General Knowledge Practice Test - CDL Permit - Alpha Truck Driving School

General Knowledge Quiz

The purpose of the retarders is to:(Required)

Help slow the vehicle while driving and reduce brake wear.

Help prevent skids.

Apply extra braking power the non-drive axles.

You should avoid driving through deep puddles or flowing water. But if you must, which of these steps can help to keep your brakes working?(Required)

Gently putting on the brakes while driving through the water.

Turning on your brake heater.

Applying hard pressure on both the brake pedal and accelerator after coming out of the water.

If you are being tailgated, you should:(Required)

Signal the tailgater when it is safe to pass you.

Increase your following distance.

Flash your brake lights.

If you need to leave the road in the traffic emergency, you should:(Required)

Try to get all wheels off the pavement.

Avoid braking until your speed has dropped to about 20 mph.

Avoid a shoulder because most shoulders will not support a large vehicle.

You are driving a new truck with a manual transmission. What gear will you probably have to use to take a long, steep downhill grade?(Required)

The same gear you would use to climb the hill.

A lower gear than you would use to climb the hill.

A higher gear than you would use to climb the hill.

You are driving a heavy vehicle. You must exit a highway using an off-ramp that curves downhill. You should:(Required)

Slow to the posted speed limit for the off-ramp.

Slow down to a safe speed before the curve.

Wait until you are in the curve before downshifting.

Which of these is a good thing to remember about using mirrors?(Required)

Convex mirrors make things look larger and closer than they really are.

You should look at a mirror for several seconds at a time.

There are blind spots that your mirror cannot show.

Which of these is a good thing to do when steering to avoid a crash?(Required)

Steer with one hand so that you can turn the wheel more quickly.

Apply the brakes while turning.

Don't turn any more than needed to clear what is in your way.

Brake fade:(Required)

Can be corrected by letting up on the brakes for 1-2 seconds and then reapplying them.

Can be used by the brakes getting very hot.

Is a problem that only occurs with drum brakes.

Your vehicle has hydraulic brakes. While traveling on a level road, you press the brake pedal and find that it goes to the floor. Which of these statements is true?(Required)

Shifting into neutral will help slow the vehicle.

The parking brake will not work either because it is a part of the same hydraulic system.

Pumping the brake pedal may bring the pressure up so you can stop the vehicle.

You are driving on a two-lane road. An oncoming driver drifts into your lane and is headed straight for you. Which of these is most often the best action to take?(Required)

Steer to the right.

Steer onto the left shoulder.

Hard braking.

According to the driver's manual, why should you limit the use of your horn?(Required)

The horn is not a good way to let others know you are there.

It can startle other drivers.

You should keep firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands at all times.

You are driving a heavy vehicle with a manual transmission. You have to stop the vehicle on the shoulder while driving on an uphill grade. Which of these is a good rule to follow when putting it back in motion up the grade?(Required)

Let the vehicle roll backwards a few feet before you engage the clutch, but turn the wheel so that the back moves away from the roadway.

Keep the clutch slipping while slowly accelerating.

Use the parking brake to hold the vehicle until the clutch engages.

Which of these is a good thing to remember when crossing or entering traffic with a heavy vehicle?(Required)

Heavy vehicles need larger gaps in traffic than cars.

The best way to cross the traffic is to pull the vehicle partway across the road and block one lane while waiting for the other to clear.

Because heavy vehicles are easy to see, you can count on other drivers to move out of your way or slow down for you.

Which of these statements about downshifting is true?(Required)

When you downshift for a curve, you should do so before you enter the curve.

When double-clutching, you should let the rpms decrease while the clutch is released and the shift lever is in neutral.

When you downshift for a hill, you should do so after you start down the hill.

You are checking your wheels and rims for a pre-trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?(Required)

A vehicle can be safely driven with one missing lug nut on a wheel.

Mismatched lock rings can be used on the same vehicle.

Rust around wheel nuts may mean they are loose.

