Arborist Practice test 2025-2026 Practice Guide
1. In which direction A: If a chain saw operator loses control of the tree while felling, he
should a chain saw op- or she should move along a line 45-degrees to either side of a line
erator move if he or she opposite to the intended direction of the fall. Moreover, there should
loses control of the tree not be any other people in the area immediately behind the tree. Many
while felling? arborists keep felling wedges on hand while the back cut is being made.
If necessary, these wedges can be useful for keeping the tree from
a. 45 degrees to either pinching the bar of the chain saw. Arborists can also use felling wages
side of a line opposite to begin and control the fall.
to the intended direc-
tion of fall
b. In a line opposite to
the intended direction
of fall
c. In a line perpendicu-
lar to the intended di-
rection of fall
d. Along the intended
direction of the fall
2. On which side of a tree C: Workers should stand uphill from the tree while limbing or bucking.
should workers stand This is to prevent the tree from rolling over on the worker. In some cases,
while limbing or buck- the arborist will need to use a wedge or a block to keep the tree from
ing? moving. When multiple workers are limbing or bucking the same tree at
the same time, they need to be in constant communication, and should
a. The right side of the have a pre-established system for approaching or alerting one another.
tree Limbing is the process of cutting the side branches ott a tree that has
been felled. Bucking is the process of cutting a tree trunk or log into
b. The left side of the
shorter sections that are easier to manipulate.
tree
, Arborist Practice test 2025-2026 Practice Guide
c. Uphill from the tree
d. Downhill from the
tree
3. Groups of different A: Groups of ditterent plants that need roughly the same amount of
plants that need rough- water are called hydrozones. Arborists often arrange trees in hydrozones
ly the same amount of so that watering is easier and less confusing. In addition, when there are
water are called variations in elevation at a particular site, the arborist may place trees
that need more water at the higher elevations, so that the trees downhill
a. hydrozones can subsist entirely on the runott from the water applied to the higher
trees.
b. aquasets.
C. drought zones.
d. xeriscapes.
4. What is the goal of in- D: The goal of integrated pest management is to maintain a tolera-
tegrated pest manage- ble level of pest damage. Integrated pest management was originally
ment? devised as an alternative to a reliance on pesticides. It recommends
a holistic approach to pest control, which may include limited use of
a. To introduce species pesticides. More importantly, however, integrated pest management
that prey on pests strategies create as little of a disturbance to the preexisting environment
as possible and prioritize limiting collateral damage to the non-target
b. To promote insect
organisms (most notably, people).
populations
C. To eradicate pests
d. To maintain a tolera-
ble level of pest damage
5.
, Arborist Practice test 2025-2026 Practice Guide
Which of the following C: Heading cuts are used in topping. Topping is an almost universally
cuts is used in topping? scorned form of pruning in which the top of the tree is lopped ott to
a certain height. Besides being aesthetically unpleasant, topping has
a. Thinning cut a number of negative consequences for trees. First, topping drastically
reduces the volume of the leaf crown, which makes it extremely diflcult
b. Reduction cut
for the tree to produce enough food. Topping also makes the tree
more susceptible to sun damage, disease, and insect infestation. Finally,
C. Heading cut
topping encourages the growth of numerous weak sprouts from the top
d. Pruning cut of the tree. These water sprouts, as they are known, can put a significant
burden on the tree's already-taxed nutritional resources.
6. Which of the following A: Poison is not a common part of a biological control strategy for pests.
is NOT a common part In a biological control strategy, the arborist enlists the support of a pest's
of a biological control natural enemies, whether they are predators, parasites, or pathogens.
strategy for pests? The strategy will take one of three forms: introduction, conservation,
or augmentation. That is, the controlling agent may be introduced to
a. Poison the environment so that it can reduce the population of the pest; the
existing population of controlling agents may be supported; or the
b. Parasites
existing population of controlling agents may be supplemented with
organisms from the lab or other natural environments. There is an
c. Predators
obvious appeal to the idea of using natural means to handle pests, but
d. Pathogens biological control strategies often are slow and require a great deal of
oversight. Moreover, it can be diflcult to undo the ettects of a biological
control strategy.
7. What is the name B: A leaf blotch is a large, irregularly shaped area of dead tissue on a leaf.
for a large, irregularly Blotches are typically caused by dryness, frost, fungus, chemical spray,
shaped area of dead tis- sunscald, or insects. Dieback is the gradual death of leaves and twigs,
sue on a leaf? progressing from the tip back towards the base. It is generally the result
of specific nutrient imbalances, air pollution, vascular disease, or root
a. Dieback damage. Scorch occurs when leaves turn brown and black and when
, Arborist Practice test 2025-2026 Practice Guide
b. Leaf blotch areas around the leaf edges and margins die. Gummosis is oozing gum
or sap from wounds or other openings in the bark.
C. Scorch
d. Gummosis
8. What is the name of the B: Peening is the technique used to keep nuts from backing ott in a
technique used to keep tree bracing operation. Peening is essentially just hammering the bolt
nuts from backing off ends so that they expand around the nuts. Propping is a technique
in a tree-bracing opera- for supporting a weak or damaged limb. Guying is another support
tion? technique. It is the installation of a cable between a tree and an external
object.
a. Propping
b. Peening
C. Guying
d. Dead-ending
9. Which of the following A: Potassium phosphate is not a standard part of the fertilizer analysis
is not a standard part printed on the container. The standard fertilizer analysis includes a
of the fertilizer analysis breakdown of the total nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and sol-
printed on the contain- uble potash. These quantities are given as a percentage by weight:
er? for instance, a 50-pound bag of fertilizer listed as 8-5-4 will contain 8
percent nitrogen (4 pounds), 5 percent phosphorus (2.5 pounds), and
a. Potassium phos- 4 percent potassium (2 pounds). Complete fertilizers are useful in some
phate cases, but most trees only require nitrogen fertilizer.
b. Soluble potash
c. Phosphoric acid
d. Total nitrogen
1. In which direction A: If a chain saw operator loses control of the tree while felling, he
should a chain saw op- or she should move along a line 45-degrees to either side of a line
erator move if he or she opposite to the intended direction of the fall. Moreover, there should
loses control of the tree not be any other people in the area immediately behind the tree. Many
while felling? arborists keep felling wedges on hand while the back cut is being made.
If necessary, these wedges can be useful for keeping the tree from
a. 45 degrees to either pinching the bar of the chain saw. Arborists can also use felling wages
side of a line opposite to begin and control the fall.
to the intended direc-
tion of fall
b. In a line opposite to
the intended direction
of fall
c. In a line perpendicu-
lar to the intended di-
rection of fall
d. Along the intended
direction of the fall
2. On which side of a tree C: Workers should stand uphill from the tree while limbing or bucking.
should workers stand This is to prevent the tree from rolling over on the worker. In some cases,
while limbing or buck- the arborist will need to use a wedge or a block to keep the tree from
ing? moving. When multiple workers are limbing or bucking the same tree at
the same time, they need to be in constant communication, and should
a. The right side of the have a pre-established system for approaching or alerting one another.
tree Limbing is the process of cutting the side branches ott a tree that has
been felled. Bucking is the process of cutting a tree trunk or log into
b. The left side of the
shorter sections that are easier to manipulate.
tree
, Arborist Practice test 2025-2026 Practice Guide
c. Uphill from the tree
d. Downhill from the
tree
3. Groups of different A: Groups of ditterent plants that need roughly the same amount of
plants that need rough- water are called hydrozones. Arborists often arrange trees in hydrozones
ly the same amount of so that watering is easier and less confusing. In addition, when there are
water are called variations in elevation at a particular site, the arborist may place trees
that need more water at the higher elevations, so that the trees downhill
a. hydrozones can subsist entirely on the runott from the water applied to the higher
trees.
b. aquasets.
C. drought zones.
d. xeriscapes.
