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Earthmoving practice questions

34 questions from the heavy equipment operator practice test.

Earthmoving practice test

10 questions, graded as you go, with the reason for every answer. No sign-up.

What this covers

Sample questions

In earthwork, what does shrinkage describe?

  1. Loaded soil settling in the truck bed during a long haul
  2. Stockpiled soil losing volume as it dries in the sun
  3. Compacted fill taking up less volume than the soil did in the bank
  4. Excavated soil taking up more volume in the truck than it did in the bank
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C. Compacted fill taking up less volume than the soil did in the bank

Compaction can pack soil tighter than nature left it, so a bank yard often makes less than a yard of compacted fill. The last choice describes swell, the opposite effect.

Reference: NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations Level 1, Introduction to Earthmoving

What is the optimum moisture content of a soil?

  1. The moisture at which it compacts to its greatest density
  2. The moisture at which it is easiest to dig, load and haul away
  3. The moisture at which it stops producing dust
  4. The moisture it holds after a full day of rain
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A. The moisture at which it compacts to its greatest density

For a given compactive effort, a soil reaches maximum dry density at one particular moisture content, found by a laboratory Proctor test. Drier soil resists packing and wetter soil has water filling the voids.

Reference: NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations, Soils

Why is organic topsoil stripped before structural fill is placed?

  1. It is already too dense for rollers to compact any further
  2. It compresses and decays, so the fill above would settle
  3. It drains too quickly to hold compaction moisture
  4. It is too abrasive for cutting edges and tires
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B. It compresses and decays, so the fill above would settle

Organic matter is spongy and breaks down over time, leaving voids that let anything built on it settle. It is saved for landscaping, not used under pavements or structures.

Reference: NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations, Soils

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