FSESCI EXAM 300 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE
LATEST UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A+
ASSURED PASS
SECTION 1: Fundamentals of Erosion and Sedimentation
(Questions 1–50)
1. What is the process by which the land surface is worn away by the action of
wind, water, and gravity?
A) Sedimentation
B) Erosion
C) Deposition
D) Aggradation
Answer: B) Erosion
Rationale: Erosion is defined as the process by which the land surface is worn
away by the action of wind, water, and gravity. Sedimentation is the settling out of
soil particles transported by water and wind. Deposition and aggradation are
related but refer to the laying down of material, not the wearing away.
2. What is the settling out of soil particles transported by water and wind called?
A) Erosion
B) Abrasion
C) Sedimentation
D) Weathering
Answer: C) Sedimentation
Rationale: Sedimentation is the settling out of particles transported by wind and
water. Erosion is the wearing away, while abrasion and weathering are mechanical
and chemical breakdown processes, respectively.
3. Soil erosion can be classified as either _______ erosion or _______ erosion.
,A) Wind, water
B) Sheet, rill
C) Natural, manmade
D) Overland, channel
Answer: A) Wind, water
Rationale: Soil erosion can be classified as either wind erosion or water erosion,
and the sources can be either natural or manmade. Sheet, rill, and gully are
subcategories of overland water erosion.
4. Water erosion can be classified as either _______ erosion or _______ and
channel erosion.
A) Wind, stream
B) Overland, stream
C) Sheet, rill
D) Splash, gully
Answer: B) Overland, stream
Rationale: Water erosion can be classified as either overland erosion or stream and
channel erosion. Overland erosion includes splash, sheet, rill, and gully processes.
5. The four processes of overland erosion are:
A) Splash, sheet, rill, gully
B) Wind, water, gravity, ice
C) Rain, runoff, infiltration, percolation
D) Clearing, grading, excavating, compacting
Answer: A) Splash, sheet, rill, gully
Rationale: The four processes of overland erosion are raindrop splash, sheet
erosion, rill erosion, and gully erosion. These represent increasing stages of soil
loss.
6. The four principle factors influencing soil erosion are:
A) Permits, Equipment, Schedule, and People
B) Vegetation, Soils, Topography, and Climate
C) Weather, Soils, BMPs, and Maintenance
D) Time, BMPs, People, and Soils
Answer: B) Vegetation, Soils, Topography, and Climate
,Rationale: The four principal factors influencing soil erosion are soil, vegetative
cover, climate, and topography. These factors determine the erosive potential of a
site.
7. Which of the following is NOT a physical effect of erosion and sedimentation?
A) Increased flooding
B) Reduced hydraulic capacity of streams
C) Increased dissolved oxygen levels
D) Disruption of aquatic food chains
Answer: C) Increased dissolved oxygen levels
Rationale: Erosion and sedimentation cause increased flooding, reduced hydraulic
capacity, and disruption of food chains. Sediment loading typically decreases
dissolved oxygen by blanketing aquatic habitats and increasing biochemical
oxygen demand.
8. Soil particles smaller than 0.002 mm are classified as _______ and along with
_______ are the two soil types that cause the most erosion/turbidity problems in
Florida and the world.
A) Silt, sand
B) Clay, muck
C) Gravel, organic matter
D) Loam, peat
Answer: B) Clay, muck
Rationale: Soil particles smaller than 0.002 mm are classified as clay, and along
with muck, are the soil types that cause the most erosion and turbidity problems in
Florida and the world. Clay and muck particles remain suspended longer,
increasing turbidity.
9. The only factor in the Universal Soil Loss Equation that is beyond the
developer's control is:
A) Slope length
B) Slope gradient
C) Rainfall erosion index
D) Cover factor
Answer: C) Rainfall erosion index
, Rationale: The rainfall erosion index is the only factor in the Universal Soil Loss
Equation (USLE) that is beyond the developer's control. Slope length, gradient,
and cover factor can be managed through site design and BMPs.
10. Slope _______, _______, and _______ are the factors most easily manipulated
by the developer.
A) Length, gradient, cover factor
B) Type, color, density
C) Elevation, aspect, latitude
D) Age, composition, permeability
Answer: A) Length, gradient, cover factor
Rationale: Slope length, gradient, and cover factor are the factors in the USLE
most easily manipulated by the developer through grading, terracing, and
vegetation.
11. During Phase I of site development, even the smallest sites will require the
installation of _______ practices prior to site clearing and grading.
A) Security
B) Sanitation control
C) Perimeter control
D) Crowd control
Answer: C) Perimeter control
Rationale: During Phase I of site development, even the smallest sites require the
installation of perimeter control practices prior to site clearing and grading.
Perimeter controls prevent sediment from leaving the site.
12. An important principle of erosion and sediment control is to implement a
thorough _______ and _______ program.
A) Clearing & Grading
B) Seeding & Mulching
C) Breakfast & Lunch
D) Maintenance & Follow-up
Answer: D) Maintenance & Follow-up
Rationale: An important principle of erosion and sediment control is to implement
a thorough maintenance and follow-up (inspection) program as required in the
Construction Generic Permit (CGP). BMPs fail without regular inspection and
maintenance.
