Free Arkansas State Specific Examination — Part II, USPLSS Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Arkansas State Specific Examination — Part II, USPLSS practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1On an original Arkansas GLO plat, no north-south dimensions are shown for the interior sections. What length is understood?

   1. A. 40 chains
   2. B. 60 chains
   3. C. 80 chains
   4. D. 100 chains

   Answer: C

   Explanation: "They are understood to be exactly 80.00 chains record" The Board's official sample keys this situation as: The north-south dimensions of the interior sections are understood to be exactly 80 chains.

   Reference: SAMPLE QUESTIONS — Sample Question 6 and answer

2. 2How must a recovered original township, section, or quarter-section corner be treated in an Arkansas PLSS retracement?

   1. A. As the true intended corner position
   2. B. As a provisional calculated position
   3. C. As an approximate record position
   4. D. As a temporary witness position

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "true" The Arkansas official sample keys recovered original corners as the true corner positions they were intended to represent.

   Reference: Ar Minimum Standards (2020) — Sample Question 9 and answer

3. 3Which calculation method does the Arkansas official sample use to establish the unmonumented north quarter corner of Section 5 between controlling corners?

   1. A. Single proportion
   2. B. Double proportion
   3. C. Least squares
   4. D. Three-point resection

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "This will require a single proportion between the existent corners noted" The official sample solution says the corner is to be located by single proportionate measurement.

   Reference: SAMPLE QUESTIONS — Sample Problem 12, solution

4. 4In the original rectangular surveys addressed by the Arkansas sample examination, closing corners were normally set on which lines?

   1. A. Range lines only
   2. B. Township lines only
   3. C. Both range and township lines
   4. D. Interior quarter-section lines only

   Answer: C

   Explanation: "both range and township lines" The official sample answer says: Closing corners were normally set on both range and township lines.

   Reference: SAMPLE QUESTIONS — Sample Question 10 and answer

5. 5Which guide do Arkansas minimum standards specify for restoration of lost or obliterated PLSS corners?

   1. A. The current BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions
   2. B. A county tax atlas
   3. C. The current building code
   4. D. An owner's unrecorded sketch

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "shall be used as the guide for the restoration of lost or obliterated corners" Arkansas's standards state: The current Bureau of Land Management Manual of Surveying Instructions shall be used as a guide for the restoration of lost or obliterated corners.

   Reference: Ar Minimum Standards (2020) — § 3.1(B)

6. 6Which method does the Arkansas official sample use to restore a lost interior section corner controlled in both cardinal directions?

   1. A. Single proportion
   2. B. Double proportion
   3. C. Compass rule
   4. D. Area balancing

   Answer: B

   Explanation: "The solution is by double proportioning" The official sample solution states: This corner is reestablished by double proportionate measurement.

   Reference: SAMPLE QUESTIONS — Sample Problem 13, solution

7. 7Which corner is senior when an original standard-parallel corner and a later closing corner occupy the correction line?

   1. A. The closing corner
   2. B. The standard-parallel corner
   3. C. Whichever monument is larger
   4. D. Whichever was most recently recovered

   Answer: B

   Explanation: "Corner on standard parallel (or, correction line)" The Arkansas official sample keys the standard parallel (correction line) corner as the senior corner.

   Reference: SAMPLE QUESTIONS — Sample Question 11 and answer

8. 8Owners on both sides agree that a division fence is the land line, but it does not check reasonably with the PLSS township plat. How should an Arkansas highway survey treat it?

   1. A. Do not accept it as correct
   2. B. Accept it as controlling
   3. C. Accept it as a standard corner
   4. D. Accept it as an original monument

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "accept division fences as correct only when the owners of each side of the line agree" Direct official excerpt: accept division fences as correct only when the owners of each side of the line agree and if it checks reasonably well with the survey as shown on the PLSS Township Plat.

   Reference: Manual of Surveying Instructions 2009 — § 5.3, division-fence acceptance

9. 9In the Arkansas sample's north-south proportion, the target lies 80 record chains from the south control and 40 from the north control. What fraction of the measured south-to-north displacement is applied from the south control?

   1. A. 1/3
   2. B. 1/2
   3. C. 2/3
   4. D. 3/4

   Answer: C

   Explanation: "exactly two-thirds of the way" The official sample computes the northing with 80/(80 + 40), which equals 2/3 of the measured displacement from the south control.

   Reference: SAMPLE QUESTIONS — Sample Problem 13, northing calculation

10. 10What is the unit of survey under the rectangular PLSS?

    1. A. A lot of 10 acres
    2. B. A quarter-quarter section
    3. C. A township of 36 sections
    4. D. A county of 100 sections

    Answer: C

    Explanation: "the unit of survey is the township of 36 sections" The incorporated official reference states: Under the rectangular system, the unit of survey is the township of 36 sections. Arkansas's official exam policy assigns Original GLO surveys and lists this BLM Manual.

    Reference: Manual of Surveying Instructions 2009 — PART II USPLSS — Original GLO; Suggested Study Materials — BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions