ISA Arborist Certification Exam Questions and Answers, Exams of Plant pathology

Download ISA Arborist Certification Exam Questions and Answers and more Exams Plant pathology in PDF only on Docsity!

ISA Arborist Certification Exam

Questions and Answers

1. One way to determine how good the drainage is in a potential planting area is to: A. Test the soil pH B. Use an air excavation device to loosen the soil C. Perform a water percolation test D. Any of the above ANS : C. Perform a water percolation test 2.The major water-conducting cells in angiosperms are the: A. Tracheids B. Fibers C. Parenchyma cells D. Vessels ANS : D. Vessels 3.Carbon sequestration occurs: A. During photosynthesis B. As emissions from vehicles are reduced

C. As sunlight combines with air pollution D. As wood decays ANS : A. During photosynthesis 4.Armillaria mushrooms are often an indicator of: A. Poor soil biology B. Stressed trees C. Root decay D. All of the above ANS : D. All of the above

5. A landscape architect has designed a shaded nature walk behind a preschool. Which of the following would not be a good tree quality in this space? A. Attractive fall coloring B. Abundant fruiting C. Broad, deciduous canopy D. All of the above ANS : B. Abundant fruiting 6.A spring pole refers to: A. New growth on a tree or shrub after bud break. B. A pole saw or pruner used in spring, designed to minimize damage to sloughing bark. C. A tree trunk that has had all its branches removed. D. A pinned branch or small tree under tension by fallen trees. ANS : D. A pinned branch or small tree under tension by fallen trees.

7.The branch collar is formed: A. By the annual process by which tissue is layered where the branch and stem meet B. Only in thick-barked trees, where bark has built up around a union

C. Only when branches die without falling, causing the tree to start to build a collar along the dead branch D. At the internodes, due to twig elongation ANS : A. By the annual process by which tissue is layered where the branch and stem meet

8. When pruning a young tree, one reason to leave temporary branches that are lower than the lowest permanent branch is: A. They help provide energy to the trunk. B. They contribute to proper taper development. C. They provide shade to the young trunk tissue. D. All of the above ANS : D. All of the above
9. Which pruning system is started with a series of heading cuts, followed by annual sprout removal? A. Pollarding B. Topiary C. Natural D. Espalier ANS : A. Pollarding 10.A significant number of small, fruiting bodies along a branch indicates: A. Sapwood rot B. Heartwood rot C. Basal rot D. White rot ANS : A. Sapwood rot

11.When felling a tree, the escape path should be: A. At a 45-degree angle, away from the direction of fall B. At a 45-degree angle, toward the direction of fall C. Opposite the direction of fall D. Toward the direction of fall ANS : A. At a 45-degree angle, away from the direction of fall 12.All of the following are recommendations for supporting a healthy land- scape except: A. Purchasing a diverse selection of pest-resistant plant species B. Selecting healthy nursery stock C. Pre-treating with a broad-spectrum pesticide before mulching D. All of the above ANS : C. Pre-treating with a broad-spectrum pesticide before mulching 13.The cork cambium combined with the external layer of bark are collectively called the: A. Periderm B. Paradox C. Cambiderm D. Cambium ANS : A. Periderm

14.All of the following are deciduous conifers except: A. Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) B. Tamarach (Larix laricina) C. Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) D. Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) ANS : D. Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) 15.Brush chippers should be fed with: A. The butt end of the branch first B. The brush end of the branch first C. The worker standing street side D. The worker standing in front of the infeed hopper ANS : A. The butt end of the branch first 16.Why is it more beneficial to maintain large, mature trees than to replace them with a larger quantity of small trees? A. Large trees are more resistant to pests. B. Large trees provide more benefits than small trees. C. Trees cost more to plant than they do to prune. D. All of the above ANS : B. Large trees provide more benefits than small trees. 17.Which soil aggregate structure type would have the most problems related to slow water drainage? A. Platy

