IBEW Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read this passage: 'The National Electrical Code (NEC) is updated every three years by the National Fire Protection Association. It provides minimum standards for safe electrical installations and is adopted by most states and municipalities as law.' What is the primary purpose of the NEC?
- To train electricians for certification exams
- To set minimum safety standards for electrical installations (Correct answer)
- To regulate the pricing of electrical work
- To license electrical contractors nationwide
Correct answer: To set minimum safety standards for electrical installations
The passage states the NEC 'provides minimum standards for safe electrical installations.'
The passage explicitly states that the NEC 'provides minimum standards for safe electrical installations.' The other options (training, pricing, licensing) are not mentioned in the passage. Reading comprehension requires identifying stated facts, not inferring unstated ones.
Question 2: According to the passage above, how often is the NEC updated?
- Every year
- Every two years
- Every three years (Correct answer)
- Every five years
Correct answer: Every three years
The passage states the NEC 'is updated every three years.'
The passage states: 'The National Electrical Code (NEC) is updated every three years by the National Fire Protection Association.' This is a direct factual recall question requiring you to locate specific information in the text.
Question 3: Read this: 'Grounding protects people from electrical shock by providing a low-resistance path for fault current to return to the source. Without proper grounding, a metal enclosure could become energized, creating a shock hazard.' What is the main benefit of grounding described?
- Improving electrical efficiency
- Increasing circuit capacity
- Protecting people from shock (Correct answer)
- Reducing equipment cost
Correct answer: Protecting people from shock
The passage states grounding 'protects people from electrical shock.'
The opening sentence directly states: 'Grounding protects people from electrical shock.' The passage explains the mechanism (low-resistance fault current path) and the danger without it (energized metal enclosures), but the main benefit stated is protection from shock.
Question 4: From the passage: 'OSHA regulations require that all electrical work on live circuits over 50 volts must be performed only by qualified workers following lockout/tagout procedures unless there is infeasible to de-energize.' What does OSHA's rule specify about live circuit work?
- All electrical work must be done on de-energized circuits
- Only qualified workers may work on live circuits over 50 volts (Correct answer)
- Any worker can perform live circuit work with proper equipment
- Live circuit work is prohibited under OSHA
Correct answer: Only qualified workers may work on live circuits over 50 volts
The passage states this work 'must be performed only by qualified workers.'
The passage states live circuit work 'must be performed only by qualified workers following lockout/tagout procedures.' Note the exception clause — de-energizing is preferred, but live work is allowed when infeasible. The key restriction is 'only by qualified workers.'
Question 5: Read: 'Apprentice electricians work under the supervision of a journeyman or master electrician. The typical apprenticeship lasts five years and combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction in trade mathematics, electrical theory, and the NEC.' What do apprenticeships combine?
- College coursework and online testing
- On-the-job training and classroom instruction (Correct answer)
- Simulation labs and written exams
- Safety drills and field observations only
Correct answer: On-the-job training and classroom instruction
The passage states apprenticeships 'combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction.'
The passage explicitly states apprenticeships 'combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction in trade mathematics, electrical theory, and the NEC.' This is a direct fact from the passage.
Question 6: Read: 'Arc flash is an electrical explosion caused by a fault current passing through air. The resulting release of energy can cause severe burns, blindness, and death. Proper arc flash protection requires calculating incident energy and selecting appropriate PPE.' What causes arc flash?
- Overloaded circuits
- A fault current passing through air (Correct answer)
- Improper PPE selection
- High voltage equipment failure
Correct answer: A fault current passing through air
The passage defines arc flash as 'caused by a fault current passing through air.'
The passage directly defines arc flash: 'an electrical explosion caused by a fault current passing through air.' The other options (overloaded circuits, PPE, equipment failure) are related concepts but not what the passage identifies as the cause.
IBEW Reading Comprehension 2
Read this passage: 'The National Electrical Code (NEC) is updated every three years by the National Fire Protection Association.
It provides minimum standards for safe electrical installations and is adopted by most states and municipalities as law.' What is the primary purpose of the NEC?