Core Pesticide Practice Exam

We created this quiz to help prepare applicators that are taking their core pesticide exam.

Each question is worth 1 point with a max score of 67 points. Your score and the correct answers will be shown at the end of the exam as well as emailed to you.

Good Luck!

Name

What is the purpose of the signal word?

Informs the user of what type of PPE to wear.

To give the user an indication of the relative acute toxicity of the product to humans and animals.

Informs the user of how toxic the pesticide is to wildlife and the environment.

Tells the user what type of first-aid treatment to seek in case of exposure.

Which federal agency is responsible for registering or licensing pesticide products for use in the United States?

Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Which signal word is associated with Hazard Class I and chemicals that have severe corrosive properties but do not necessarily have very low oral LD50 values?

WARNING.

DANGER.

CAUTION.

DANGER—POISON.

According to EPA criteria, what type of respirator must you wear when applying liquid pesticide products from Toxicity Class I?

Use a NIOSH-approved respirator with any N, R, P, or 100 series prefilter.

Use a self-contained breathing apparatus (NIOSH TC-13F).

Use an air-supplying respirator (NIOSH TC-19C).

Use a NIOSH-approved respirator with an organic vapor (OV) cartridge or canister with any N, R, P, or 100 series prefilter.

Which is a disadvantage of both EC and ULV formulations?

Require constant agitation to keep in suspension.

Solvents may cause rubber or plastic hoses, gaskets, and pump parts and surfaces to deteriorate.

Contribute to abrasive wear of nozzles and pumps.

Difficult to handle, transport, and store.

Which is an example of non-point-source contamination of groundwater?

Dumping leftover pesticide products down a well.

Back-siphoning of pesticide spills at a wellhead.

Pesticides that dissolve and leach through soil after it rains.

Leaching from a pesticide mixing area.

Which statement about posting and notification requirements is false?

Posting usually involves placing a small plastic flag or sign in a conspicuous place to alert people to avoid treated areas.

Some states may require you to provide copies of labels and material safety data sheets at the time of application or upon request by the customer.

Most states require posting of and notification about pesticide applications made in agricultural areas.

States and other governmental entities may require posting of treated sites immediately following a pesticide application.

Which statement is true about washing contaminated PPE?

After washing the items, run the washer through at least one additional entire cycle without clothing

Use only very short wash cycles

Use cold water and one wash cycle.

Wash a full load of PPE items at a time.

Which would not be considered a good security practice?

Replacing employees often with new personnel.

Instructing employees on pesticide inventory control.

Preventing access to equipment used in mixing, loading, or applying pesticides.

Reporting suspicious behavior to the FBI.

10.

Which statement about the requirements of the FQPA is true?

The FQPA does not require review of older pesticides with established residue tolerances on food.

The FQPA does not consider additional safety standards to account for exposure risks to infants and children.

Testing of pesticides for endocrine disruption potential is required under the FQPA.

For setting new standards, the FQPA considers aggregate exposures to pesticides but not cumulative exposures.

11.

Under what soil conditions are pesticides more likely to leach through soil?

A heavy clay soil, low in organic matter, where groundwater is shallow.

A sandy soil, high in organic matter, where groundwater is deep.

A sandy soil, low in organic matter, where groundwater is shallow.

A heavy clay soil, high in organic matter, where groundwater is deep.

12.

Lowering the humidity of stored grains and other food products to reduce damage from mold is an example of which type of pest management method?

Mechanical

Physical/environmental modification

Biological

Regulatory pest control.

13.

Which statement about triple-rinsing and pressure- rinsing pesticide containers is true?

You must wear protective clothing for triple rinsing but not for pressure-rinsing.

Triple-rinsing requires the use of a special nozzle.

Triple-rinsing is more effective than pressure-rinsing.

Both triple-rinsed and pressure-rinsed containers are considered non-hazardous waste.

14.

According to FIFRA, what is the minimum standard for direct supervision of a pesticide application by uncertified individuals?

The application is done by a competent person with the certified applicator present at the time and place the pesticide is applied.

The application is done by a person who has passed a competency exam.

The application is done by a competent person who has received a six-month training course by a certified applicator.

The application is done by a competent person acting under the instruction and control of a certified applicator who is available if and when needed.

15.