B. Spongy C. Granular D. Angular ANS : A. Platy 18.What is the term for applying compost to the soil over turf? A. Topdressing B. Hydraulic fracturing C. Vertical mulching D. Soil renovation ANS : A. Topdressing 19.If a leaf were missing its cuticle, it would: A. Turn chlorotic, due to nutrient loss B. Expand, due to respiration C. Shrivel, due to desiccation D. Become upright, due to increased turgor pressure ANS : C. Shrivel, due to desic- cation 20.Which cut decreases the length of the larger branch or stem back to a smaller, live lateral branch (also called "subordinating")? A. Removal cut B. Reduction cut

C. Heading cut D. Shearing cut ANS : B. Reduction cut 21.Which is considered an ideal soil texture with a good balance of proper- ties? A. Clay B. Silty sand C. Sandy clay D. Loam ANS : D. Loam 22.In PHC, when treating a tree, best practice is to: A. Consider the tree in isolation B. Factor in the surrounding environment C. Take a reactive approach D. All of the above ANS : B. Factor in the surrounding environment 23.Which of the following offers the best comparison of random sampling, partial tree inventories, and complete tree inventories? A. Complete invento- ries are the most expensive, but provide information on all the trees. B. Partial inventories only look at trees from one side, such as in a drive-by inspection. C. Random sampling is a more affordable option for collecting random infor- mation about all the trees. D. All three methods offer the same output, but at different costs. ANS :

A. Complete inventories are the most expensive, but provide information on all the trees. 24.Which of the following statements about the three components of soil is true? A. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil all influence each other strongly, and you cannot significantly alter one without also altering the others. B. Physical and biological properties are consistent across most soils, but the chemical properties vary significantly, requiring the need for fertilizers. C. Chemical properties are only present when soil has been manipulated by humans. D. All of the above ANS : A. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil all influence each other strongly, and you cannot significantly alter one without also altering the others. 25.A tree is showing signs of iron chlorosis. The best method for applying fertilizer is: A. Surface application B. Drill-hole method

C. Liquid injection D. Foliar application ANS : D. Foliar application 26.In the CODIT model, the reaction zone consists of: A. Heartwood B. Sapwood C. Wall 4 D. Walls 1, 2, & 3 ANS : D. Walls 1, 2, & 3 27.All of the following describe uses for an access line except: A. Quick entry into a tree in the case of an emergency B. Shared entry for climbers into a single tree C. Lifting and lowering tools needed in the tree D. Lowering tree parts when rigging ANS : D. Lowering tree parts when rigging 28.Plant damage from sap-feeding insects might appear as: A. Skeletonized leaves B. Distorted leaves and shoots C. Leaf mines or blotches D. Webs or tents ANS : B. Distorted leaves and shoots 29.When pruning, if an arborist finds an active bird nest, the appropriate action is to: A. Continue the work as normal. The birds will move if they are annoyed. B. Temporarily relocate the nest and replace it after the work is complete. C. Relocate the nest to another tree. D. Hold off on the work until a later date. ANS : D. Hold off on the work

until a later date. 30.Which of the following is a raised area of bark tissue in the branch union, marking where the branch and the parent stem meet? A. Branch protection zone B. Included bark C. Branch collar D. Branch bark ridge ANS : D. Branch bark ridge 31.What is a good amount of mulch to apply by depth? A. 6 inches plus 3 inches every year after B. 2 inches plus 1 inch every year after C. 3 inches plus 3 inches every year after D. 1 inch plus 3 inches every year after ANS : B. 2 inches plus 1 inch every year after 32.Over-application of pesticides can: A. Be an effective method for controlling pests that have yet to be detected. B. Cause phytotoxic injury to treated plants. C. Help reduce how many pesticide treatments are needed for the season. D. All of the above ANS : B. Cause phytotoxic injury to treated plants.

