ESTUDYR
NICET LEVEL 1 IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION UPDATED EXAM
WITH MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+
| ASSURED SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
Half-life is best described as:
A. The time for a substance to double in mass.
B. The time for half the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay. ✅(Correct)
C. The rate at which acid neutralizes a base.
D. The time for a chemical to reach half its concentration in water.
Rationale: Half-life specifically refers to radioactive decay: the time required for half the nuclei
in a sample to disintegrate.
Which pH number indicates the greatest acidity?
A. 1 ✅(Correct)
B. 5
C. 7
D. 14
Rationale: The pH scale is inverse; lower numbers indicate higher acidity. pH 1 is strongly acidic.
The approximate mass of a 49 N weight (on Earth) is closest to:
A. 2.5 kg
B. 5 kg ✅(Correct)
C. 10 kg
D. 15 kg
Rationale: Weight = mass × g (≈9.81 m/s²). Mass ≈ Weight/g ≈ 49 N / 9.81 ≈ 5.0 kg.
The atomic number of an element equals:
A. Number of neutrons.
B. Number of electrons only when neutral.
C. Number of protons. ✅(Correct)
D. Atomic mass rounded to nearest integer.
Rationale: Atomic number (Z) = number of protons in the nucleus; in neutral atoms electrons =
protons.
Fluorine has atomic weight 19 and atomic number 9. How many neutrons are in the nucleus?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 10 ✅(Correct)
D. 19
Rationale: Neutrons = mass number − protons = 19 − 9 = 10.
An atom with 30 protons and 35 neutrons (and 30 electrons) has an atomic weight of
approximately:
A. 30
B. 35
C. 60
, ESTUDYR
D. 65 ✅(Correct)
Rationale: Atomic weight (mass number) ≈ protons + neutrons = 30 + 35 = 65.
Backfill material used around culverts and pipes is typically:
A. Clayey soil only.
B. Organic topsoil.
C. Granular materials. ✅(Correct)
D. Soil with high organic content.
Rationale: Granular material (sand, gravel) provides good drainage and compaction around
pipes.
If an inspector looks through one end of a drainage pipe, he is most likely checking:
A. Concrete strength.
B. Alignment of the pipe. ✅(Correct)
C. Pipe color.
D. Backfill moisture.
Rationale: Visual line-of-sight inspection checks alignment and joint fit.
Why keep trench width to specification during excavation?
A. Wider trenches dry faster.
B. Wider trenches make inspection easier.
C. Larger widths require more backfill increasing costs. ✅(Correct)
D. Wider trenches improve pipe longevity.
Rationale: Excess width increases material and compaction costs; follow specs.
The main purpose of sampling construction material is to:
A. Reduce project cost.
B. Obtain a small part of a lot to represent the whole. ✅(Correct)
C. Speed up delivery.
D. Avoid testing.
Rationale: Representative samples allow conclusions about the entire batch’s quality.
The water-cement ratio is defined as:
A. Volume of water divided by volume of cement.
B. Weight of water divided by weight of cement. ✅(Correct)
C. Weight of cement divided by weight of water.
D. Volume of water divided by weight of cement.
Rationale: Standard practice uses weight ratio (W/C) to predict concrete properties.
A wet sieve test is used to:
A. Determine concrete slump.
B. Measure silt and clay content by washing through a 60 µm sieve. ✅(Correct)
C. Evaluate cement fineness.
D. Calculate moisture content only.
Rationale: Wet sieving separates fine particles (like silt) by washing through fine mesh.
The soil test that determines ratio of weight of a given volume to weight of equal volume of
water is:
A. Atterberg limits.
B. Proctor compaction test.
C. Density check (unit weight determination). ✅(Correct)
NICET LEVEL 1 IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION UPDATED EXAM
WITH MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+
| ASSURED SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
Half-life is best described as:
A. The time for a substance to double in mass.
B. The time for half the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay. ✅(Correct)
C. The rate at which acid neutralizes a base.
D. The time for a chemical to reach half its concentration in water.
Rationale: Half-life specifically refers to radioactive decay: the time required for half the nuclei
in a sample to disintegrate.
Which pH number indicates the greatest acidity?
A. 1 ✅(Correct)
B. 5
C. 7
D. 14
Rationale: The pH scale is inverse; lower numbers indicate higher acidity. pH 1 is strongly acidic.
The approximate mass of a 49 N weight (on Earth) is closest to:
A. 2.5 kg
B. 5 kg ✅(Correct)
C. 10 kg
D. 15 kg
Rationale: Weight = mass × g (≈9.81 m/s²). Mass ≈ Weight/g ≈ 49 N / 9.81 ≈ 5.0 kg.
The atomic number of an element equals:
A. Number of neutrons.
B. Number of electrons only when neutral.
C. Number of protons. ✅(Correct)
D. Atomic mass rounded to nearest integer.
Rationale: Atomic number (Z) = number of protons in the nucleus; in neutral atoms electrons =
protons.
Fluorine has atomic weight 19 and atomic number 9. How many neutrons are in the nucleus?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 10 ✅(Correct)
D. 19
Rationale: Neutrons = mass number − protons = 19 − 9 = 10.
An atom with 30 protons and 35 neutrons (and 30 electrons) has an atomic weight of
approximately:
A. 30
B. 35
C. 60
, ESTUDYR
D. 65 ✅(Correct)
Rationale: Atomic weight (mass number) ≈ protons + neutrons = 30 + 35 = 65.
Backfill material used around culverts and pipes is typically:
A. Clayey soil only.
B. Organic topsoil.
C. Granular materials. ✅(Correct)
D. Soil with high organic content.
Rationale: Granular material (sand, gravel) provides good drainage and compaction around
pipes.
If an inspector looks through one end of a drainage pipe, he is most likely checking:
A. Concrete strength.
B. Alignment of the pipe. ✅(Correct)
C. Pipe color.
D. Backfill moisture.
Rationale: Visual line-of-sight inspection checks alignment and joint fit.
Why keep trench width to specification during excavation?
A. Wider trenches dry faster.
B. Wider trenches make inspection easier.
C. Larger widths require more backfill increasing costs. ✅(Correct)
D. Wider trenches improve pipe longevity.
Rationale: Excess width increases material and compaction costs; follow specs.
The main purpose of sampling construction material is to:
A. Reduce project cost.
B. Obtain a small part of a lot to represent the whole. ✅(Correct)
C. Speed up delivery.
D. Avoid testing.
Rationale: Representative samples allow conclusions about the entire batch’s quality.
The water-cement ratio is defined as:
A. Volume of water divided by volume of cement.
B. Weight of water divided by weight of cement. ✅(Correct)
C. Weight of cement divided by weight of water.
D. Volume of water divided by weight of cement.
Rationale: Standard practice uses weight ratio (W/C) to predict concrete properties.
A wet sieve test is used to:
A. Determine concrete slump.
B. Measure silt and clay content by washing through a 60 µm sieve. ✅(Correct)
C. Evaluate cement fineness.
D. Calculate moisture content only.
Rationale: Wet sieving separates fine particles (like silt) by washing through fine mesh.
The soil test that determines ratio of weight of a given volume to weight of equal volume of
water is:
A. Atterberg limits.
B. Proctor compaction test.
C. Density check (unit weight determination). ✅(Correct)