Which dry/solid formulation is mixed in water and reduces the risk of inhalation exposure during mixing and loading?

Dusts (D).

Water-dispersable granules (WDG) or dry flowables (DF).

Soluble powders (SP).

Wettable powders (WP).

16.

What two things should pesticide applicators be most aware of to avoid spray drift?

Viscosity of liquid pesticides and air turbulence.

Temperature and pesticide volatility.

Droplet size and wind direction and speed.

Air stability and temperature.

17.

You are applying a pesticide to a circular area with a 20-foot diameter: What is the area?

628 square feet.

400 square feet.

314 square feet

128 square feet.

18.

Both civil and criminal penalties can be assessed for FIFRA violations.

True

False

19.

Which statement about sprayer nozzles is true?

A nozzle that primarily produces fine droplets is usually selected to minimize off-target drift.

Nozzle material should be selected based on the pesticide formulation

Coarse-sized droplets supply maximum coverage of the target.

Brass tips should be used when applying abrasive materials.

20.

Which statement is true about cultural control practices?

Cultural practices alter the environment, the condition of the host, or the behavior of the pest to prevent or suppress an infestation.

Cultural controls involve the release of parasites and predators found in foreign countries.

Sanitation is not considered a cultural practice.

Trapping is an important cultural control practice.

21.

According to the Worker Protection Standard, what must the pesticide handler have access to if the label requires goggles for eye protection?

A half-face respirator.

A full faceshield to cover the goggles.

An eyewash dispenser.

A full-face respirator.

22.

Which federal law requires that all pesticides meet new safety standards?

Worker Protection Standard (WPS).

Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA).

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

23.

Which statement about the proper technique for opening pesticide containers is true?

Put on the appropriate PPE after the containers have been opened.

Use a sharp knife or scissors to open paper or cardboard containers.

You should tear open paper or cardboard containers carefully.

Leave the container open until you are done mixing pesticides for the day.

24.

The route of entry statement on a label “Extremely hazardous by skin contact — rapidly absorbed through the skin” would most likely appear with which signal word?

DANGER.

CAUTION.

No signal word required

WARNING.

25.

Which liquid pesticide formulation may approach 100 percent active ingredient?

Ready-to-use low-concentrate solutions (RTU)

Aerosols (A).

Ultra-low volume (ULV).

Emulsifiable concentrate (EC).

26.

Which liquid pesticide formulation consists of a small amount of active ingredient (often 1 percent or less per unit volume) dissolved in an organic solvent?

Emulsifiable concentrate (EC).

Flowables (F)/liquids (L).

Ultra-low volume (ULV)

Ready-to-use low-concentrate solutions (RTU).

27.

Which statement is true about protecting bees from pesticide injury?

Aerial applications are less hazardous to bees than ground applications.

Applying pesticides in the evening or during early morning is recommended

Wettable powders are the safest formulation for preventing bee injury.

It is best to spray crops when they are in bloom.

28.

The capacity of a pesticide to cause short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) injury is referred to as its:

Hazard.

Oral LD50

Toxicity.

Exposure.

29.

What is the first step a business should take to develop a sound pesticide security program?

Employee training in security awareness.

Risk assessment.

Coordination with authorities.

Evaluation of pesticide security.

30.

Which statement about pesticide rinsates is true?

The amount of pesticide in the rinsate plus the amount of pesticide product in the new mixture may exceed the label rate for the target site.

Rinsates containing strong cleaning agents may be reused in pesticide mixtures.

Rinsates may be applied to labeled target sites at or below labeled rates.

Dispose of rinsates by pouring them down a sink or drain

31.

Experimental use permits required under Section 5 of FIFRA can be used when conducting experimental field tests on new pesticides or new uses of pesticides on:

5 or more acres of land or 1 or more acres of water.

10 or more acres of land or 1 or more acres of water.

less than 1 acre of land or water.

7 or more acres of land or 2 or more acres of water.

32.

Which is the pesticide formulation process by which solid particles are dispersed in a liquid

ULV solvents.

Emulsion.

Suspension.

Solution.

33.

What is the first thing you should do to help a victim of inhalation exposure?

Administer artificial respiration.

Get the victim to fresh air

Keep the chin up to ensure that air passages are open for breathing

Have the victim lie down and loosen clothing.

