Week 6 Energy and Utility Final – Capstone Comprehensive Quiz

Which of the following best describes the role of the electric grid in the energy sector?

It is a single power plant that distributes electricity to a local area

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It is an interconnected network of generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure that moves electricity from producers to consumers

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It is a backup system that activates only when primary power sources fail

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It is a government-owned facility responsible for setting energy prices

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True or False: A pre-apprenticeship program and a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) are the same thing — both involve earning while learning under a journeyman in a union or industry-sponsored program.

True

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False

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A utility technician is described as having “systems-level awareness.” Which of the following behaviors best demonstrates this?

Replacing the faulty component as quickly as possible to restore production

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Following the maintenance schedule exactly as written regardless of current conditions

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Recognizing that a pressure drop in one section of a distribution system may indicate a fault affecting multiple downstream components

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Referring all diagnostic decisions to a senior technician before taking any action

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True or False: Energy and industrial careers such as power plant operator, wind turbine technician, and water treatment operator all share a common need for safety literacy, systems thinking, and reliable technical documentation.

True

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False

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In the context of energy and utility careers, what is the primary function of a transmission line?

To convert mechanical energy from a turbine into usable electrical current at the point of use

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To carry high-voltage electricity over long distances from generation facilities toward distribution systems

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To step voltage down to safe levels before it enters a residential neighborhood

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To store excess electricity generated during low-demand periods for later use

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A technician is preparing to replace a motor starter on a piece of equipment that is currently energized. Which of the following is the correct first step according to LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) procedure?

Install the lock on the disconnect switch, then notify the supervisor

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Identify all energy sources for the equipment, then shut down, isolate, lock, and verify zero energy before beginning work

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Wear insulated gloves and proceed carefully, since the replacement is a minor task

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Tag the equipment with a warning notice and begin work once the tag is in place

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True or False: The purpose of a tagout device is identical to a lockout device — both physically prevent equipment from being re-energized by anyone other than the authorized technician performing the work.

True

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False

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A technician smells a faint odor of burning insulation near an electrical panel but sees no visible smoke or flame. According to OSHA-aligned safety protocols, what is the appropriate immediate response?

Open the panel to identify the source before it becomes a larger problem

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Ignore it until the smell becomes stronger, as minor odors are normal near electrical equipment

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Stop work, move away from the panel, report the hazard to a supervisor, and do not re-enter the area until it has been inspected and cleared

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Activate the nearest fire extinguisher and then call the supervisor

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Under which OSHA standard do most advanced manufacturing and energy technicians operate?

OSHA 1926 (Construction)

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OSHA 1910 (General Industry)

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OSHA 1700 (Agriculture)

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OSHA 1904 (Recordkeeping)

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A digital multimeter is set to measure DC voltage. A technician touches the leads to a terminal and gets a reading of 0.003V. Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of this result?

The circuit has a small but potentially dangerous voltage that requires immediate shutdown

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The meter is malfunctioning and should be replaced before continuing

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The reading is effectively zero — consistent with a de-energized circuit or meter lead resistance. The technician should verify the meter is functioning correctly using a known live source.

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The circuit is energized at 3 millivolts and is safe to touch without PPE

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To test if a wire has a continuous path for electricity to flow, you use the ______ setting on a multimeter.

Voltage

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Resistance/Continuity

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Amperage

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Frequency

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Using Ohm’s Law, calculate the current flowing through a circuit with a resistance of 24 ohms connected to a 120V supply.

2,880 amps

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0.2 amps

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5 amps

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144 amps

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A bearing on a centrifugal pump shaft is showing signs of wear. Which combination of observable symptoms would most strongly indicate a bearing problem rather than a pump cavitation problem?

Reduced flow rate and a low, rumbling noise that increases with pump speed

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Elevated bearing temperature, increased vibration at the shaft, and a high-pitched grinding sound

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A drop in discharge pressure and pitting on the impeller surface

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Frequent motor overload trips and visible rust on the pump casing

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True or False: When measuring resistance with a multimeter, the component being tested must be isolated from the circuit — meaning power must be off and the component disconnected from other parallel paths — to get an accurate reading.

True

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False

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A motor control circuit uses an overload relay. Which of the following best describes the overload relay’s function?

It prevents voltage spikes from reaching the motor by absorbing excess energy

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It monitors motor current and opens the control circuit to stop the motor if current exceeds a safe threshold for a sustained period, protecting against heat damage

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It automatically restarts the motor after a power interruption once voltage is restored

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It limits the motor’s starting current by inserting resistance in the power circuit during startup

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In a series circuit, if one bulb burns out, what happens to the rest of the bulbs?

They get brighter.

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They all go out because there is only one path for current.

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They stay on because they have multiple paths.

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The voltage increases.

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True or False: In a PLC-controlled system, the scan cycle executes in this order: Update Outputs → Read Inputs → Execute Logic.

