CSLB General Building (B) Trade Practice Test
Frequently asked questions
How many ASVAB practice questions are here?+
A full bank of original ASVAB practice questions across the official content areas, weighted like the real exam, with explanations. Free, no signup.
What is the ASVAB exam like?+
About 120 questions. Practice by topic here, then take the full timed mock exam to gauge readiness.
Are these the real exam questions?+
No. Every question is 100% original, written from public primary sources with explanations. We never copy real exam questions or paid prep material.
Can I study in Chinese or Spanish?+
PrepPass practice is in English, 中文 and Español. The official exam is in English — switch the question language to English any time to rehearse the exact terminology you'll see on test day.
Sample practice questions
A few real questions from this free bank, with full explanations. Use the practice tool above for the whole set.
- 1. Arithmetic Reasoning
A train travels at a constant speed of 60 miles per hour. How long will it take to travel 180 miles?
- a.3 hours
- b.2 hours
- c.3.5 hours
- d.4 hours
Answer: a
Explanation: Time equals distance divided by speed. Dividing 180 miles by 60 miles per hour gives 3 hours. Keeping the units consistent lets the miles cancel and leaves hours.
- 2. Arithmetic Reasoning
In a class of 30 students, 3/5 are girls. How many boys are in the class?
- a.12
- b.10
- c.15
- d.18
Answer: a
Explanation: Three fifths of 30 is 18 girls. Subtracting 18 girls from 30 total students leaves 12 boys. The fraction of boys is the remaining two fifths of 30, which also equals 12.
- 3. Word Knowledge
"Novice" most nearly means:
- a.beginner
- b.expert
- c.leader
- d.traitor
Answer: a
Explanation: A novice is a person new to a field or activity. Beginner is the nearest match. An expert, being highly skilled, is the opposite.
- 4. Paragraph Comprehension
Bees play a vital role in agriculture. As they move from flower to flower collecting nectar, they carry pollen between plants, allowing many crops to produce fruit. The passage indicates that bees help crops by:
- a.carrying pollen between plants
- b.eating harmful insects
- c.watering the soil
- d.keeping the ground warm
Answer: a
Explanation: The passage states bees carry pollen from flower to flower, which allows crops to produce fruit. That matches the correct choice. The other answers are not mentioned.
- 5. Mathematics Knowledge
The area of a triangle with base 10 and height 6 is:
- a.30
- b.16
- c.60
- d.45
Answer: a
Explanation: The area of a triangle equals one half times base times height. That is 0.5 times 10 times 6, which equals 30 square units. Forgetting the one-half factor gives the incorrect value 60.
- 6. Mathematics Knowledge
What is the value of 6 divided by 0.5?
- a.12
- b.3
- c.6
- d.0.083
Answer: a
Explanation: Dividing by 0.5 is the same as multiplying by 2. So 6 divided by 0.5 equals 12. Dividing by a number less than 1 produces a result larger than the original.
- 7. General Science
The Richter scale is used to measure the strength of:
- a.Earthquakes
- b.Hurricanes
- c.Tornadoes
- d.Floods
Answer: a
Explanation: The Richter scale measures the magnitude, or energy released, of earthquakes. Hurricanes and tornadoes are rated on different scales based on wind speed.
- 8. Electronics Information
A component that allows current to flow in only one direction is a:
- a.diode
- b.resistor
- c.capacitor
- d.switch
Answer: a
Explanation: A diode conducts current in one direction and blocks it in the other, acting like a one-way valve. This property makes diodes useful for converting AC to DC.
- 9. Mechanical Comprehension
Which of these is an example of an inclined plane?
- a.A ramp
- b.A wheelbarrow
- c.A seesaw
- d.A ceiling fan
Answer: a
Explanation: A ramp is a flat surface set at an angle, which is the definition of an inclined plane. It makes raising a load easier by spreading the effort over a longer distance.
- 10. Auto & Shop Information
A spark plug is used to:
- a.ignite the fuel-air mixture
- b.cool the engine
- c.filter the oil
- d.charge the battery
Answer: a
Explanation: In a gasoline engine, the spark plug produces an electric spark that ignites the compressed fuel-air mixture in the cylinder. This controlled ignition powers the piston stroke.