For your safety, when setting out reflective triangles, you should:(Required)

Hold the triangles between yourself and oncoming traffic.

Keep them out of sight while you walk to the spots where you set them out.

Turn on your flashers.

How do you correct a rear-wheel acceleration skid?(Required)

Stop accelerating.

Apply more power to the wheels.

Downshift.

Which of these statements about cold weather driving is true?(Required)

Windshield washer antifreeze should be used.

An engine cannot overhear when the weather is very cold.

Exhaust system leaks are less dangerous in cold weather.

You are driving on a straight, level highway at 50 mph. There are no vehicles in front of you. Suddenly a tire blew out on your vehicle. What should you do first?(Required)

Begin light braking.

Stay off the brake until the vehicle has slowed down.

Begin emergency braking.

You are driving a vehicle at 55 mph on dry pavement. About how much total stopping distance will you need to bring it to a stop?(Required)

Half the length of the football field.

The length of a football field.

Twice the length of the vehicle.

Which of these statements about drugs is true?(Required)

Amphetamine ("pep pills" or "bennies") can be used to help the driver stay alert.

Use of drugs can lead to an accident and/or arrest.

A driver can use any prescription drug while driving.

If a straight vehicle (not trailer or articulation) goes into a front-wheel skid, it will:(Required)

Go straight ahead even if the steering wheel is turned.

Go straight ahead but will turn if you turn the steering wheel.

Slide sideways and spin out.

You must park on a side of a level, straight, four-lane divided highway. Where should you place the reflective triangles?(Required)

One within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 100 feet to the front of the vehicle.

One within 10 feet of the front of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 200 feet to the rear.

One within 10 feet of the rear of the vehicle, one about 100 feet to the rear, and one about 200 feet to the rear.

As the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) goes up, what happens?(Required)

The effects of alcohol decrease.

The drinker more clearly sees how alcohol is affecting him/her.

Judgment and self-control are affected.

Hydroplaning:(Required)

Cannot occur when driving through a puddle.

Is more likely if tire pressure is low.

Only occurs when there is a lot of water.

Which of these statements about staying alert to drive is true?(Required)

A half-hour break for coffee will do more to keep you alert than a half-hour nap.

If you must stop to take a nap, it should be at a truck stop or other rest area and never on the side of the road.

Sleep is the only thing that can overcome fatigue.

How far should a driver look ahead of the vehicle while driving?(Required)

12-15 seconds.

18-21 seconds.

5-8 seconds.

Controlled braking:(Required)

Is used to keep a vehicle in a straight line when braking.

Involved locking the wheels for short period of time.

Can be used when you are turning sharply.

Which of these statements about certain types of cargo is true?(Required)

Oversize load can be hauled without special permit during times when the roads are not busy.

When liquids are hauled, the tank should always be loaded totally full.

Unstable load such as hanging meat or livestock can require extra caution on curves.

A key principle to remember about loading cargo is to keep the load:(Required)

To the front.

To the rear.

Balanced in the cargo area.

You should stop driving:(Required)

Whenever you become sleepy.

After 9 hours.

After 5 hours.

Untitled Quiz Field(Required)

Haul the load but file a report with the Depatment of Transportation after the trip.

Haul the load but only to the nearest place where a driver with a Hazardous Materials Endorsement can take over.

Refuse to haul the load.

You are checking your tires for a pre-trip inspection. Which of these statements is true?(Required)

2/32 inch tread depth is safe for front tires.

Tires of mismatched sizes should not be used together in the same vehicle.

Radial and bias-ply tires can be used together on the same vehicle.

When driving at night, you should:(Required)

Look to the left side of the road when a vehicle is coming towards you.

Adjust your speed to keep your stopping distance within your sight distance.

Dim your lights within 300 feet of an oncoming vehicle.

Which of these is NOT a good rule to follow when caring for injured person at an accident scene?(Required)

Move severely injured person if there is a danger due to fire or passing traffic.

If a qualified person is helping them, stay out of the way unless asked to assist.

Keep an injured person cool.

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