33.Which of the following is a requirement in the disease triangle? A. A susceptible host B. Favorable environment C. A pathogen present D. All of the above ANS : D. All of the above 34.A tree adapted to swampy conditions may perform well in a parkway setting because: A. Their roots are frequently exposed to potash B. Their root systems are adapted to low-oxygen environments C. The bark on their trunk is adapted to mechanical damage D. All of the above ANS : B. Their root systems are adapted to low- oxygen (anaerobic) environments 35.Which watering pattern will result in the strongest, most drought- tolerant root system? A. Infrequent, deep waterings B. Infrequent, shallow waterings C. Frequent, shallow waterings D. Frequent, deep waterings ANS : A. Infrequent, deep waterings 36.Once gravitational water has drained from the soil macropores, the remain- ing soil is at: A. Field capacity B. Permanent wilting point C. Maximum cation exchange capacity D. Minimum water-holding capacity ANS : A. Field capacity 37.When using an air spade to transplant trees in clay soils, root growth

can become inhibited due to the sides. A. Vertical B. Glazed C. Crumbling D. Shallow ANS : B. Glazed 38.An example of an economic benefit of urban trees and greenspace is: A. Improved neighborhood pride B. Improved residential property value C. Reduced stormwater runoff D. All of the above ANS : B. Improved residential property value 39.Critical Root Zone (CRZ): the portion of the root system that is the minimum necessary to maintain vitality or stability of the tree. Encroachment or damage to the critical root zone will put the tree at risk of failure.

40.What is the difference between the critical root zone (CRZ) and the tree protection zone (TPZ)? A. The CRZ is the dripline, whereas the TPZ is a narrower space defined by the type of construction occurring. B. The CRZ is a subjectively-defined space of essential tree roots. The TPZ is defined by the arborist to protect roots, often at least at the tree's drip line. C. The CRZ is defined by 3x the diameter of the tree. The TPZ is calculated as 2x the CRZ, where construction fences should be installed. D. The CRZ and TPZ are interchangeable terms, both identified by arborists as a best guess for avoiding damage to tree roots ANS : B. The CRZ is a subjectively-de- fined space of essential tree roots. The TPZ is defined by the arborist to protect roots, often at least at the tree's drip line. 41.Which of the following describes a good final pruning cut? A. Just outside the branch collar, with minimal to no damage to the trunk B. Just inside the branch collar, to entirely remove any decay C. Flush with the trunk tissue, removing all bulges and abnormalities D. Parallel with the trunk tissue, minimizing likelihood of future bulges emerg- ing ANS : A. Just outside the branch collar, with minimal to no damage to the trunk 42.Taking mitigation actions: A. Eliminates risk of failure B. Should be performed immediately

C. Can reduce risk to an acceptable risk threshold D. All of the above ANS : C. Can reduce risk to an acceptable risk threshold 43.What should be applied in tandem with biochar in almost all cases? A. Lime B. Sulfur C. Compost and/or fertilizer D. Mycorrhizae ANS : C. Compost and/or fertilizer 44.Irrigation rates that are faster than the infiltration rate will result in: A. Waterlogged soils B. Runoff C. Root suffocation D. All of the above ANS : D. All of the above 45.Which best describes the soil's relationship to geology? A. Surface geology determines the parent materials for soils B. Soils are defined by plate tectonic theory C. Soils form independent of geology D. Geology is determined primarily by vegetation acting on soils ANS : A. Surface geology determines the parent materials for soils

46.Which of the following best matches the insect with its corresponding damage to plants? A. Aphids, psyllids, and adelgids build tents in branch unions B. Borers, such as Asian-longhorned beetle, tunnel into wood C. Gypsy moths and sawfly larvae tunnel between the top and bottom layers of leaf tissue D. All of the above ANS : B. Borers, such as Asian-longhorned beetle, tunnel into wood 47.Which of the following statements about rot is true? A. Brown rot occurs more frequently in conifers than deciduous trees. B. White rot affects the stiffness of wood. C. Soft rot affects the cellulose in wood. D. All of the above ANS : D. All of the above 48.Which of the following applies to stump grinders? A. Softwood trees have shallow roots that do not conflict with underground utilities. B. PPE does not need to be worn when there is an enclosure or guard. C. Local underground utilities need to be located prior to grinding. D. All of the above ANS : C. Local underground utilities need to be located prior to grinding. 49.Which of the following is a macronutrient? A. Calcium B. Magnesium C. Phosphorus D. All of the above ANS : C. Phosphorus

