Nevada General Engineering Contractor
(Class A) Exam Practice Questions and
Verified Answers with Rationales
Question 1
What size marking strip needs to be used when laying foundations or marking
utilities?
Correct Answer
1 inch x 18 inches
Question 2
What should a paving operator do when the asphalt truck is delayed?
Correct Answer
Stop paving to keep the hopper as full as possible
Question 3
What type of material is the appropriate choice for bedding concrete pipe or slab?
Correct Answer
Class A bedding
Page 1 of 127
,Question 4
If one inch of water soaks into the ground in one hour, this is allowable for:
Correct Answer
A seepage pit
Question 1: In Nevada engineering projects, what is the minimum compressive
strength requirement for standard structural concrete used in bridge foundations
unless otherwise specified by the project plans or special provisions?
A. 2,000 psi at 7 days
B. 3,000 psi at 28 days
C. 4,000 psi at 28 days
D. 5,000 psi at 28 days
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 4,000 psi at 28 days
Rationale: Standard structural concrete applications such as bridge foundations and
major structural elements in Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
specifications typically require a minimum 28-day compressive strength of 4,000 psi
to ensure adequate load-bearing capacity and durability against freeze-thaw cycles.
Question 2: According to OSHA and Nevada Division of Industrial Relations
standards, at what trench excavation depth is a protective system (shoring,
shielding, or sloping) mandatory for worker entry, barring solid rock excavation?
A. 3 feet or greater
B. 4 feet or greater
C. 5 feet or greater
D. 8 feet or greater
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 5 feet or greater
Rationale: Under 29 CFR 1926.652 (adopted by Nevada OSHA), excavations 5 feet
(1.5 meters) or deeper require a protective system unless the excavation is made
entirely in stable rock. For excavations less than 5 feet, a competent person may
still require protection if there is potential for cave-in.
Question 3: When performing mass earthwork compaction in arid Nevada soils,
what is the standard moisture content requirement relative to optimum moisture
content determined by AASHTO T 180?
A. Within plus or minus 2 percent of optimum moisture content
B. Within plus or minus 5 percent of optimum moisture content
Page 2 of 127
,C. Exactly equal to optimum moisture content
D. At least 5 percent above optimum moisture content
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Within plus or minus 5 percent of optimum moisture
content
Rationale: Standard earthwork specifications for highway and heavy civil
construction in Nevada typically require subgrade and embankment soils to be
compacted to a specified percentage of maximum dry density with moisture content
controlled within plus or minus 2 to 5 percent of the optimum moisture content
determined by AASHTO T 180 (Modified Proctor) to achieve proper compaction and
prevent excessive settlement or shrinking/swelling.
Question 4: Which of the following contract delivery methods is legally permitted for
Nevada local government public works projects under Nevada Revised Statutes
(NRS) Chapter 338, allowing a single entity to handle both design and
construction?
A. Design-Bid-Build only
B. Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) and Design-Build
C. Cost-Plus-Percentage-Fee exclusively
D. Time and Materials without a guaranteed maximum price
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) and Design-Build
Rationale: NRS Chapter 338 authorizes public bodies in Nevada to utilize
alternative project delivery methods such as Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)
and Design-Build, provided specific statutory criteria, approvals, and qualifications-
based selection processes are met.
Question 5: In open-channel flow calculations for drainage design in Nevada flash-
flood prone areas, which empirical formula is most commonly used to estimate
Manning's roughness coefficient (n) for natural unlined earth channels with
moderate vegetation and stones?
A. Hazen-Williams formula
B. Darcy-Weisbach equation
C. Manning's equation
D. Kutter's formula with fixed coefficients
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Manning's equation
Rationale: Manning's equation is universally applied in civil and general engineering
for open-channel flow hydraulics. The roughness coefficient $n$ accounts for
channel bed friction, irregularities, vegetation, and alignment changes.
Page 3 of 127
, Question 6: What is the primary purpose of applying a prime coat to an aggregate
base course prior to placing hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavement in Nevada roadway
construction?
A. To increase the final pavement thickness
B. To waterproof the subgrade completely
C. To penetrate and bind the loose aggregate particles, promoting adhesion
between the base and asphalt layer
D. To act as a wearing surface for heavy construction traffic before paving
CORRECT ANSWER: C. To penetrate and bind the loose aggregate particles,
promoting adhesion between the base and asphalt layer
Rationale: A prime coat consists of a low-viscosity liquid asphalt sprayed onto an
untreated granular base. Its primary functions are to penetrate the base, seal
capillary voids, bind loose mineral particles, and provide a strong adhesive bond
between the granular base and the subsequent asphalt concrete layer.
Question 7: According to Nevada contractor licensing regulations under Nevada
Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 624, what is the monetary limit classification
system based upon?
A. The contractor's number of active employees
B. The maximum financial bid or contract limit approved by the Contractors Board
based on financial solvency and working capital
C. The physical size of the contractor's equipment fleet
D. The geographical radius within the state where the contractor is permitted to
operate
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The maximum financial bid or contract limit approved by
the Contractors Board based on financial solvency and working capital
Rationale: The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) assigns a monetary limit to
every contractor's license. This limit restricts the maximum dollar amount (including
labor, materials, and profit) that a licensee can bid on or enter into for a single prime
contract or subcontract, determined by financial statements, net worth, and working
capital.
Question 8: When designing retaining walls in seismic active zones such as the
Basin and Range province of Nevada, which seismic analysis method is
traditionally used to evaluate external stability against sliding and overturning?