34.

To prevent damage to pesticide labels, you may use transparent tape or a coating of lacquer or polyurethane to protect them.

True

False

35.

Who is responsible for developing MSDSs on specific chemicals and providing them on request?

OSHA.

The EPA.

The USDA.

The product manufacturer.

36.

Which statement about cleaning and disposing of pesticide containers is true?

Containers must be disposed of in accordance with label directions and federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Do not puncture rinsed pesticide containers.

Pesticide containers that cannot be recycled or returned to the manufacturer should be reused.

When rinsing pesticide containers, pour the rinsate down the drain.

37.

Which statement about sensitive areas is true?

Never spray a sensitive area to control a pest for any reason.

Do not spray a larger target site if it contains a sensitive area.

Endangered species habitats are not considered sensitive areas.

Pesticide labels may contain statements that list special precautions around sensitive areas.

38.

What is the backbone of any emergency response plan?

Keeping an inventory of emergency equipment and supplies on site.

Knowing where copies of labels and material safety data sheets are kept.

Having a pesticide inventory readily available.

Outlining the sequence of actions to take in a crisis.

39.

If a pesticide label states that you must wear gloves based on guidelines in Chemical Resistance Category "D", which materials provide the best protection from the pesticide?

Polyvinyl chloride or vitron.

Barrier laminate or butyl rubber.

Natural rubber or polyethylene.

Nitrile rubber or neoprene rubber.

40.

Which is an advantage of microencapsulated materials?

They usually require only short restricted entry intervals.

Delayed or slow release of the active ingredient prolongs its effectiveness.

Their pesticidal activity is independent of weather conditions.

They pose few hazards to bees.

41.

What is needed to apply a pesticide legally when a pest problem arises for which a food or feed commodity is not on the registered pesticide label or a tolerance has not yet been established?

A minimum-risk pesticide classification.

An emergency registration.

An emergency exemption.

Use a restricted-use pesticide.

42.

Which would increase the likelihood of pesticide resistance?

Continual use of the same pesticides or pesticides from the same chemical class

An insect has only one generation per year.

Applying a pesticide that has little or no residual effect.

Limiting the number of pesticide applications.

43.

Which statement about pesticide storage facilities is true?

If pesticides are stored in a small, locked cabinet or closet, it is not necessary to post warning signs.

Store pesticides in a warm, airtight environment.

Carefully consider soil and land surface characteristics when selecting a storage site to prevent potential contamination of water sources.

The floor of the pesticide storage site should consist of materials such as carpeting or wood.

44.

Which type of pesticide application procedure involves the uniform application of a pesticide to an entire area or field?

Basal application.

Directed-spray application

Band application

Broadcast application.

45.

Which practice for minimizing storage problems is not recommended?

Buy large quantities of pesticides to reduce costs and ensure that the chemicals you use are available when you need them.

Be sure to note if the product has an effective shelf life listed on the label.

Keep records of previous usage to make good estimates of future needs.

Mark each pesticide container with the purchase date, and keep an inventory of all pesticides in storage.

46.

Which type of pesticide application would you use to control cockroaches inside of buildings?

Crack and crevice application.

Band application.

Broadcast application

Basal application.

47.

Under which set of circumstances would the certified applicator be required to be physically present at the application site?

When the pesticide is being applied inside or around a public building

Whenever any type of pesticide is applied by an uncertified individual

Whenever a restricted-use pesticide is applied.

If state law or the label requires it.

48.

Which statement is true about PPE chemical resistance?

Cotton, leather, and canvas are chemically resistant to dry formulations.

Gloves, boots, aprons, and suits made of rubber or plastic are the least chemically resistant.

The ability of a given material to protect an individual from a pesticide product is largely a function of the type of solvent used to formulate the pesticide product.

Cloth is easy to clean after it becomes contaminated with a pesticide, or it can be inexpensively disposed of after each use.

49.

Which is true about statements of practical treatment?

Statements about inducing vomiting are not found on the label.

They are not associated with signal words.

All DANGER labels contain a note to physicians describing appropriate medical procedures.

It is not important to have the pesticide label in case of a poisoning emergency.

50.

Sealing cracks and crevices and small openings in buildings is an example of which type of mechanical control method?

