Massachusetts Pesticide License
Exam Questions with Correct Answers
absorption - ANSWERSthe movement of a chemical into plants, animals (including
humans), microorganisms or soil
Acaricide - ANSWERSa pesticide used to control mites and ticks. a Miticide is a type of
acaricide
Acidic - ANSWERShaving a ph less than 7
Acidifiers = Buffers - ANSWERSadjuvants used to retard chemical degradation of
pesticides in the spray tank by lowering the pH of alkaline water used as a diluent
Action Threshold - ANSWERSa predetermined level of pest infestation or damage at
which some type of pest management action must be taken
Activated Charcoal - ANSWERSA finely ground charcoal that adsorbs chemicals.
Active Ingredient (AI) - ANSWERSThe chemical or chemicals in a product responsible
for pesticidal activity.
Acute effect - ANSWERSa symptom, illness, or injury that occurs shortly after the
exposure to a pesticide
Acute Exposure - ANSWERSAn exposure to a single dose of pesticide
Acute Rodenticide - ANSWERSa pesticide that is capable of killing a rodent after a
single feeding
Acute Toxicity - ANSWERSThe ability of a pesticide to cause illness after a single
exposure. LD50 and LC50 are common indicators of the degree of acute toxicity
Adjuvant (Additive) - ANSWERSa substance added to a pesticide to improve its
effectiveness or safety
Adsorption - ANSWERSthe process whereby chemicals are bound to a surface by
physical or chemical attraction
Adulterated Pesticide - ANSWERSA pesticide that does not conform to the specified
standard or quality as documented on its label or labeling
, Aerosol - ANSWERSa liquid formulation that produces a mist or fod when applied from
a container in which it is held under pressure or from a fod-generating machine
Agitation - ANSWERSThe process of stirring or mixing the contents of a spray tank
Air-blast sprayer - ANSWERSA type of pesticide application equipment that uses a
large volume of air moving at high speed to break up and disperse spray droplets from
the nozzles
Algae - ANSWERSrelatively simple plants that are photosynthetic and contain
chlorophyll
Algaecide (algicide) - ANSWERSa pesticide used to kill or inhibit algae
Alkaline - ANSWERShaving a pH greater than 7, als
Allergic Effects - ANSWERSa hypersensitivity to a specific substance which is not due
to the substance's toxicity
annual - ANSWERSa plant that completes its life cycle in one year
antidote - ANSWERSa practical treatment used to counteract the effects of pesticide
poisoning
Antifouling Paint - ANSWERSa paint containing a pesticide (ex: Copper) that prevents
aquatic organisms from attaching to underwater structures (such as boat hulls, crab
pots and water intake pipes)
Antisiphoning Device - ANSWERSa mechanism that prevents back flow of a pesticide
mix from the spray tank into a water source
application rate - ANSWERSthe amount of pesticide applied to a known area (such as
an acre or 1,000 square feet ) volume or animal
Aquifer - ANSWERSa geological formation (ex: sand, gravel, bed rock), from which
groundwater can be drawn
Arachnid - ANSWERSa wingless arthropod with two body regions and four pairs of
jointed legs (spiders, ticks, mites)
Arthropod - ANSWERSAn invertebrate animal characterized by jointed body and limbs
usually a hard body covering that is molted at intervals. Insects, arachnids, millipedes
and centipedes are arthropods
Atropine (Atropine Sulfate) - ANSWERSAn antidote used to treat organophosphate and
carbamate poisoning.
Exam Questions with Correct Answers
absorption - ANSWERSthe movement of a chemical into plants, animals (including
humans), microorganisms or soil
Acaricide - ANSWERSa pesticide used to control mites and ticks. a Miticide is a type of
acaricide
Acidic - ANSWERShaving a ph less than 7
Acidifiers = Buffers - ANSWERSadjuvants used to retard chemical degradation of
pesticides in the spray tank by lowering the pH of alkaline water used as a diluent
Action Threshold - ANSWERSa predetermined level of pest infestation or damage at
which some type of pest management action must be taken
Activated Charcoal - ANSWERSA finely ground charcoal that adsorbs chemicals.
Active Ingredient (AI) - ANSWERSThe chemical or chemicals in a product responsible
for pesticidal activity.
Acute effect - ANSWERSa symptom, illness, or injury that occurs shortly after the
exposure to a pesticide
Acute Exposure - ANSWERSAn exposure to a single dose of pesticide
Acute Rodenticide - ANSWERSa pesticide that is capable of killing a rodent after a
single feeding
Acute Toxicity - ANSWERSThe ability of a pesticide to cause illness after a single
exposure. LD50 and LC50 are common indicators of the degree of acute toxicity
Adjuvant (Additive) - ANSWERSa substance added to a pesticide to improve its
effectiveness or safety
Adsorption - ANSWERSthe process whereby chemicals are bound to a surface by
physical or chemical attraction
Adulterated Pesticide - ANSWERSA pesticide that does not conform to the specified
standard or quality as documented on its label or labeling
, Aerosol - ANSWERSa liquid formulation that produces a mist or fod when applied from
a container in which it is held under pressure or from a fod-generating machine
Agitation - ANSWERSThe process of stirring or mixing the contents of a spray tank
Air-blast sprayer - ANSWERSA type of pesticide application equipment that uses a
large volume of air moving at high speed to break up and disperse spray droplets from
the nozzles
Algae - ANSWERSrelatively simple plants that are photosynthetic and contain
chlorophyll
Algaecide (algicide) - ANSWERSa pesticide used to kill or inhibit algae
Alkaline - ANSWERShaving a pH greater than 7, als
Allergic Effects - ANSWERSa hypersensitivity to a specific substance which is not due
to the substance's toxicity
annual - ANSWERSa plant that completes its life cycle in one year
antidote - ANSWERSa practical treatment used to counteract the effects of pesticide
poisoning
Antifouling Paint - ANSWERSa paint containing a pesticide (ex: Copper) that prevents
aquatic organisms from attaching to underwater structures (such as boat hulls, crab
pots and water intake pipes)
Antisiphoning Device - ANSWERSa mechanism that prevents back flow of a pesticide
mix from the spray tank into a water source
application rate - ANSWERSthe amount of pesticide applied to a known area (such as
an acre or 1,000 square feet ) volume or animal
Aquifer - ANSWERSa geological formation (ex: sand, gravel, bed rock), from which
groundwater can be drawn
Arachnid - ANSWERSa wingless arthropod with two body regions and four pairs of
jointed legs (spiders, ticks, mites)
Arthropod - ANSWERSAn invertebrate animal characterized by jointed body and limbs
usually a hard body covering that is molted at intervals. Insects, arachnids, millipedes
and centipedes are arthropods
Atropine (Atropine Sulfate) - ANSWERSAn antidote used to treat organophosphate and
carbamate poisoning.
