Hawaii CDL — General Knowledge: Handling Emergencies Practice Test

Question 1

A quick evasive turn takes a firm two-handed grip. How does the manual say to make sure you have one when trouble comes?

Accepted Answer

Keep both hands on the wheel all the time, not just in emergencies — To turn quickly you need a firm grip with both hands. The manual's answer is to keep both hands on the wheel as a habit, so they are already there if an emergency happens.

Answer

Grab the wheel with both hands once you see a hazard

Answer

Steer with one hand and keep the other on the gearshift

Answer

Rest one hand on the horn button

Question 2

You have an engine fire and should avoid opening the hood. How does the manual say to get the extinguishing agent to the fire?

Accepted Answer

Shoot it through the louvers or radiator, or from underneath the vehicle — With an engine fire you shut the engine down right away and keep the hood closed if possible. The agent is shot in through the louvers or the radiator, or up from the underside of the vehicle.

Answer

Pour water over the top of the hood

Answer

Spray it into the exhaust stack

Answer

Open the cab doors and spray across the dash

Question 3

Which behavior do the manual's ABS safety reminders warn against?

Accepted Answer

Driving faster or following more closely because the vehicle has ABS — Having ABS is no license to speed up, tailgate or pay less attention. It helps you keep control in hard braking, but it only supplements your regular brakes and does not replace safe driving.

Answer

Braking the same way you always have

Answer

Getting the system serviced when the malfunction lamp stays on

Answer

Steering around an obstacle while braking hard

Question 4

On a long downgrade, what does the manual say will almost always prevent brake failure?

Accepted Answer

Keeping speed low enough and using the correct braking method — Brake failure on downgrades is nearly always avoidable by holding a slow enough speed and braking the right way. Once the brakes have failed, you have to look outside the vehicle, ideally to an escape ramp, for something to stop it.

Answer

Pumping the brakes hard all the way down

Answer

Shifting to neutral to rest the engine

Answer

Riding the parking brake lightly

Question 5

You were forced onto the shoulder and must come back onto the road before you can stop. Once both front tires are on the pavement, what do you do?

Accepted Answer

Counter-steer immediately, so the two turns form one steer-counter-steer move — To return, you grip the wheel firmly and turn sharply enough to get straight back onto the road. As soon as the front tires are on the paved surface you counter-steer, so the two turns are made as one continuous move.

Answer

Brake hard to scrub off speed

Answer

Hold the wheel turned until the trailer follows

Answer

Accelerate to pull the trailer straight

Question 6

According to the manual, on which kind of fire can water be used?

Accepted Answer

Burning wood, paper, or cloth — Water works on wood, paper or cloth. It should not be used on an electrical fire, where it can cause shock, or on a gasoline fire, where it spreads the flames.

Answer

An electrical fire

Answer

A gasoline fire

Answer

Any fire, as long as you stand upwind

Question 7

On the manual's fire chart, how are Class B fires (gasoline, oil, grease) put out?

Accepted Answer

By cutting off air, cooling or shielding from heat, with carbon dioxide or a dry chemical — The chart lists Class B as gasoline, oil, grease and other greasy liquids. These fires are smothered, cooled or shielded from heat with carbon dioxide or dry chemicals; water spreads burning gasoline.

Answer

By soaking them with plain water

Answer

With specialized powders made for burning metals

Answer

By letting them burn out with the doors open

Question 8

When does an antilock braking system actually come into play?

Accepted Answer

Only when a wheel is about to lock up during hard braking — ABS works alongside your regular brakes and neither adds to nor takes away from normal braking capability. It steps in only when wheels are on the verge of locking; the rest of the time the brake system works normally.

Answer

Every time you touch the brake pedal

Answer

Only above 55 mph

Answer

Whenever the parking brake is released

Question 9

What reason does the manual give for carrying tire chains in winter?

Accepted Answer

Conditions may arise where you cannot drive without them, even to reach a place of safety — The manual warns that you can end up in conditions where the vehicle cannot move without chains, not even far enough to get somewhere safe. It tells you to have enough chains plus spare cross-links and to learn how to put them on beforehand.

Answer

Chains are required on all tires year-round

Answer

Chains improve fuel economy on dry roads

Answer

Chains make up for worn tread

Question 10

A rear tire fails. Which warning might be the only one you notice?

Accepted Answer

The vehicle thumping or vibrating heavily — A loud bang and heavy steering are the other major signs of tire failure, but heavy steering points to a front tire. With a rear tire, a thumping or heavy vibration may be all you get, and dual tires usually keep the vehicle from fishtailing.

Answer

The steering suddenly feeling heavy

Answer

The ABS lamp flashing

Answer

The horn sounding by itself

Question 11

Why does the manual want you to know, from regular mirror checks, where the vehicles around you are?

Accepted Answer

If something goes wrong, you will already know whether there is room for a fast lane change — Regular mirror checks tell you what is beside and behind you. If an emergency comes up, you already know whether a quick lane change is open to you instead of having to find out in the moment.

Answer

So you can report other drivers' license plates

Answer

So you can match the speed of the vehicles behind you

Answer

So you can dim your mirrors at the right time

Question 12

On a slick winter road, which devices does the manual tell you not to use because they can make the driving wheels skid?

Accepted Answer

The engine brake or speed retarder — On slippery surfaces you turn as gently as possible and brake no harder than you must. The manual adds that the engine brake and the speed retarder should not be used there, because either one can set the driving wheels skidding.

Answer

The windshield defroster

Answer

The four-way flashers

Answer

The low-beam headlights

Hawaii CDL — General Knowledge: Handling Emergencies practice test

Study questions with answers

1. A quick evasive turn takes a firm two-handed grip. How does the manual say to make sure you have one when trouble comes?

2. You have an engine fire and should avoid opening the hood. How does the manual say to get the extinguishing agent to the fire?

3. Which behavior do the manual's ABS safety reminders warn against?

4. On a long downgrade, what does the manual say will almost always prevent brake failure?

5. You were forced onto the shoulder and must come back onto the road before you can stop. Once both front tires are on the pavement, what do you do?

6. According to the manual, on which kind of fire can water be used?

7. On the manual's fire chart, how are Class B fires (gasoline, oil, grease) put out?

8. When does an antilock braking system actually come into play?

9. What reason does the manual give for carrying tire chains in winter?

10. A rear tire fails. Which warning might be the only one you notice?

11. Why does the manual want you to know, from regular mirror checks, where the vehicles around you are?

12. On a slick winter road, which devices does the manual tell you not to use because they can make the driving wheels skid?

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