Cultivation

Exclusion.

Trapping

Mulching.

51.

Which statement is true about pesticide toxicity?

Cholinesterase inhibition due to exposure to organophosphate or carbamate insecticides can cause acute or delayed effects

Delayed effects occur only after a single acute toxicity exposure.

A pesticide with an oral LD50 of 250 mg/kg is more toxic than a pesticide with an LD50 of 5 mg/kg.

Manufacturers are not required to include chronic toxicity warning statements on product labels; only acute toxicity warnings are included.

52.

What two things should pesticide applicators be most aware of to avoid vapor drift?

Air stability and temperature.

Viscosity of liquid pesticides and air turbulence

Temperature and pesticide volatility.

Droplet size and wind direction and speed.

53.

Which is not a recommended action to take in the event of a fire involving pesticides?

Contain small fires with fog, foam, or dry powder.

Notify the fire department and inform the firefighters of the nature of the pesticides involved.

Construct dikes to contain contaminated runoff water.

Use water jets to put out the pesticide fire.

54.

Which statement is true about PPE as required by the label?

Sometimes a label has different PPE requirements for pesticide handlers and early-entry workers

Wearing the PPE listed on the label ensures that you will not be exposed to pesticides.

You should not wear more PPE than the label requires.

You are not required to wear all the PPE listed on the label.

55.

Which would be an appropriate way to describe a relatively low-toxicity pesticide product to the customer?

Non-toxic.

Use with caution.

EPA-approved.

Environmentally friendly.

56.

When two or more pesticides mixed together form a putty or paste, separate into layers, or look like cottage cheese, it is an example of:

Physical incompatibility.

Chemical incompatibility.

Placement incompatibility.

Timing incompatibility.

57.

An enclosed cab always provides enough protection from pesticide exposure to allow applicators to use less PPE than recommended on the label.

True

False

58.

Which statement about emergency response planning is true?

As long as you have an emergency response plan at your facility, it is not necessary to designate an emergency response coordinator.

It is important to keep with your emergency list an outline of the information that should be passed along during an emergency notification call.

Your emergency response plan should reflect only the off-season inventory of pesticides stored at your facility.

In the event of an emergency, the first person to contact would be your attorney.

59.

Directions for mixing and loading a pesticide are usually found under:

The directions for use.

The agricultural use requirements.

Precautionary statements.

Environmental hazards.

60.

Which technique would help to minimize off target drift?

Use the largest droplets practical to provide necessary coverage.

Increase pressure and travel speed.

Spray during a temperature inversion.

Increase the height of the nozzles above the target.

61.

Which statement is true about heat stress?

Constriction of pupils is a symptom of heat stroke.

Wearing lots of PPE prevents heat stress.

Lack of sweat is a symptom of heat stroke

Less than 10 percent of people affected by severe heat stroke die

62.

Which would be considered a preventive pest management strategy?

Planting weed- and disease-free seed.

Releasing natural enemies to help reduce pest populations.

Eliminating rodents from a commercial food establishment.

Removing from an area a pest that is a public health concern.

63.

Determining when to apply a pesticide includes consideration of:

What safety measures you should follow.

The percent active ingredient.

The need for additives or adjuvants.

The life cycle of the pest and weather conditions.

64.

Which federal law governs the establishment of pesticide tolerances for food and feed products?

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

Worker Protection Standard (WPS).

Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA).

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

65.

Which statement is false about first-aid response for pesticide exposure to the eye?

Hold the eye open and immediately begin gently washing the eye with drips of clean water.

The water should be dripped directly into the eye, don’t use an eyewash dispenser.

Continuously rinse the eye for 15 minutes.

Flush under the eyelid with water to remove debris.

66.

Which would not be an action to take in the case of a pesticide spill?

Use absorbent pillows or tubes to dike around the spill area.

Contain liquid spills by spreading absorbent materials such as fine sand, vermiculite, clay, or pet litter over the entire spill.

Rope off the contaminated area, keeping people at least 30 feet from the spill.

Use sawdust or sweeping compounds to control pesticides that are strong oxidizers.

67.

Using barriers to prevent pests from getting into an area is an example of which type of pest management method?

Mechanical control.

Genetic control.

Chemical control.

Biological control