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE
LATEST UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A+
ASSURED PASS
SECTION 1: Fundamentals of Erosion and Sedimentation
(Questions 1–50)
1. What is the process by which the land surface is worn away by the action of
wind, water, and gravity?
A) Sedimentation
B) Erosion
C) Deposition
D) Aggradation
Answer: B) Erosion
Rationale: Erosion is defined as the process by which the land surface is worn
away by the action of wind, water, and gravity. Sedimentation is the settling out of
soil particles transported by water and wind. Deposition and aggradation are
related but refer to the laying down of material, not the wearing away.
2. What is the settling out of soil particles transported by water and wind called?
A) Erosion
B) Abrasion
C) Sedimentation
D) Weathering
Answer: C) Sedimentation
Rationale: Sedimentation is the settling out of particles transported by wind and
water. Erosion is the wearing away, while abrasion and weathering are mechanical
and chemical breakdown processes, respectively.
3. Soil erosion can be classified as either _______ erosion or _______ erosion.
,A) Wind, water
B) Sheet, rill
C) Natural, manmade
D) Overland, channel
Answer: A) Wind, water
Rationale: Soil erosion can be classified as either wind erosion or water erosion,
and the sources can be either natural or manmade. Sheet, rill, and gully are
subcategories of overland water erosion.
4. Water erosion can be classified as either _______ erosion or _______ and
channel erosion.
A) Wind, stream
B) Overland, stream
C) Sheet, rill
D) Splash, gully
Answer: B) Overland, stream
Rationale: Water erosion can be classified as either overland erosion or stream and
channel erosion. Overland erosion includes splash, sheet, rill, and gully processes.
5. The four processes of overland erosion are:
A) Splash, sheet, rill, gully
B) Wind, water, gravity, ice
C) Rain, runoff, infiltration, percolation
D) Clearing, grading, excavating, compacting
Answer: A) Splash, sheet, rill, gully
Rationale: The four processes of overland erosion are raindrop splash, sheet
erosion, rill erosion, and gully erosion. These represent increasing stages of soil
loss.
6. The four principle factors influencing soil erosion are:
A) Permits, Equipment, Schedule, and People
B) Vegetation, Soils, Topography, and Climate
C) Weather, Soils, BMPs, and Maintenance
D) Time, BMPs, People, and Soils
Answer: B) Vegetation, Soils, Topography, and Climate
,Rationale: The four principal factors influencing soil erosion are soil, vegetative
cover, climate, and topography. These factors determine the erosive potential of a
site.
7. Which of the following is NOT a physical effect of erosion and sedimentation?
A) Increased flooding
B) Reduced hydraulic capacity of streams
C) Increased dissolved oxygen levels
D) Disruption of aquatic food chains
Answer: C) Increased dissolved oxygen levels
Rationale: Erosion and sedimentation cause increased flooding, reduced hydraulic
capacity, and disruption of food chains. Sediment loading typically decreases
dissolved oxygen by blanketing aquatic habitats and increasing biochemical
oxygen demand.
8. Soil particles smaller than 0.002 mm are classified as _______ and along with
_______ are the two soil types that cause the most erosion/turbidity problems in
Florida and the world.
A) Silt, sand
B) Clay, muck
C) Gravel, organic matter
D) Loam, peat
Answer: B) Clay, muck
Rationale: Soil particles smaller than 0.002 mm are classified as clay, and along
with muck, are the soil types that cause the most erosion and turbidity problems in
Florida and the world. Clay and muck particles remain suspended longer,
increasing turbidity.
9. The only factor in the Universal Soil Loss Equation that is beyond the
developer's control is:
A) Slope length
B) Slope gradient
C) Rainfall erosion index
D) Cover factor
Answer: C) Rainfall erosion index
, Rationale: The rainfall erosion index is the only factor in the Universal Soil Loss
Equation (USLE) that is beyond the developer's control. Slope length, gradient,
and cover factor can be managed through site design and BMPs.
10. Slope _______, _______, and _______ are the factors most easily manipulated
by the developer.
A) Length, gradient, cover factor
B) Type, color, density
C) Elevation, aspect, latitude
D) Age, composition, permeability
Answer: A) Length, gradient, cover factor
Rationale: Slope length, gradient, and cover factor are the factors in the USLE
most easily manipulated by the developer through grading, terracing, and
vegetation.
11. During Phase I of site development, even the smallest sites will require the
installation of _______ practices prior to site clearing and grading.
A) Security
B) Sanitation control
C) Perimeter control
D) Crowd control
Answer: C) Perimeter control
Rationale: During Phase I of site development, even the smallest sites require the
installation of perimeter control practices prior to site clearing and grading.
Perimeter controls prevent sediment from leaving the site.
12. An important principle of erosion and sediment control is to implement a
thorough _______ and _______ program.
A) Clearing & Grading
B) Seeding & Mulching
C) Breakfast & Lunch
D) Maintenance & Follow-up
Answer: D) Maintenance & Follow-up
Rationale: An important principle of erosion and sediment control is to implement
a thorough maintenance and follow-up (inspection) program as required in the
Construction Generic Permit (CGP). BMPs fail without regular inspection and
maintenance.
