The Ultimate Long-Lasting Building Materials Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
1 min
The Ultimate Long-Lasting Building Materials Quiz
Image: Steven Puetzer/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images

About This Quiz

You probably don't think very often about the building materials that were used to construct your home. Knowing what your home is made of can help you make better home maintenance decisions. Learn about the properties of five of the most long-lasting building materials from our quiz.
What are some advantages of wood as a construction material?
It is lightweight and versatile.
It is fire-proof.
It is termite-resistant.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wood has been used for centuries to build homes because it is lightweight, versatile, decorative, and strong once it has been seasoned to remove moisture.

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What is a disadvantage of wood as a construction material?
It is vulnerable to fire.
It is vulnerable to insects.
both of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wood is vulnerable to fire, dry rot and insects like termites. Despite these disadvantages, wooden buildings can survive a long time; the oldest existing wooden building, the Horyu-ji Temple in Japan, was built in the 8th century.

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The earliest recorded bricks were made by:
the Sumerians
the French
the Africans
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It is assumed that early bricks, attributed to the Sumerians, were crude and uneven. Dried in the sun, they were most likely made of silt deposited when high waters receded after storms.

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What is the component used in their production process that makes modern bricks so durable?
water
high heat
red dye
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Modern bricks are made of clay and produced using high heat. This makes them evenly formed, durable, weather resistant, fire resistant and easy to work with.

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What is a major advantage of stone as a construction material?
It's very durable.
It's lightweight.
It's inexpensive.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stone is very durable and strong, weathers the elements well and withstands fire. However, it's expensive to quarry and very heavy to work with.

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What material has replaced stone in modern building construction?
stone veneers
synthetic stone veneers
both of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Since stone is expensive and difficult to work with, both decorative stone veneers and synthetic stone veneers have become popular materials for decorating the outsides of modern buildings.

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An aggregate is composed of several materials. _____ is an aggregate made up of stones and sand mixed with cement and water.
clay
concrete
slate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Concrete is an aggregate because it is composed of several materials: stones and sand are mixed with a binder such as cement and water. It is so popular as a building material because it is very flexible and can be used to form just about any shape using a mold.

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Reinforced concrete combines concrete and _____ to create a flexible, strong building material.
steel
stone
wood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Narrow steel rods or mesh are embedded in concrete when it is poured to create reinforced concrete, used to form walls, beams, foundations and more.

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Pre-cast concrete is made :
in a cement mixer
in a factory
at a building site
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unlike reinforced concrete, which is poured on a building site, pre-cast concrete is made in a factory under controlled conditions. It has a superior ability to repel water and is less likely to expand and contract.

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The use of _____ as a building material has allowed for the building of tall structures.
steel
stone
wood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To support the weight that tall buildings place on load-bearing walls, steel is used as a support framework. Steel is flexible; it can be prefabricated and can be welded, bolted or riveted into place.

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You Got:
/10
Steven Puetzer/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images