Illinois Pesticide Applicator Exam -
General Standards Questions and
Correct Answers
What is the target pest for herbicides? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Weeds
What is the target pest for insecticides? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Insects
What is the target pest for fungicides? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Fungi
What is the target pest for miticides (acaricides)? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Mites/ticks
What is the target pest for repellents? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Insects/vertebrates
What two general types of ingredients make up a pesticide formulation? - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>Active and inert
Define active ingredient - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Toxic to the pest; effective against the target
pest
What are some examples of active ingredients? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Glyphosate, carbaryl,
and propiconazole
Define inert agent - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Does not have direct effect on the pest; added to
make the product safer, more effective, or easier to use
What are some examples of inert ingredients? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Solvent, dry carrier
,What are the three common types of mixtures? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Solutions, suspensions,
and emulsions
Define solutions - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Mixtures formed by dissolving a substance in a liquid;
will not "settle out" and do not require agitation to keep the components in solution
Define suspensions - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Mixtures formed by dispersing fine solid particles in
a liquid; the solid particles do not dissolve in the liquid carrier; suspensions must be agitated to
maintain uniform particle distribution
Define emulsions - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Mixtures in which one liquid is suspended as tiny
droplets in another liquid; for example, emulsifiable concentrates (EC) have active ingredients
that are dissolved in an oil solvent and an emulsifying agent is added so that the formulation
can be conveniently mixed with water to form an emulsion
Soluble powder forms a ____________________, has _____________ agitation, and ______
(is/isn't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Solution, initial, isn't
Wettable powder, water dispersible granule, and dry flowable all form a ___________, have a
__________ agitation, and __________ (are/aren't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>Suspension, strong, are
Granule is applied ________ - <CORRECT ANSWER >>As-is
Solution forms a ____________________, has _____________ agitation, and ______ (is/isn't)
abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Solution, initial, isn't
Emulsifiable concentrate forms a ____________________, has _____________ agitation, and
______ (is/isn't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Emulsion, slight, isn't
, Flowable/liquid forms a ____________________, has _____________ agitation, and ______
(is/isn't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Suspension, moderate, is
Microencapsulated formulation forms a ____________________, has _____________
agitation, and ______ (is/isn't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Suspension, moderate, is
What is the safety concern associated with soluble powder, wettable powder, water dispersible
granule, and dry flowable? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Inhaling dust
What is the safety concern associated with granule? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Feeding by birds
What is the safety concern associated with emulsifiable concentrate? - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>Skin absorption, may degrade PPE and pump parts
What is the safety concern associated with microencapsulated formulation? - <CORRECT
ANSWER >>May be toxic to bees
Define fumigants - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Pesticides that form gases/vapors; most fumigants
are highly toxic and require additional licensing
How is concentration determined for dry products? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Percentage of
active ingredient by weight
How is concentration determined for wet products? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Percentage of
active ingredients per gallon
The concentration of active ingredient in a particular formulation is always provided in the
_________________________ section of the pesticide label - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Product
Information
General Standards Questions and
Correct Answers
What is the target pest for herbicides? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Weeds
What is the target pest for insecticides? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Insects
What is the target pest for fungicides? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Fungi
What is the target pest for miticides (acaricides)? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Mites/ticks
What is the target pest for repellents? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Insects/vertebrates
What two general types of ingredients make up a pesticide formulation? - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>Active and inert
Define active ingredient - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Toxic to the pest; effective against the target
pest
What are some examples of active ingredients? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Glyphosate, carbaryl,
and propiconazole
Define inert agent - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Does not have direct effect on the pest; added to
make the product safer, more effective, or easier to use
What are some examples of inert ingredients? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Solvent, dry carrier
,What are the three common types of mixtures? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Solutions, suspensions,
and emulsions
Define solutions - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Mixtures formed by dissolving a substance in a liquid;
will not "settle out" and do not require agitation to keep the components in solution
Define suspensions - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Mixtures formed by dispersing fine solid particles in
a liquid; the solid particles do not dissolve in the liquid carrier; suspensions must be agitated to
maintain uniform particle distribution
Define emulsions - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Mixtures in which one liquid is suspended as tiny
droplets in another liquid; for example, emulsifiable concentrates (EC) have active ingredients
that are dissolved in an oil solvent and an emulsifying agent is added so that the formulation
can be conveniently mixed with water to form an emulsion
Soluble powder forms a ____________________, has _____________ agitation, and ______
(is/isn't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Solution, initial, isn't
Wettable powder, water dispersible granule, and dry flowable all form a ___________, have a
__________ agitation, and __________ (are/aren't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>Suspension, strong, are
Granule is applied ________ - <CORRECT ANSWER >>As-is
Solution forms a ____________________, has _____________ agitation, and ______ (is/isn't)
abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Solution, initial, isn't
Emulsifiable concentrate forms a ____________________, has _____________ agitation, and
______ (is/isn't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Emulsion, slight, isn't
, Flowable/liquid forms a ____________________, has _____________ agitation, and ______
(is/isn't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Suspension, moderate, is
Microencapsulated formulation forms a ____________________, has _____________
agitation, and ______ (is/isn't) abrasive - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Suspension, moderate, is
What is the safety concern associated with soluble powder, wettable powder, water dispersible
granule, and dry flowable? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Inhaling dust
What is the safety concern associated with granule? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Feeding by birds
What is the safety concern associated with emulsifiable concentrate? - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>Skin absorption, may degrade PPE and pump parts
What is the safety concern associated with microencapsulated formulation? - <CORRECT
ANSWER >>May be toxic to bees
Define fumigants - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Pesticides that form gases/vapors; most fumigants
are highly toxic and require additional licensing
How is concentration determined for dry products? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Percentage of
active ingredient by weight
How is concentration determined for wet products? - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Percentage of
active ingredients per gallon
The concentration of active ingredient in a particular formulation is always provided in the
_________________________ section of the pesticide label - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Product
Information