True

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False

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A boiler feedwater pump startup sequence has stalled at Step 6. No hardware faults have been reported, the PLC is running normally, and all wiring appears intact. A technician identifies the most likely cause as a logic failure rather than a hardware failure. Which of the following would best confirm this diagnosis?

Checking that the motor contactor coil has continuity using a multimeter

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Verifying that the Step 6 conditional check — boiler drum level transmitter LT-101 — is sending a value within the permitted range to the PLC input register

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Replacing the PLC processor card, since a stalled sequence always indicates a controller fault

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Bypassing Step 6 in the control program to allow the sequence to advance and confirming the pump starts

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True or False: An interlock and a conditional check serve the same purpose in an automated startup sequence — both simply confirm that a condition is true before allowing the next step to proceed.

True

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False

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A technician applies the PDCA cycle to a recurring pump vibration problem. She identifies the likely cause (worn coupling), replaces it, and confirms vibration has returned to normal levels. What does the “Act” step require her to do next?

Restart the PDCA cycle from the beginning to confirm the fix holds over time

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Document what was done, verify the correction addresses the root cause, and update the PM schedule or procedure to prevent recurrence

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Report the repair cost to management so it can be tracked against the maintenance budget

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Wait 30 days before taking any further action to allow the repair to stabilize under operating conditions

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A compressed air system is operating normally in terms of output pressure, but the compressor is running significantly longer per cycle than it did six months ago. No alarms have triggered. Which of the following most accurately describes what this symptom indicates?

The system is operating correctly; longer run times are expected as compressors age

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The system has likely developed one or more air leaks, forcing the compressor to run longer to maintain the same setpoint pressure

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The pressure switch has failed and is allowing the compressor to run past its shutoff point

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The motor is undersized and should be replaced with a higher-horsepower unit

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The “Input Scan” phase of a PLC loop is when the PLC:

Turns on all the motors.

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Checks the status of sensors and switches.

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Deletes the old program.

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Shuts down for safety.

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A technician is writing an incident report for a transmitter calibration fault. She writes: “The transmitter malfunctioned because it was installed incorrectly during the last maintenance cycle.” What is wrong with this statement from a professional documentation standpoint?

Nothing — this is an acceptable way to describe a root cause in a technical report

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It is too long and should be shortened to “Transmitter fault — maintenance error”

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It states a cause as fact without documented evidence, violating the observation-first standard

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It does not include the technician’s employee ID number, which is required for incident reports

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Which of the following work order entries best demonstrates professional technical documentation standards?

Pump was loud. Fixed it.

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Went to check the pump. It seemed off. Tightened things up and it seems better now.

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Pump P-104 exhibited elevated vibration at the bearing housing (0.45 in/s, baseline 0.18 in/s). Coupling alignment checked, found 0.008 in. angular misalignment. Realigned to 0.002 in. tolerance. Post-correction vibration: 0.20 in/s. No further action required at this time.

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Technician performed maintenance on pump motor per schedule. All tasks complete.

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An entry-level applicant for an industrial maintenance position writes the following resume bullet: “Applied OSHA-aligned safety concepts to design a risk reduction plan for a maintenance task, including PPE selection and basic lockout/tagout steps.” Why is this bullet stronger than “Learned about safety in class”?

It uses more words, which shows greater effort and attention to detail

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It starts with an action verb, describes a concrete task, and connects the experience to a skill that industrial employers value

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It mentions OSHA by name, which automatically satisfies most employer screening requirements

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It focuses on soft skills, which are more important to employers than technical knowledge at the entry level

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What does the “C” stand for in the PDCA troubleshooting cycle?

Calculate

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Check (Measure the results)

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Circuit

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Complete

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If a project starts growing beyond its original plan without extra time or budget, it is experiencing:

Quality Control

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Scope Creep

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Success

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Efficient Growth

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A pre-apprenticeship graduate is targeting a power plant operator role. Which of the following resume tailoring strategies best reflects the lesson’s guidance for that specific pathway?

Remove all references to mechanical systems and focus only on electrical experience, since power plants are primarily electrical environments

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Emphasize systems diagrams, control logic awareness, and safety planning under strict procedures

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Lead the resume with soft skills like communication and teamwork, since power plant operators work in large crews

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Use generic language throughout to keep options open across multiple sectors

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True or False: A career roadmap is most useful when it focuses only on immediate goals (the next 0–12 months), since mid-term and long-term planning is premature at the pre-apprenticeship stage and may discourage students who are not yet employed.

True

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False

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Which of the following best describes the difference between a pre-apprenticeship program and a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP)?

A pre-apprenticeship is for people with no interest in skilled trades; a RAP is for people who already have a journeyman certificate

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Both programs are identical in structure; the only difference is that RAPs are union-sponsored

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A RAP is a shorter, less formal program than a pre-apprenticeship and does not result in any credential

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A pre-apprenticeship builds foundational knowledge and readiness; a RAP is a formalized earn-while-you-learn program that combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction and leads to a journeyman certificate

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