General Knowledge Exam 2008 Flashcards
Many landscape equipment engines require a little extra fuel in the carburetor to start. Most models use a(n) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to supply the extra fuel for starting. A. exhaust valve or flywheel B. primer bulb or choke C. fuel cell or fuel slide D. cylinder or fuel ring
B. primer bulb or choke
Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before starting a landscape digging project helps prevent injury as well as penalties and repair charges. The national telephone number for the “Call Before You Dig” program is: A. 616 B. 811 C. 901 D. 911
B. 811
Two of the most pressing current issues for the landscape maintenance industry include
A. the exotic garden spider and Japanese ladybugs.
B. turf decline and herbicide resistance.
C. emissions and noise pollution.
D. power blower and string trimmer safety.
C. emissions and noise pollution.
A hardwood stem cutting normally needs _________ to root.
A. at least one node above the soil and one below the soil
B. all nodes below soil level
C. all nodes above the soil
D. one node and leaf above the soil and at least three nodes below the soil.
A. at least one node above the soil and one below the soil
Lopping shears can be used to cut off limbs up to about \_\_\_ inches in diameter. A. .5 B. .75 C. 1.5 D. 3
C. 1.5
The water table should be \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ of the soil surface for most plants growing in the landscape. A. within 24 inches B. within 12 inches C. between 18 and 24 inches D. well below 24 inches
D. well below 24 inches
Polyvinyl chloride pipe is put together in irrigation systems using \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A. wire clamps B. solder C. filler D. glue
D. glue
The practice of growing and using plants for decorative purposes is known as: A. decorative Floriculture. B. aesthetic forestry. C. landscape botany. D. ornamental horticulture.
D. ornamental horticulture.
Which of the following is true about balled and burlapped plants?
A. Plants are dug bare-root and wrapped in burlap.
B. Plants are dug bare-root, wrapped in a peat-lite mixture and covered in burlap.
C. Balled and burlapped plants have an intact root ball of native soil.
D. Balling and burlapping is most commonly used on container-grown shrubs.
C. Balled and burlapped plants have an intact root ball of native soil.
One of the best landscape plants for great fall leaf color is: A. Quercus rubra B. Juniperus chinensis C. Pinus strobus D. Acer saccharum
D. Acer saccharum
Which type of mower would generally make the cleanest cut and would allow the turf to be cut lowest? A. vertical mower B. rotary mower C. reel mower D. flail mower
C. reel mower
Which nutrient is most easily lost from the soil? A. nitrogen B. phosphorous C. iron D. calcium
A. nitrogen
Plant containers in the nursery trade are generally measured by the: A. liter. B. height. C. circumference. D. gallon.
D. gallon.
Which of the following states are all among the top 10 nursery plant producing states? A. California, Florida, Texas B. Montana, Idaho, Virginia C. Alaska, Georgia, New Hampshire D. Hawaii, Utah, New Mexico
A. California, Florida, Texas
Which of these is not a horticulture term? A. grafting B. pinching C. whey D. corolla
C. whey
Spark plugs are best removed from a mower engine with: A. a spark plug gape. B. pistol-grip plug pliers. C. a spark plug socket. D. an open-end wrench.
C. a spark plug socket.
In landscaping, staking and \_\_\_\_\_\_ a tree are two methods that have generally the same purpose. A. guying B. tipping C. wrapping D. girdling
A. guying
Which type of plant propagation accounts for the greatest genetic variation? A. sexual B. asexual C. micro-propagation D. macro-propagation
A. sexual
This nutrient causes rapid growth in most plants. A. potassium B. nitrogen C. zinc D. calcium
B. nitrogen
Some organizations, universities, and individuals maintain old plant varieties that are poor producers
compared to modern varieties. What is the best reason these varieties should be maintained?
A. genetic diversity
B. sentimentality
C. authenticity
D. medicinal sources
A. genetic diversity
Which of the following is generally true of safe pesticide or pesticide container disposal?
A. Empty metal, plastic or glass pesticide containers should be rinsed out three times.
B. Pesticides should be disposed of down a drain or poured onto the ground in secluded areas.
C. Un-used pesticides should be applied to open land and plowed evenly into the soil.
D. Pesticide containers should be put into large plastic bags and burned.
A. Empty metal, plastic or glass pesticide containers should be rinsed out three times.
Which of the following is the correct ranking of chemical signal words from least toxic to most toxic? A. Warning, Poison, Caution B. Poison, Caution, Corrosive C. Warning, Caution, Poison D. Caution, Warning, Danger
D. Caution, Warning, Danger
What term is used to describe the crossing of two un-alike plants, resulting in offspring that are better than either of the parents? A. symbiosis B. genetic gain C. heterosis D. crossbreeding
C. heterosis
Which of these plant groups all have varieties with purple or shades/tints of purple flowers?
A. Betula, Forsythia, Pothos
B. Rhododendron, Saucer magnolia, Azalea
C. Ginko, Ficus, Cotoneaster
D. Euonymus, Potentilla, Picea
B. Rhododendron, Saucer magnolia, Azalea
What is the primary activity in a micropropagation facility? A. microradiation B. tissue culture C. hybridization D. sexual propagation
B. tissue culture
What are the two most common disease agents causing root rot?
A. Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Fusobacterium necrophorum
B. pythium and rhizoctonia
C. coccidian and downy mildew
D. contagious ecthyma and thrombosis
B. pythium and rhizoctonia
Which plant below would make the best accent or specimen plant? A. Blue rug juniper B. Japanese maple C. Chinese holly D. Liriope
B. Japanese maple
Which of the following is a macronutrient? A. iron B. zinc C. calcium D. copper
C. calcium
Which item would be a fixed cost of running a landscape maintenance company? A. tractor payments B. cost of bark mulch C. fuel costs D. cost of landscape fabric
A. tractor payments
Which of these describes the best way to prepare earplugs for insertion?
A. stretch of the earplug to twice its length
B. fold the earplug in half horizontally
C. roll the earplug in your hands
D. stretch and twist the earplug
C. roll the earplug in your hands
A major factor in determining the size and number of sprinkler heads that can be installed in an
irrigation line/circuit is:
A. the number of plants to be watered.
B. the water needs of the plants.
C. the amount of irrigation piping used.
D. the water pressure available for irrigation.
D. the water pressure available for irrigation.
“Dead-heading” is an important operation on many annual plants because it makes them more
attractive by removing dead materials and encourages the plant to:
A. continue blooming.
B. grow taller.
C. grow more compact.
D. go dormant.
A. continue blooming.
A one-story ranch-style home probably should be framed with relatively short trees (mature height) to
provide for proper _______________ of the landscape.
A. scale
B. balance
C. unity
D. clarity
A. scale
Noise pollution has become a big issue for landscape professionals. The sound from landscape
equipment and other noise sources is measured in:
A. sound units.
B. amps.
C. decibels.
D. wavelengths.
C. decibels.
A procedure to expose more plant tissue on the base of cuttings, and hopefully increase rooting, is called: A. scarification. B. wounding. C. splitting. D. girdling.
B. wounding.
If a container crop is continuously over-watered:
A. roots will begin to die from the bottom of the pot.
B. roots will start dying from the top of the pot.
C. stem rot along the soil line will likely develop.
D. roots will twine around the outside edges of the soil ball.
A. roots will begin to die from the bottom of the pot.
Most plant diseases are caused by: A. mold and mildew. B. bacteria, fungi, and viruses. C. viruses and nematodes. D. molds, nematodes, and mildew.
B. bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Zero-turn commercial mowers have become popular because of their:
A. zero percent interest rate.
B. reduced noise on acceleration during turns.
C. long, smooth, wide turning ability.
D. tight turning radius.
D. tight turning radius.
Plants intended for resale to the consumer are purchased by businesses such as garden centers and
landscape companies from ________ nurseries.
A. wholesale
B. retail
C. outlet
D. community
A. wholesale
Which two protective items must be worn when operating a gas powered string trimmer (certain other
items are recommended but optional)?
A. hearing protection and eye protection
B. eye protection and chaps
C. hard hat and steel-toed boots
D. chaps and respirator
A. hearing protection and eye protection
Turf grasses can be propagated using \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ when present. A. lenticels and tendrils B. stolons and rhizomes C. sheaths and internodes D. tendrils and internodes
B. stolons and rhizomes
If a plant is listed as hardy in zones 9-10, what does that mean?
A. the plant is cold hardy in most of the US.
B. the plant does not do well in areas with minimum temperatures below 20-25° F.
C. the plant does not do well in areas with temperatures above 90° F.
D. the plant is an invasive and cannot be shipped to postal zones ending in 09 or 10.
B. stolons and rhizomes
The home landscape is generally divided into three areas, the private, service, and \_\_\_\_ area. A. public B. formal C. turf D. foundation
A. public
Which of these soils will generally dry the fastest? A. clay loam B. loam C. sandy loam D. silt loam
C. sandy loam
An inorganic growing media ingredient made by exposing mica to high temperatures, where it ‘pops’ to form a lightweight media ingredient several times its original size with good water holding ability is: A. vermiculite B. perlite C. peat D. sphagnum
A. vermiculite
The disease cedar-apple rust, uses cedars and junipers as a(n) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ host. A. alternate B. culinary C. dedicated D. definitive
A. alternate
A fertilizer with an analysis of 5-10-15 contains \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ percent of phosphorus. A. 5 B. 10 C. 15 D. 30
B. 10
Many plants are propagated asexually and are clones of the parent plant. This is a common practice in
horticulture because:
A. many plants do not “breed true” from seed.
B. genetic variety is easier to accomplish asexually.
C. most landscape plants cannot be reproduced by seeds.
D. asexually produced plants are usually genetically superior.
A. many plants do not “breed true” from seed.
What factor(s) are important for landscapers to consider when selecting power equipment? A. emission B. noise C. fuel efficiency D. all of the above
D. all of the above
Which of the following is true about flower parts? A. the stigma is male B. the filament is female C. the pollen is male D. all the above are true
D. all of the above
