10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
The CAST exam has 110 questions and runs 1 hour 27 minutes.
These 10 free CAST questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Construction and Skilled Trades Selection System blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
A site plan shows a property line running east to west, divided into three sections. The overall length of the property line is labeled 137 ft. The first section is labeled 42 ft and the second section is labeled 38 ft. The third section carries no label. What is the length of the third section?
Correct answer: C - 57 ft
A drawing shows a rectangular equipment yard measuring 40 ft by 25 ft. Inside the yard, a concrete pad measuring 12 ft by 10 ft is marked off and is not part of the graveled surface. How many square feet of the yard are graveled?
Correct answer: B - 880 square feet
Two workers carry a heavy beam slung from a pole resting on their shoulders. The beam does not hang at the midpoint of the pole; it hangs closer to Worker A. Which worker bears more of the beam's weight?
Correct answer: C - Worker A, because the load hangs closer to him
In a hydraulic jack, the small piston has an area of 2 square inches and the large piston has an area of 20 square inches. The small piston is pushed down a distance of 10 inches. Ignoring friction, how far does the large piston rise?
Correct answer: A - 1 inch
Four gears are meshed in a straight line: gear 1 drives gear 2, gear 2 drives gear 3, and gear 3 drives gear 4. Gear 1 has 10 teeth and gear 4 has 40 teeth. If gear 1 turns clockwise, gear 4 turns:
Correct answer: D - Counterclockwise and slower than gear 1
Four water tanks each feed an outlet valve at ground level. Tank A is 40 ft tall and 10 ft wide. Tank B is 40 ft tall and 30 ft wide. Tank C is 60 ft tall and 8 ft wide. Tank D is 25 ft tall and 40 ft wide. All four tanks are completely full. Which tank produces the greatest water pressure at its ground-level outlet?
Correct answer: C - Tank C
Read the passage, then answer the question. Static electricity builds up when two materials rub together and electrons transfer from one surface to the other. The material that gains electrons takes on a negative charge; the one that loses them becomes positively charged. Because unlike charges attract, a charged object will cling to a neutral surface, which is why a plastic comb drawn through dry hair will pick up small scraps of paper. Humidity plays a decisive role. Moist air carries the accumulated charge away almost as fast as it forms, so static shocks are rare in humid weather and common in winter, when indoor heating strips moisture from the air. In workplaces where flammable vapors are present, this seasonal difference is not a curiosity but a hazard, and grounding straps are used to bleed off charge before it can discharge as a spark. As used in the final sentence of the passage, the word "bleed" most nearly means:
Correct answer: B - To drain away gradually
Read the passage, then answer the question. Static electricity builds up when two materials rub together and electrons transfer from one surface to the other. The material that gains electrons takes on a negative charge; the one that loses them becomes positively charged. Because unlike charges attract, a charged object will cling to a neutral surface, which is why a plastic comb drawn through dry hair will pick up small scraps of paper. Humidity plays a decisive role. Moist air carries the accumulated charge away almost as fast as it forms, so static shocks are rare in humid weather and common in winter, when indoor heating strips moisture from the air. In workplaces where flammable vapors are present, this seasonal difference is not a curiosity but a hazard, and grounding straps are used to bleed off charge before it can discharge as a spark. According to the passage, static shocks are more common in winter because:
Correct answer: D - Indoor heating reduces the moisture in the air
1 square yard = 9 square feet. A work area measures 12 feet by 15 feet. How many square yards is this area?
Correct answer: A - 20
12 inches = 1 foot. 3 feet = 1 yard. A cable measures 288 inches. What is its length in yards?
Correct answer: A - 8
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