ISA Arborist Certification Practice
Exams Part 2
For an ideal soil ratio, what component takes up the least amount of space within the
overall makeup of the soil structure?
(A) Water
(B) Air
(C) Organic matter
(D) Mineral-rich soil - ANSWERSC
What soil horizon category is most likely to include a large amount of organic material?
(A) A (B) E (C) B (D) C - ANSWERSA
What soil below most likely has the highest infiltration rate?
(A) Loose sand
(B) Compacted silt
(C) Loose silt
(D) Compacted clay - ANSWERSA
What substance may be added to soil to temporarily lower the PH?
(A) Lime
(B) Ash
(C) Sulfur
(D) Calcium - ANSWERSC
What is the correct scientific name for the sugar maple genus?
(A) Picea(B) Ulmus (C) Magnolia (D) Acer - ANSWERSD
What statement regarding the net charge of soils is true?
(A) Soils have a net negative charge
(B) Soils have a net positive charge
(C) Positive sites outnumber negative sites
(D) Soils have only entirely positive or negative sites - ANSWERSA
A soil structure has a layer of clay above a layer of sand. At what point will water begin
to enter the lower layer of sand?
(A) The water will flow immediately through the clay layer into the sand layer
(B) After the clay layer is partially saturated
(C) After the clay layer is fully saturated
(D) The sand layer is impervious - ANSWERSC
What soil moisture condition occurs when both the micro and macropores are filled with
water?
(A) Pore capacity (B) Wilting point (C) Field capacity (D) Saturation - ANSWERSD
, What irrigation system type is best suited for use on deeper, more mature root
systems?
(A) Drip irrigation
(B) High-pressure injection
(C) Basin irrigation
(D) Soaker hose - ANSWERSB
What tree species is commonly identified as having leaves in an opposite
arrangement?
(A) Hawthorne (B) Ash(C) Sycamore (D) Oak - ANSWERSB
A soil with a high buffering capacity will have which of the following characteristics?
(A) High percentage of pore space
(B) Easily compacted
(C) High retention of water
(D) Resistant to changes in PH levels - ANSWERSD
In relation to the frequency of irrigation, what statement below is true regarding the
differences between sandy or clay soils?
(A) Sandy soils need to be irrigated more frequently and for shorter periods than clay
(B) Sandy soils need to be irrigated more frequently and for longer periods than clay
(C) Sandy soils need to be irrigated less frequently and for shorter periods than clay
(D) Sandy soils need to be irrigated less frequently and for longer periods than clay -
ANSWERSA
The movement of water within the soil defines which of the following?
(A) Infiltration (B) Percolation (C) Transpiration (D) Desiccation - ANSWERSB
What is a common detrimental side effect of the use of recycled water?
(A) Evapotranspiration (B) Surface rooting(C) Increase in soil salinity (D) Flooding -
ANSWERSC
Antitranspirants can be used to prevent water loss through transpiration by which of the
following means?
(A) Forming an impermeable layer on the plant
(B) Restricting leaf surface growth
(C) Penetrating the soil to increase percolation
(D) Increasing the absorption rate of the roots - ANSWERSA
Drainage tiles should be placed at what depth below the soil surface?
(A) 6" (B) 1' (C) 3' (D) 5' - ANSWERSC
Hydrozoning groups plants together by which of the following characteristics?
(A) Root depth(B) Water use(C) Infiltration rates (D) Soil type - ANSWERSB
Exams Part 2
For an ideal soil ratio, what component takes up the least amount of space within the
overall makeup of the soil structure?
(A) Water
(B) Air
(C) Organic matter
(D) Mineral-rich soil - ANSWERSC
What soil horizon category is most likely to include a large amount of organic material?
(A) A (B) E (C) B (D) C - ANSWERSA
What soil below most likely has the highest infiltration rate?
(A) Loose sand
(B) Compacted silt
(C) Loose silt
(D) Compacted clay - ANSWERSA
What substance may be added to soil to temporarily lower the PH?
(A) Lime
(B) Ash
(C) Sulfur
(D) Calcium - ANSWERSC
What is the correct scientific name for the sugar maple genus?
(A) Picea(B) Ulmus (C) Magnolia (D) Acer - ANSWERSD
What statement regarding the net charge of soils is true?
(A) Soils have a net negative charge
(B) Soils have a net positive charge
(C) Positive sites outnumber negative sites
(D) Soils have only entirely positive or negative sites - ANSWERSA
A soil structure has a layer of clay above a layer of sand. At what point will water begin
to enter the lower layer of sand?
(A) The water will flow immediately through the clay layer into the sand layer
(B) After the clay layer is partially saturated
(C) After the clay layer is fully saturated
(D) The sand layer is impervious - ANSWERSC
What soil moisture condition occurs when both the micro and macropores are filled with
water?
(A) Pore capacity (B) Wilting point (C) Field capacity (D) Saturation - ANSWERSD
, What irrigation system type is best suited for use on deeper, more mature root
systems?
(A) Drip irrigation
(B) High-pressure injection
(C) Basin irrigation
(D) Soaker hose - ANSWERSB
What tree species is commonly identified as having leaves in an opposite
arrangement?
(A) Hawthorne (B) Ash(C) Sycamore (D) Oak - ANSWERSB
A soil with a high buffering capacity will have which of the following characteristics?
(A) High percentage of pore space
(B) Easily compacted
(C) High retention of water
(D) Resistant to changes in PH levels - ANSWERSD
In relation to the frequency of irrigation, what statement below is true regarding the
differences between sandy or clay soils?
(A) Sandy soils need to be irrigated more frequently and for shorter periods than clay
(B) Sandy soils need to be irrigated more frequently and for longer periods than clay
(C) Sandy soils need to be irrigated less frequently and for shorter periods than clay
(D) Sandy soils need to be irrigated less frequently and for longer periods than clay -
ANSWERSA
The movement of water within the soil defines which of the following?
(A) Infiltration (B) Percolation (C) Transpiration (D) Desiccation - ANSWERSB
What is a common detrimental side effect of the use of recycled water?
(A) Evapotranspiration (B) Surface rooting(C) Increase in soil salinity (D) Flooding -
ANSWERSC
Antitranspirants can be used to prevent water loss through transpiration by which of the
following means?
(A) Forming an impermeable layer on the plant
(B) Restricting leaf surface growth
(C) Penetrating the soil to increase percolation
(D) Increasing the absorption rate of the roots - ANSWERSA
Drainage tiles should be placed at what depth below the soil surface?
(A) 6" (B) 1' (C) 3' (D) 5' - ANSWERSC
Hydrozoning groups plants together by which of the following characteristics?
(A) Root depth(B) Water use(C) Infiltration rates (D) Soil type - ANSWERSB
