CEM 121 Exam 2 version with multiple choice

What is a site plan (plot plan)? A) An interior elevation view B) A view from above showing property boundaries, structures, and easements C) A foundation detail cut D) A ceiling grid layout

B) A view from above showing property boundaries, structures, and easements. It shows property limits, bearings, setbacks, and structure footprints[cite: 184, 185].

How is a boundary line bearing defined on a site plan? A) Horizontal offset from a benchmark B) Direct distance in engineering stations C) Direction expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds from north or south D) Elevation slope relative to finished floor grade

C) Direction expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds from north or south. Bearings use degrees, minutes, and seconds (e.g., N 40° 28' 36" W) to define line orientation[cite: 188, 189].

Why is Plan North used instead of True North on construction drawings? A) Local magnetic declination changes weekly B) To align the drawing grid when building walls are not parallel to cardinal compass directions C) Plan North is required by OSHA regulations D) True North is only permitted on civil grading plans

B) To align the drawing grid when building walls are not parallel to cardinal compass directions. Plan North creates a convenient reference when walls don't face true cardinal directions[cite: 187].

What does it indicate on a site plan when contour lines are drawn very close together? A) A flat plateau B) A gradual slope C) A steep slope D) A depression with standing water

C) A steep slope. Contour lines drawn close together represent rapid elevation changes (steep slope), while lines spaced far apart show gradual slopes[cite: 192, 193].

What is an "assumed benchmark" on a construction project? A) A temporary elevation point assigned a round base number like 100.00' B) An unverified property corner monument C) The official USGS mean sea level pin D) The estimated depth of bedrock before soil borings

A) A temporary elevation point assigned a round base number like 100.00'. Architects or surveyors establish an arbitrary baseline (often 100.00' or 0.0') when a permanent USGS marker is unavailable[cite: 196].

What is the standard vertical cut height used to generate an architectural floor plan? A) 12" to 18" above the foundation slab B) 24" to 30" above subfloor C) 42" to 48" above the finished floor D) 72" to 84" along door headers

C) 42" to 48" above the finished floor. Taking the horizontal cut plane at 42" to 48" ensures windows, doors, and interior partitions are intersected cleanly[cite: 164].

What is the primary purpose of a Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP)? A) To show buried underground DWV piping B) To show ceiling layouts, light fixtures, diffusers, and suspended grids C) To inspect roof truss nail plates D) To locate floor perimeter expansion joints

B) To show ceiling layouts, light fixtures, diffusers, and suspended grids. An RCP reflects what is seen looking up at the finished ceiling assembly[cite: 168].

How does an architectural wall section differ from a building section?

C) Wall sections show full vertical assembly details of an individual wall at a larger scale.

What is the role of a keyway in concrete foundation construction? A) A drainage sleeve for plumbing pipes B) A molded groove in the footing that locks and anchors the foundation wall C) An expansion channel for thermal slab movement D) A conduit knockout for electrical panel feeds

B) A molded groove in the footing that locks and anchors the foundation wall. The keyway acts as a structural shear key between the footing and the wall poured above it[cite: 141].

What defines a monolithic slab-on-grade (floating slab)? A) A slab supported entirely on deep steel H-piles B) A slab and turned-down footings poured continuously as a single unit C) A slab poured over precast hollow-core planks D) A two-way waffle slab with post-tensioned tendons

B) A slab and turned-down footings poured continuously as a single unit. It combines the slab and footing into one continuous concrete placement[cite: 154].

When is a grade beam used in foundation design? A) To support hanging HVAC ductwork in the basement B) To span between footings or pile caps over weak, disturbed soil C) To serve as an anchor sill for interior drywall partitions D) To elevate exterior siding above finished soil grade

B) To span between footings or pile caps over weak, disturbed soil. Grade beams span across unstable or disturbed earth to transfer loads directly to secure footings or piles[cite: 147].

How is an auger cast pile installed? A) By driving heavy structural steel H-piles into refusal B) By drilling with a hollow-stem continuous auger and pumping concrete as the auger is extracted C) By digging an open trench and building plywood forms D) By precasting concrete beams in a factory and craning them into place

B) By drilling with a hollow-stem continuous auger and pumping concrete as the auger is extracted. Concrete is pumped under pressure while the rotating auger is withdrawn[cite: 148].

What is the purpose of a waterstop in below-grade concrete walls? A) To insulate cold-water domestic supply pipes B) To stop water transmission across cold and construction joints in the concrete C) To drain storm runoff away from basement footings D) To provide a thermal break between the slab and footing

B) To stop water transmission across cold and construction joints in the concrete. Waterstops are flexible PVC strips embedded across joints to prevent groundwater penetration[cite: 157].

How are steel rebar sizes designated in the United States? A) By total weight in pounds per foot B) By diameter in eighths of an inch (e.g., #4 = 4/8" or 1/2") C) By ultimate tensile yield strength in ksi D) By length measured in decimeters

B) By diameter in eighths of an inch (e.g., #4 = 4/8" or 1/2"). The number directly indicates eighths of an inch, meaning #5 is 5/8" and #8 is 1"[cite: 121].

What is the purpose of stirrups in a reinforced concrete beam? A) To hold forms apart during placement B) To resist shear forces and hold longitudinal bars in place C) To ground electrical currents to the foundation D) To provide expansion relief during concrete hydration

B) To resist shear forces and hold longitudinal bars in place. Vertical stirrups counteract diagonal shear stresses and secure main reinforcing bars[cite: 126].

