There is no evidence of adverse
possession. What principle is most relevant?
A. Senior rights
B. Riparian rights
C. Simultaneous conveyance
D. Junior rights yield to senior rights
Rationale: When overlapping grants exist, the earlier (senior) conveyance
generally has priority over the later (junior) conveyance.
6. A highway right-of-way is described as 60 ft wide, centered on a baseline.
What is the width on each side of the baseline?
A. 15 ft
B. 30 ft
C. 60 ft
D. 120 ft
Rationale: A 60-ft-wide right-of-way centered on a baseline extends 30 ft on
each side of that centerline.
7. A surveyor is retracing a section corner established under the Public Land
Survey System (PLSS). Which evidence is generally most important?
A. Current GIS parcel lines
B. Tax map dimensions
, C. Original government survey evidence and accessories
D. Recent aerial imagery only
Rationale: PLSS retracement emphasizes recovery and evaluation of original
government survey evidence, including monuments, witness trees, and field
notes.
8. Which document is typically recorded to create lots, streets, and
easements within a new subdivision?
A. Title commitment
B. Subdivision plat
C. Mortgage
D. ALTA/NSPS survey
Rationale: A subdivision plat is the recorded instrument that creates lots,
streets, and associated easements or dedications.
9. A surveyor discovers an unrecorded fence line that has been accepted by
neighboring owners for 40 years. Which legal doctrine may be implicated?
A. Eminent domain
B. Boundary by acquiescence
C. Escheat
D. Lis pendens
Rationale: Long-standing mutual recognition of a boundary can support a
claim of boundary by acquiescence, depending on state law.
10. Which statement best describes adverse possession?
A. A survey error automatically transfers title
