Page 1 of 64
ISA Arborist Certification Exam STUDY GUIDE 300
Questions and Verified Solutions Latest Update
This Year
QUESTION: If a transplanted tree declines or dies within the first year, the cause is most likely a
lack or excess of _______ - ANSWER-Water
QUESTION: What type of injury occurs when the outer wood and bark of a tree cool rapidly,
causing both to contract and split? - ANSWER-Frost cracks
QUESTION: A root that arises from a stem, rather than from another root, is called a(n)
_______. - ANSWER-Adventitious root
QUESTION: In an area around a tree that is frequently mowed, an arborist removed the turf
grass and replaced it with mulch. What type of problem was she trying to prevent? - ANSWER-
Physical damage
QUESTION: Leaf or fruit drop is also called _______. - ANSWER-Abscission
QUESTION: What type of plant is more adapted to dry areas? - ANSWER-Xerophyte
, Page 2 of 64
QUESTION: What is the point at which a plant cannot pull any more water from the soil and
suffers permanent damage? - ANSWER-Permanent wilting point
QUESTION: Which of the following is a physical injury? - ANSWER-Lightning damage
QUESTION: Which of the following situations is prone to girdling roots? - ANSWER-Trees
planted too deeply
QUESTION: The process in which a tree uses oxygen to convert carbohydrates into energy is
called _______. - ANSWER-Aerobic respiration
QUESTION: A prolonged water shortage lasting from days to months refers to what is called
_______. - ANSWER-Chronic water deficit
QUESTION: What is the most common growth factor that trees or other plants compete for? -
ANSWER-Sunlight
QUESTION: A plant is more likely to experience freezing and chilling injury if it has not had the
chance to become _______. - ANSWER-Hardened off
Compacted soil often lacks which factor necessary for plant survival? - ANSWER-Sufficient
water, oxygen, and pore space
, Page 3 of 64
QUESTION: A compound that is poisonous to plants is considered _______. - ANSWER-
Phytotoxic
QUESTION: A tree's natural process of defense by which chemical and physical boundaries are
created to limit the spread of disease and decay organisms is known as _______. - ANSWER-
Compartmentalization
QUESTION: What is the transition zone from trunk to roots? - ANSWER-Trunk Flare
QUESTION: A tree has a long, spirally oriented scar down the length of its trunk that follows the
grain of the wood where the bark was ripped away. What was the likely cause of this injury? -
ANSWER-Lightning Strike
QUESTION: A substance that moves throughout an entire plant is said to be _______. -
ANSWER-systemic
QUESTION: The signs of insect feeding damage are directly related to ________. - ANSWER-The
type of mouthparts the insect has
QUESTION: Aphids/adelgids, some scales, leafhoppers, and true bugs use what method of
feeding? - ANSWER-Piercing and sucking
, Page 4 of 64
QUESTION: What is honeydew? - ANSWER-a sticky substance secreted by certain insects when
feeding upon plants
QUESTION: Japanese beetles create skeletonized leaves. How are Japanese beetles classified? -
ANSWER-Defoliating insects
QUESTION: Scale insects are sometimes confused with galls. What is a quick way to distinguish
between the two? - ANSWER-Scrape of the bump and observe the bark below
QUESTION: Insects that carry and transmit disease are known as _______. - ANSWER-Vectors
QUESTION: Fungicides are usually most effective when used to _______. - ANSWER-Prevent the
etablishment of a disease
QUESTION: Which of the following is a conclusive sign of borer damage? - ANSWER-Small holes
in the trunk and branches with frass
QUESTION: Animals can create risk situations for arborist work in trees. - ANSWER-True
ISA Arborist Certification Exam STUDY GUIDE 300
Questions and Verified Solutions Latest Update
This Year
QUESTION: If a transplanted tree declines or dies within the first year, the cause is most likely a
lack or excess of _______ - ANSWER-Water
QUESTION: What type of injury occurs when the outer wood and bark of a tree cool rapidly,
causing both to contract and split? - ANSWER-Frost cracks
QUESTION: A root that arises from a stem, rather than from another root, is called a(n)
_______. - ANSWER-Adventitious root
QUESTION: In an area around a tree that is frequently mowed, an arborist removed the turf
grass and replaced it with mulch. What type of problem was she trying to prevent? - ANSWER-
Physical damage
QUESTION: Leaf or fruit drop is also called _______. - ANSWER-Abscission
QUESTION: What type of plant is more adapted to dry areas? - ANSWER-Xerophyte
, Page 2 of 64
QUESTION: What is the point at which a plant cannot pull any more water from the soil and
suffers permanent damage? - ANSWER-Permanent wilting point
QUESTION: Which of the following is a physical injury? - ANSWER-Lightning damage
QUESTION: Which of the following situations is prone to girdling roots? - ANSWER-Trees
planted too deeply
QUESTION: The process in which a tree uses oxygen to convert carbohydrates into energy is
called _______. - ANSWER-Aerobic respiration
QUESTION: A prolonged water shortage lasting from days to months refers to what is called
_______. - ANSWER-Chronic water deficit
QUESTION: What is the most common growth factor that trees or other plants compete for? -
ANSWER-Sunlight
QUESTION: A plant is more likely to experience freezing and chilling injury if it has not had the
chance to become _______. - ANSWER-Hardened off
Compacted soil often lacks which factor necessary for plant survival? - ANSWER-Sufficient
water, oxygen, and pore space
, Page 3 of 64
QUESTION: A compound that is poisonous to plants is considered _______. - ANSWER-
Phytotoxic
QUESTION: A tree's natural process of defense by which chemical and physical boundaries are
created to limit the spread of disease and decay organisms is known as _______. - ANSWER-
Compartmentalization
QUESTION: What is the transition zone from trunk to roots? - ANSWER-Trunk Flare
QUESTION: A tree has a long, spirally oriented scar down the length of its trunk that follows the
grain of the wood where the bark was ripped away. What was the likely cause of this injury? -
ANSWER-Lightning Strike
QUESTION: A substance that moves throughout an entire plant is said to be _______. -
ANSWER-systemic
QUESTION: The signs of insect feeding damage are directly related to ________. - ANSWER-The
type of mouthparts the insect has
QUESTION: Aphids/adelgids, some scales, leafhoppers, and true bugs use what method of
feeding? - ANSWER-Piercing and sucking
, Page 4 of 64
QUESTION: What is honeydew? - ANSWER-a sticky substance secreted by certain insects when
feeding upon plants
QUESTION: Japanese beetles create skeletonized leaves. How are Japanese beetles classified? -
ANSWER-Defoliating insects
QUESTION: Scale insects are sometimes confused with galls. What is a quick way to distinguish
between the two? - ANSWER-Scrape of the bump and observe the bark below
QUESTION: Insects that carry and transmit disease are known as _______. - ANSWER-Vectors
QUESTION: Fungicides are usually most effective when used to _______. - ANSWER-Prevent the
etablishment of a disease
QUESTION: Which of the following is a conclusive sign of borer damage? - ANSWER-Small holes
in the trunk and branches with frass
QUESTION: Animals can create risk situations for arborist work in trees. - ANSWER-True