Free practice test

Environmental Technician Practice Test

Check what you know about the environmental technician job with 15 free questions and instant explanations.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
About this practice test

15 multiple-choice questions on environmental technician knowledge, safety and vocabulary. Submit to see your score and explanations, or open any question’s answer as you go. Nothing is saved or shared.

Question 1 of 15What is the purpose of chain-of-custody documentation?
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Answer: Tracking sample handling to preserve integrity. It proves samples weren’t tampered with.

Question 2 of 15Which pH buffer is typically used first in calibration?
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Answer: pH 7. pH 7 is usually the first calibration point.

Question 3 of 15A PID measures:
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Answer: Volatile organic compounds in air. Photoionization detectors measure VOCs.

Question 4 of 15Holding time refers to:
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Answer: Maximum time before a sample must be analyzed. Samples must be analyzed within holding times.

Question 5 of 15Low-flow purging aims to:
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Answer: Collect representative groundwater with minimal disturbance. Low flow minimizes disturbance.

Question 6 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Volatile organic compounds: chemicals that evaporate easily.”
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Answer: VOCs. VOCs: Volatile organic compounds: chemicals that evaporate easily.

Question 7 of 15What does “pH” mean?
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Answer: A measure of acidity or alkalinity from 0 to 14.. pH: A measure of acidity or alkalinity from 0 to 14.

Question 8 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Multiple samples combined over time or location.”
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Answer: Composite sample. Composite sample: Multiple samples combined over time or location.

Question 9 of 15What does “Phase I ESA” mean?
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Answer: Environmental site assessment reviewing a property’s history for contamination risks.. Phase I ESA: Environmental site assessment reviewing a property’s history for contamination risks.

Question 10 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Cloudiness of water, measured in NTU.”
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Answer: Turbidity. Turbidity: Cloudiness of water, measured in NTU.

Question 11 of 15What does “NPDES permit” mean?
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Answer: A Clean Water Act permit regulating discharges to surface waters.. NPDES permit: A Clean Water Act permit regulating discharges to surface waters.

Question 12 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Quality assurance and quality control: procedures ensuring reliable data.”
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Answer: QA/QC. QA/QC: Quality assurance and quality control: procedures ensuring reliable data.

Question 13 of 15What does “PID” mean?
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Answer: Photoionization detector: measures volatile organic compounds in air.. PID: Photoionization detector: measures volatile organic compounds in air.

Question 14 of 15Which term matches this definition: “A single sample collected at one time and place.”
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Answer: Grab sample. Grab sample: A single sample collected at one time and place.

Question 15 of 15What does “Chain of custody” mean?
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Answer: Documentation tracking who handled a sample and when, preserving its legal integrity.. Chain of custody: Documentation tracking who handled a sample and when, preserving its legal integrity.

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