What do the numbers mean in a steel beam designation such as W21x147? A) 21" nominal depth and 147 lbs per linear foot B) 21" flange width and 147" total length C) 21 ksi yield strength and 147 mm thickness D) 21" clear web span with 147 bolt holes

A) 21" nominal depth and 147 lbs per linear foot. The first number is depth in inches; the second is weight per linear foot[cite: 129].

What organization standardizes open-web steel joists? A) American Institute of Architects (AIA) B) Steel Joist Institute (SJI) C) American Concrete Institute (ACI) D) International Code Council (ICC)

B) Steel Joist Institute (SJI). SJI standardizes joist profiles (e.g., K-series) and load capacities[cite: 131, 133].

In platform (western) framing, how is the structure sequentially built? A) Studs run continuously from foundation to roof with notched ribbons B) Each floor platform is built first, and stud walls are erected on top of that platform C) Heavy timber columns are placed at 12-foot intervals without studs D) Wall panels are framed on ground soil and lifted into concrete trenches

B) Each floor platform is built first, and stud walls are erected on top of that platform. Each story serves as a working platform for framing the walls of that level[cite: 81].

In wood wall framing, what is the role of a trimmer (jack) stud? A) Running full length from sole plate to top plate beside an opening B) Sitting directly beneath a header to support its load C) Providing lateral backing for interior drywall corners D) Tying ceiling rafters together across the attic center

B) Sitting directly beneath a header to support its load. Trimmer studs sit inside king studs to carry the header's downward loads[cite: 89].

What is a bird's mouth in roof framing? A) The decorative peak cap at the end of a ridge board B) A cutout with a seat cut and plumb cut allowing a rafter to sit flat on the top plate C) The louvered opening at the gable end for ventilation D) A metal clip anchoring purlins to trusses

B) A cutout with a seat cut and plumb cut allowing a rafter to sit flat on the top plate. It ensures full bearing contact between the angled rafter and the wall plate[cite: 97].

What is the structural member supporting the treads and risers in a stairway called? A) Cripple B) Stringer C) Ledger D) Spandrel

B) Stringer. The stringer is the inclined beam cut or notched to carry the steps[cite: 102].

What is the mathematical relationship between stair treads and risers in a single run? A) The number of treads equals the number of risers B) There is one more riser than there are treads C) There are two more treads than risers D) Risers must always equal twice the number of treads

B) There is one more riser than there are treads. Because the upper floor acts as the final landing, risers = treads + 1[cite: 104].

What does Stage 2 (Rough-in) plumbing installation include? A) Underground sewer service connection before digging footings B) Installing water supply, drain lines, and vents before closing walls and floors C) Setting finished sinks, toilets, and trim faucets D) Connecting the final municipal meter and turning on city water

B) Installing water supply, drain lines, and vents before closing walls and floors. Rough-in takes place during framing before drywall or slab closure[cite: 48].

Why is copper tubing prohibited for natural gas piping systems? A) It lacks structural strength against water hammer B) It corrodes internally when exposed to certain gas impurities C) It cannot be bent without cracking D) It causes electrical interference with HVAC thermostats

B) It corrodes internally when exposed to certain gas impurities. Sulfur compounds and moisture in fuel gases can flake copper internally[cite: 63].

How are HVAC duct callouts written on construction drawings (e.g., 20x14)? A) Length first, then Diameter B) Depth first, then Width C) Width first, then Depth (Height) D) Airflow (CFM) first, then Duct Gauge

C) Width first, then Depth (Height). Standard duct notation reads Width × Depth[cite: 36].

What is the primary operational effect of an evaporative (swamp) cooling system? A) It lowers room humidity by condensing moisture on coils B) It cools air by evaporation, which raises indoor humidity levels C) It uses refrigerant compressors located on the roof D) It circulates chilled water through baseboard convectors

B) It cools air by evaporation, which raises indoor humidity levels. Rapid evaporation over moist pads cools the air while increasing moisture content[cite: 42].

On a standard welding symbol, what does a symbol placed BELOW the horizontal reference line mean? A) The weld must be executed in the shop B) The weld is placed on the arrow side of the joint C) The weld is placed on the other (opposite) side of the joint D) The weld requires ultrasonic testing

B) The weld is placed on the arrow side of the joint. Symbols below the reference line designate arrow-side welds, while symbols above designate other-side welds[cite: 5, 7].

What does a circle located at the junction/elbow of a welding symbol indicate? A) Weld all-around the joint perimeter B) Field weld required on the jobsite C) Melt-through backing ring required D) Plug weld with circular contour

A) Weld all-around the joint perimeter. A circle placed at the break/arrow junction specifies a continuous weld all around the joint[cite: 6, 10].

What does a small flag symbol placed at the elbow of a welding reference line indicate? A) Flange weld B) Field weld (performed on the jobsite rather than in the shop) C) Flare-bevel groove weld D) Finishing by grinding required

B) Field weld (performed on the jobsite rather than in the shop). The flag specifies on-site welding during erection[cite: 6, 10].

In the weld callout "1/8 [Fillet] 2-12", what does the "2-12" indicate? A) 2" weld depth spaced 12" from the plate edge B) 2" length of weld spaced 12" on-center (intermittent pitch) C) 2 passes of weld completed within 12 minutes D) 2 welds on the arrow side and 12 on the other side

B) 2" length of weld spaced 12" on-center (intermittent pitch). The first number is the segment length, and the second is the center-to-center pitch[cite: 8, 15].