A. Coulomb-Rankine static-only method
B. Mononobe-Okabe method
C. Terzaghi one-dimensional consolidation theory
Page 4 of 127
(Class A) Exam Practice Questions and
Verified Answers with Rationales
Question 1
What size marking strip needs to be used when laying foundations or marking
utilities?
Correct Answer
1 inch x 18 inches
Question 2
What should a paving operator do when the asphalt truck is delayed?
Correct Answer
Stop paving to keep the hopper as full as possible
Question 3
What type of material is the appropriate choice for bedding concrete pipe or slab?
Correct Answer
Class A bedding
Page 1 of 127
,Question 4
If one inch of water soaks into the ground in one hour, this is allowable for:
Correct Answer
A seepage pit
Question 1: In Nevada engineering projects, what is the minimum compressive
strength requirement for standard structural concrete used in bridge foundations
unless otherwise specified by the project plans or special provisions?
A. 2,000 psi at 7 days
B. 3,000 psi at 28 days
C. 4,000 psi at 28 days
D. 5,000 psi at 28 days
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 4,000 psi at 28 days
Rationale: Standard structural concrete applications such as bridge foundations and
major structural elements in Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
specifications typically require a minimum 28-day compressive strength of 4,000 psi
to ensure adequate load-bearing capacity and durability against freeze-thaw cycles.
Question 2: According to OSHA and Nevada Division of Industrial Relations
standards, at what trench excavation depth is a protective system (shoring,
shielding, or sloping) mandatory for worker entry, barring solid rock excavation?
A. 3 feet or greater
B. 4 feet or greater
C. 5 feet or greater
D. 8 feet or greater
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 5 feet or greater
Rationale: Under 29 CFR 1926.652 (adopted by Nevada OSHA), excavations 5 feet
(1.5 meters) or deeper require a protective system unless the excavation is made
entirely in stable rock. For excavations less than 5 feet, a competent person may
still require protection if there is potential for cave-in.
Question 3: When performing mass earthwork compaction in arid Nevada soils,
what is the standard moisture content requirement relative to optimum moisture
content determined by AASHTO T 180?
A. Within plus or minus 2 percent of optimum moisture content
B. Within plus or minus 5 percent of optimum moisture content
Page 2 of 127
,C. Exactly equal to optimum moisture content
D. At least 5 percent above optimum moisture content
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Within plus or minus 5 percent of optimum moisture
content
Rationale: Standard earthwork specifications for highway and heavy civil
construction in Nevada typically require subgrade and embankment soils to be
compacted to a specified percentage of maximum dry density with moisture content
controlled within plus or minus 2 to 5 percent of the optimum moisture content
determined by AASHTO T 180 (Modified Proctor) to achieve proper compaction and
prevent excessive settlement or shrinking/swelling.
Question 4: Which of the following contract delivery methods is legally permitted for
Nevada local government public works projects under Nevada Revised Statutes
(NRS) Chapter 338, allowing a single entity to handle both design and
construction?
A. Design-Bid-Build only
B. Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) and Design-Build
C. Cost-Plus-Percentage-Fee exclusively
D. Time and Materials without a guaranteed maximum price
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) and Design-Build
Rationale: NRS Chapter 338 authorizes public bodies in Nevada to utilize
alternative project delivery methods such as Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)
and Design-Build, provided specific statutory criteria, approvals, and qualifications-
based selection processes are met.
Question 5: In open-channel flow calculations for drainage design in Nevada flash-
flood prone areas, which empirical formula is most commonly used to estimate
Manning's roughness coefficient (n) for natural unlined earth channels with
moderate vegetation and stones?
A. Hazen-Williams formula
B. Darcy-Weisbach equation
C. Manning's equation
D. Kutter's formula with fixed coefficients
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Manning's equation
Rationale: Manning's equation is universally applied in civil and general engineering
for open-channel flow hydraulics. The roughness coefficient $n$ accounts for
channel bed friction, irregularities, vegetation, and alignment changes.
Page 3 of 127
, Question 6: What is the primary purpose of applying a prime coat to an aggregate
base course prior to placing hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavement in Nevada roadway
construction?
A. To increase the final pavement thickness
B. To waterproof the subgrade completely
C. To penetrate and bind the loose aggregate particles, promoting adhesion
between the base and asphalt layer
D. To act as a wearing surface for heavy construction traffic before paving
CORRECT ANSWER: C. To penetrate and bind the loose aggregate particles,
promoting adhesion between the base and asphalt layer
Rationale: A prime coat consists of a low-viscosity liquid asphalt sprayed onto an
untreated granular base. Its primary functions are to penetrate the base, seal
capillary voids, bind loose mineral particles, and provide a strong adhesive bond
between the granular base and the subsequent asphalt concrete layer.
Question 7: According to Nevada contractor licensing regulations under Nevada
Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 624, what is the monetary limit classification
system based upon?
A. The contractor's number of active employees
B. The maximum financial bid or contract limit approved by the Contractors Board
based on financial solvency and working capital
C. The physical size of the contractor's equipment fleet
D. The geographical radius within the state where the contractor is permitted to
operate
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The maximum financial bid or contract limit approved by
the Contractors Board based on financial solvency and working capital
Rationale: The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) assigns a monetary limit to
every contractor's license. This limit restricts the maximum dollar amount (including
labor, materials, and profit) that a licensee can bid on or enter into for a single prime
contract or subcontract, determined by financial statements, net worth, and working
capital.
Question 8: When designing retaining walls in seismic active zones such as the
Basin and Range province of Nevada, which seismic analysis method is
traditionally used to evaluate external stability against sliding and overturning?
A. Coulomb-Rankine static-only method
B. Mononobe-Okabe method
C. Terzaghi one-dimensional consolidation theory
Page 4 of 127