50.What is the first step when planting a tree? A. Removing the basket from the root ball B. Calling Dig-Safe or JULIE to locate underground utilities C. Measuring the depth of the hole needed, using the height of the basket D. Mixing organic matter in with the soil from the planting hole ANS : B. Calling Dig-Safe or JULIE to locate underground utilities 51.Tannins and allelochemicals are examples of: A. Pesticides B. Natural defense mechanisms C. Fungicides D. Plant growth regulators ANS : B. Natural defense mechanisms 52.Topping trees is only allowed when: A. Vista pruning B. Clearing utility lines

C. Pollarding D. Topping is never allowed. ANS : D. Topping is never allowed. 53.It is appropriate to amend native soil with organic materials when the native soil: A. Is heavily compacted or lacks organic matter B. Is nutrient poor or lacks nutrient exchange capacity C. Is poorly drained or has poor water-holding capacity D. All of the above ANS : D. All of the above 54.When an arborist touches a branch that is resting on a powerline ANS : A. The arborist is in direct contact with the power line B. The arborist is in indirect contact with the power line C. The arborist should use their helmet to move the power line out of contact while cutting the branch D. If they are not immediately electrocuted, it can be assumed the power is turned off ANS : B. The arborist is in indirect contact with the power line 55.Mycorrhizae help trees by: A. Increasing their ability to absorb water B. Increasing their ability to absorb nutrients, such as phosphorus C. Defend- ing against disease-causing fungi D. All of the above ANS : D. All of the above 56.The 30/20/10 guideline refers to: A. No more than 30% conifers; 20% broadleaf trees; 10% deciduous B. No more than 30% of an order; 20% of a family; 10% of a genus C. No more than 30% of a family; 20% of a genus; 10% of a species

D. Minimum distance to utility lines: 30 ft for large growing trees; 20 ft for medium-sized trees; 10 ft for small ornamental trees ANS : C. No more than 30% of a family; 20% of a genus; 10% of a species 57.What is the most impactful yet disruptive method of applying compost and biochar? A. Soil renovation B. Vertical mulching C. Top dressing D. Soil injection ANS : A. Soil renovation 58.A job briefing should include: A. Site hazards, obstacles, required PPE, and equipment B. Cost of the job C. Estimated biomass of debris generated D. All of the above ANS : A. Site hazards, obstacles, required PPE, and equipment

59.A soil analysis can help determine the soil conditions prior to planting, including: A. Nutrient levels B. Site microclimate C. Soil horizons D. All of the above ANS : A. Nutrient levels 60.Which of the following could result in a poor safety culture? A. Encouraging workers to cut pieces smaller and/or sharing lifting loads over 50 pounds (23 kg). B. Offering financial incentives to accident-free crews. C. Discussing near misses, close calls, and incidents with crews. D. All of the above ANS : B. Offering financial incentives to accident-free crews. 61.An effective risk management program does all of the following except: A. Monitors and mitigates risk B. Identifies and assesses risk C. Communicates risk D. Eliminates risk ANS : D. Eliminates risk 62.A system for interweaving branches horizontally to form an arbor, allee, or arching tunnel is called: A. Topiary B. Espalier C. Pleaching D. Pollarding ANS : C. Pleaching 63.When performing tree risk assessments:

A. Only record defects of significance B. Take core samples to determine exact age C. Work systematically, so nothing is missed D. All of the above ANS : C. Work systematically, so nothing is missed 64.Pruning trees during dormancy: A. Can allow the tree to make the most of the growing season B. Can increase the chances of pests entering the wounds C. Can hurt fruit distribution along branch structure D. All of the above ANS : A. Can allow the tree to make the most of the growing season 65.When selecting planting stock, the scaffold branches should be ANS : A. At least half the diameter of the trunk B. Abundant and crossing C. Tight, with included bark D. Distributed evenly around the trunk ANS : D. Distributed evenly around the trunk

66.What factors are required for photosynthesis? A. Light, water, CO2, chlorophyll, and essential minerals B. Water, oxygen, and nitrogen C. CO2, water, and oxygen D. Light, oxygen, water, CO2, and essential minerals ANS : A. Light, water, CO2, chlorophyll, and essential minerals 67.What is the acronym TDS (tie, dress, set) used to describe? A. The process a ground worker uses to detach hardware from ropes. B. The process a worker goes through prior to using a knot or hitch. C. The process a climber uses to attach their work-positioning lanyard around the tree. D. All of the above ANS : B. The process a worker goes through prior to using a knot or hitch. 68.When conducting utility line-clearance pruning, minimum approach dis- tances are determined by: A. The number of years of experience of the crew leader B. ISA Utility Arborist certification C. TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional credential D. Nominal voltages of the charged wire ANS : D. Nominal voltages of the charged wire 69.The working load limit of a piece of equipment with a 15,000-pound tensile strength and a design factor of 5, is: A. 3,000 lbs B. 5,000 lbs C. 15,000 lbs D. 75,000 lbs ANS : A. 3,000 lbs 70."Right Tree, Right Place" refers to: A. Correctly placing the tree where marked by the landscape planner

B. Selecting a tree that will grow favorably in the planting site C. Selecting a tree that will cost the same to plant as the benefits it will provide D. All of the above ANS : B. Selecting a tree that will grow favorably in the planting site 71.Which of the following is part of an urban forest management plan? A. Maintenance plan B. Operations plan C. Storm-response plan D. All of the above ANS : D. All of the above 72.Which of the following terms describing growth form is different from the others? A. Fastigiate B. Columnar C. Prostrate D. Excurrent ANS : C. Prostrate 73.Kickback refers to: A. When the upper quadrant of the chainsaw bar contacts an object B. When an employee talks back to their employer C. The return profit after completing a job

D. Electricity arcing between a branch and power line ANS : A. When the upper quadrant of the chainsaw bar contacts an object 74.Which of the following statements about soil properties is true? A. Clay soils exhibit high water availability for plant roots. B. Sandy soils are high in nutrients and drain quickly. C. Clay soils drain more quickly when a sand layer is backfilled below. D. Silt holds nutrients and drains well but erodes easily. ANS : D. Silt holds nutrients and drains well but erodes easily. 75.Pruning specification should include all of the following except ANS : A. Pruning system B. Objective C. Location and species of tree D. Wood valuation ANS : D. Wood valuation 76.The loss of water by evaporation from the leaf or plant surface is called: A. Photosynthesis B. Respiration C. Transpiration D. Transportation ANS : C. Transpiration 77.Bulk density is a measure of: A. Soil texture B. Soil acidity C. Soil compaction D. Soil nutrient availability ANS : C. Soil compaction 78.A branch is growing over a roof and needs to be removed. The best

removal option is to: A. Butt-tie the branch and use a snap cut B. Butt-tie the branch and tie a tagline to the tip C. Tip-tie the branch and lift while using a hinge cut D. Use a drop cut so the branch drops butt-end first ANS : C. Tip-tie the branch and lift while using a hinge cut 79.Soil compaction reduces pore space, resulting in: A. Increased carbon dioxide B. Increased oxygen C. Increased root growth D. Increased mineral uptake ANS : A. Increased carbon dioxide 80.Which of the following statements about stationary rope systems (SRS) (AKA single rope technique (SRT)) is true? A. When using a basal anchor, the climbing line needs to be at least as long as the tree is tall.