4. What is the goal of in- D: The goal of integrated pest management is to maintain a tolera-
tegrated pest manage- ble level of pest damage. Integrated pest management was originally
ment? devised as an alternative to a reliance on pesticides. It recommends
a holistic approach to pest control, which may include limited use of
a. To introduce species pesticides. More importantly, however, integrated pest management
that prey on pests strategies create as little of a disturbance to the preexisting environment
as possible and prioritize limiting collateral damage to the non-target
b. To promote insect
organisms (most notably, people).
populations
C. To eradicate pests
d. To maintain a tolera-
ble level of pest damage
5.
, Arborist Practice test 2025-2026 Practice Guide
Which of the following C: Heading cuts are used in topping. Topping is an almost universally
cuts is used in topping? scorned form of pruning in which the top of the tree is lopped ott to
a certain height. Besides being aesthetically unpleasant, topping has
a. Thinning cut a number of negative consequences for trees. First, topping drastically
reduces the volume of the leaf crown, which makes it extremely diflcult
b. Reduction cut
for the tree to produce enough food. Topping also makes the tree
more susceptible to sun damage, disease, and insect infestation. Finally,
C. Heading cut
topping encourages the growth of numerous weak sprouts from the top
d. Pruning cut of the tree. These water sprouts, as they are known, can put a significant
burden on the tree's already-taxed nutritional resources.
6. Which of the following A: Poison is not a common part of a biological control strategy for pests.
is NOT a common part In a biological control strategy, the arborist enlists the support of a pest's
of a biological control natural enemies, whether they are predators, parasites, or pathogens.
strategy for pests? The strategy will take one of three forms: introduction, conservation,
or augmentation. That is, the controlling agent may be introduced to
a. Poison the environment so that it can reduce the population of the pest; the
existing population of controlling agents may be supported; or the
b. Parasites
existing population of controlling agents may be supplemented with
organisms from the lab or other natural environments. There is an
c. Predators
obvious appeal to the idea of using natural means to handle pests, but
d. Pathogens biological control strategies often are slow and require a great deal of
oversight. Moreover, it can be diflcult to undo the ettects of a biological
control strategy.
7. What is the name B: A leaf blotch is a large, irregularly shaped area of dead tissue on a leaf.
for a large, irregularly Blotches are typically caused by dryness, frost, fungus, chemical spray,
shaped area of dead tis- sunscald, or insects. Dieback is the gradual death of leaves and twigs,
sue on a leaf? progressing from the tip back towards the base. It is generally the result
of specific nutrient imbalances, air pollution, vascular disease, or root
a. Dieback damage. Scorch occurs when leaves turn brown and black and when
, Arborist Practice test 2025-2026 Practice Guide
b. Leaf blotch areas around the leaf edges and margins die. Gummosis is oozing gum
or sap from wounds or other openings in the bark.
C. Scorch
d. Gummosis
8. What is the name of the B: Peening is the technique used to keep nuts from backing ott in a
technique used to keep tree bracing operation. Peening is essentially just hammering the bolt
nuts from backing off ends so that they expand around the nuts. Propping is a technique
in a tree-bracing opera- for supporting a weak or damaged limb. Guying is another support
tion? technique. It is the installation of a cable between a tree and an external
object.
a. Propping
b. Peening
C. Guying
d. Dead-ending
9. Which of the following A: Potassium phosphate is not a standard part of the fertilizer analysis
is not a standard part printed on the container. The standard fertilizer analysis includes a
of the fertilizer analysis breakdown of the total nitrogen, available phosphoric acid, and sol-
printed on the contain- uble potash. These quantities are given as a percentage by weight:
er? for instance, a 50-pound bag of fertilizer listed as 8-5-4 will contain 8
percent nitrogen (4 pounds), 5 percent phosphorus (2.5 pounds), and
a. Potassium phos- 4 percent potassium (2 pounds). Complete fertilizers are useful in some
phate cases, but most trees only require nitrogen fertilizer.
b. Soluble potash
c. Phosphoric acid
d. Total nitrogen
