A-5 Excava ng, Grading and Oil Surfacing| Ques ons
and answers | Updated RATED A+ 2026
In road construc on the final grading is commonly guided by stakes at subgrade eleva ons.
What are these stakes called?
Blue Tops
What is the defini on of a type of soil that can be excavated with ver cal side slopes and
remain intact while exposed?
Stable Rock
According to OSHA, refueling trucks handling flammable materials must carry a fire ex nguisher
rated at not less than:
20-B:C:
Using a builder's level, a cut stake is being set for the excava on of a foo ng. The top of the
foo ng will at an eleva on of 94.00 feet. A backsite to the benchmark (eleva on 102.50 feet)
has a rod reading of 4.70 feet. The rod reading of the mark on the cut stake is 6.20 feet. The
foo ng is 6 inches thick. The mark on the cut stake should read........?
C 7.50
If a rectangular shaped or other structure has edge measurements of 56 feet by 90 feet, the
diagonal measurement should be___________ feet if all the corners are square.
106
Refer to the illustra on, which number iden fies the catch point?
2
On a plan where 1/2" equals 1 foot, a plan distance of 4-1/4" would have a project distance of
_______?
8'6"
According to OSHA, ladders (or steps) are required in all trenches or ditches at _______ feet or
more in depth for an adequate means of exit.
4 feet
What is the defini on of grade?
,Rise over run
While trenching and excava ng, OSHA requires that employees be protected from excavated
materials and other materials stored near the trench or excava on. These materials must be at
least _________ from the trench or excava on.
2 feet
If a bucket holds 2.5 cubic yards of foliated rock, how much will it hold if it is heaped up with
loamy soil?
4 to 6 cubic yards
The volume change that occurs when soil goes from a compacted state to an uncompacted
state (such as when being excavated) is called:
Swell
Best adhesion between asphalt cement and aggregate is achieved when aggregate is in what
state?
Hot and dry
What type of retaining wall is designed and built to use only its own weight and posi oning to
keep soil back?
Gravity
What does a standard proctor test determine?
Soil density and op mum moisture content of the soil
The maximum lateral distance allowed to any means of egress from a trench excava on that is 4
feet or more in depth is?
25
All of the following Soil provisions are considered expansive except for:
- more than 10% of soil par cles pass a #200 sieve
- a plas city index of 15 or greater
- at least 9% of soil par cles are less than 5 micrometers in size
- an expansion index greater than 20
At least 9% of soil par cles are less than 5 micrometers in size
What is the correct nozzle angle on a spray bar?
, 15-30 degrees
What is added to hot mixed asphalt to make it more fluid?
Asphalt cement or moisture
What is indicated by "J" on the illustra on?
undercut (over beak)
Refer to the illustra on. What is the finished eleva on of lot no. 409?
152 feet 4 inches
What grading opera on requires the most operator skill?
Finish grading
Who has the authority to change or adjust the shoring method of an excava on?
Engineer
An instrument used to measure horizontal changes and eleva ons is a ________?
Dumpy level or builders level
Subsoil drains should be surrounded with:
Coarse gravel
Unsuitable soil can be recognized by a rolling movement of the ground as equipment runs over
it. What is this commonly called?
Pumping
The sides of a 6 foot deep trench in type B soil which is sloped to prevent cave-ins should have a
maximum slope angle of__________?
45 degrees from ver cal
Before each shiG safety regula ons require that you must check equipment for all the following
except:
- fuel and oil levels
- horn
- opera onal controls
- emergency brake
and answers | Updated RATED A+ 2026
In road construc on the final grading is commonly guided by stakes at subgrade eleva ons.
What are these stakes called?
Blue Tops
What is the defini on of a type of soil that can be excavated with ver cal side slopes and
remain intact while exposed?
Stable Rock
According to OSHA, refueling trucks handling flammable materials must carry a fire ex nguisher
rated at not less than:
20-B:C:
Using a builder's level, a cut stake is being set for the excava on of a foo ng. The top of the
foo ng will at an eleva on of 94.00 feet. A backsite to the benchmark (eleva on 102.50 feet)
has a rod reading of 4.70 feet. The rod reading of the mark on the cut stake is 6.20 feet. The
foo ng is 6 inches thick. The mark on the cut stake should read........?
C 7.50
If a rectangular shaped or other structure has edge measurements of 56 feet by 90 feet, the
diagonal measurement should be___________ feet if all the corners are square.
106
Refer to the illustra on, which number iden fies the catch point?
2
On a plan where 1/2" equals 1 foot, a plan distance of 4-1/4" would have a project distance of
_______?
8'6"
According to OSHA, ladders (or steps) are required in all trenches or ditches at _______ feet or
more in depth for an adequate means of exit.
4 feet
What is the defini on of grade?
,Rise over run
While trenching and excava ng, OSHA requires that employees be protected from excavated
materials and other materials stored near the trench or excava on. These materials must be at
least _________ from the trench or excava on.
2 feet
If a bucket holds 2.5 cubic yards of foliated rock, how much will it hold if it is heaped up with
loamy soil?
4 to 6 cubic yards
The volume change that occurs when soil goes from a compacted state to an uncompacted
state (such as when being excavated) is called:
Swell
Best adhesion between asphalt cement and aggregate is achieved when aggregate is in what
state?
Hot and dry
What type of retaining wall is designed and built to use only its own weight and posi oning to
keep soil back?
Gravity
What does a standard proctor test determine?
Soil density and op mum moisture content of the soil
The maximum lateral distance allowed to any means of egress from a trench excava on that is 4
feet or more in depth is?
25
All of the following Soil provisions are considered expansive except for:
- more than 10% of soil par cles pass a #200 sieve
- a plas city index of 15 or greater
- at least 9% of soil par cles are less than 5 micrometers in size
- an expansion index greater than 20
At least 9% of soil par cles are less than 5 micrometers in size
What is the correct nozzle angle on a spray bar?
, 15-30 degrees
What is added to hot mixed asphalt to make it more fluid?
Asphalt cement or moisture
What is indicated by "J" on the illustra on?
undercut (over beak)
Refer to the illustra on. What is the finished eleva on of lot no. 409?
152 feet 4 inches
What grading opera on requires the most operator skill?
Finish grading
Who has the authority to change or adjust the shoring method of an excava on?
Engineer
An instrument used to measure horizontal changes and eleva ons is a ________?
Dumpy level or builders level
Subsoil drains should be surrounded with:
Coarse gravel
Unsuitable soil can be recognized by a rolling movement of the ground as equipment runs over
it. What is this commonly called?
Pumping
The sides of a 6 foot deep trench in type B soil which is sloped to prevent cave-ins should have a
maximum slope angle of__________?
45 degrees from ver cal
Before each shiG safety regula ons require that you must check equipment for all the following
except:
- fuel and oil levels
- horn
- opera onal controls
- emergency brake
