How Extensive Is Your Knowledge on a Lineman Apprenticeship?

Philip Simpson profile picture

Written by

Last updated · 18 min play time

It takes a lot to become a lineman. These professionals are the electricians who work on outdoor power lines. Their responsibilities include installation, repair, and maintenance of the power lines you see every day. Linemen need to practice the utmost care as they work with electricity to stay safe. Many people may forget these talented and dedicated tradesmen and women exist, but the work they do day in and day out is what keeps our network of power operational so we can all enjoy modern living. 
It is an incredibly dangerous job, so the utmost care must be taken at all times. To successfully work as a lineman, an extensive knowledge base is needed to avoid injury. Linemen need to have a complete grasp of how electricity works, how the electrical system is set up, and all the many different technical requirements for this profession. With so much to learn about how to become a lineman, including lineman training, the lineman career path, and general physics, it may make you want to learn some yourself. You do not have to go to lineman trade school to have an interest in this fascinating aspect that every city in the world has in common.
Our quiz will test you on every aspect of the lineman trade and lineman apprenticeship requirements. It includes questions about electricity, techniques linemen use to do their jobs, the construction standards of electricity poles and other utility structures, all the tools in a lineman's toolbox, the lingo that linemen use every day, and much, much more. Whether you actually have an interest in becoming a lineman someday, or you have a deep respect for the work linemen do, or you just find this type of thing fascinating, you will find what you are looking for with our lineman apprenticeship quiz.

Lineman Apprenticeship Quiz Questions

50 Questions · 1.6K Plays · No comments

Question 1

What is the name for the large, grey cylinder on many electrical poles?

  • A
    Distributor
  • B
    Magnet
  • C
    Transformer
  • D
    Converter

Question 2

What is another name for an electrical pole?

  • A
    Electricity tree
  • B
    Energy tower
  • C
    Utility pole
  • D
    Power stick

Question 3

The term "mole" is used sometimes to refer to crews that work on a growing trend in power distribution. What is this trend?

  • A
    Deeper holes for electrical poles
  • B
    Animal-proof wires
  • C
    Mole-skin insulation
  • D
    Underground power lines

Question 4

What is the most common electrical component linemen work on?

  • A
    Electric meters
  • B
    Solar panels
  • C
    Traffic lights
  • D
    Electrical lines

Question 5

Which of these is the lowest level of education that is universal among lineman?

  • A
    Electrical engineering bachelor's degree
  • B
    Vocational school diploma
  • C
    High school diploma
  • D
    Apprenticeship

Question 6

Can linemen use spikes to climb the electrical poles?

  • A
    Yes
  • B
    No

Question 7

What does a lineman mean if he or she uses the slang "bible"?

  • A
    The electrician code book
  • B
    The safety harness
  • C
    Gloves
  • D
    The tool bag

Question 8

What else is used to stabilize some electrical poles besides their underground length?

  • A
    Adhesive
  • B
    Magnets
  • C
    Cement
  • D
    Guy wires

Question 9

Which of these is the most important thing for every lineman to have when working on an electrical pole?

  • A
    Electrical code book
  • B
    Safety harness
  • C
    Insulation kit
  • D
    Wire strippers

Question 10

What is the name for the lines that connect the substation and individual consumers?

  • A
    Transmission lines
  • B
    Branch lines
  • C
    Distribution lines
  • D
    Capillary lines

Question 11

This profession got its start by working on telegraph lines in the 1840s.

  • A
    True
  • B
    False

Question 12

Is an electrical engineering degree required to be a lineman?

  • A
    Yes
  • B
    No

Question 13

What is the maximum voltage a normal house can receive?

  • A
    40 volts
  • B
    100 volts
  • C
    240 volts
  • D
    460 volts

Question 14

What is the most common first step toward becoming a lineman after high school?

  • A
    Online study
  • B
    Attending a university
  • C
    Vocational school

Question 15

What precaution is taken to keep the guy wires from electrocuting pedestrians?

  • A
    Air pockets
  • B
    A set distance from live wires
  • C
    Strain insulators
  • D
    Warning signs

Question 16

What terms are commonly used to describe whether a line is energized or not?

  • A
    Hot and wet
  • B
    Current and lost
  • C
    Live and dead
  • D
    Angry and sad

Question 17

Which of these is not a task linemen may have?

  • A
    Wire installation
  • B
    Pole location planning
  • C
    Repair
  • D
    Maintenance

Question 18

Which of these is the most important skill for a lineman to have?

  • A
    Time management
  • B
    Technical knowledge
  • C
    Knowing the tango
  • D
    Mathematics

Question 19

Besides their location and purpose, what is the biggest difference between distribution and transmission lines?

  • A
    Metal vs. wood utility poles
  • B
    High vs. low voltage
  • C
    Private vs. public power
  • D
    Insulated vs. uninstalled wires

Question 20

What is the name of the belt that keeps linemen safe?

  • A
    D-belt
  • B
    Safety sphere
  • C
    Double harness
  • D
    X-harness

Question 21

What lineman tool is "leg iron" slang for?

  • A
    Support beams
  • B
    Boots
  • C
    Climbing hooks
  • D
    A steel electrical pole

Question 22

How far does a 40 foot electrical pole usually extend underground?

  • A
    1 foot
  • B
    6 feet
  • C
    15 feet
  • D
    40 feet

Question 23

Linemen are never able to work on live wires, and must always disconnect them first.

  • A
    True
  • B
    False

Question 24

Once a lineman finishes training, what is the average starting salary?

  • A
    $20,000
  • B
    $750,000
  • C
    $75,000
  • D
    $200,000

Question 25

In addition to power lines, linemen also work on telecommunication lines.

  • A
    True
  • B
    False

Question 26

What is the average annual salary of a lineman apprentice?

  • A
    $10,000
  • B
    $50,000
  • C
    $25,000
  • D
    $175,000

Question 27

How long does on-the-job training usually last before linemen are officially ready to work on their own?

  • A
    20 years
  • B
    6 months
  • C
    4 years
  • D
    3 weeks

Question 28

Which of these is NOT part of the construction of a transformer?

  • A
    Core
  • B
    Battery
  • C
    Windings
  • D
    Cooling
  • E
    Insulation

Question 29

What is the average height of an electrical pole?

  • A
    10 feet
  • B
    20 feet
  • C
    40 feet
  • D
    80 feet

Question 30

Which of these is NOT a common non-wood material used to create an electrical pole?

  • A
    Steel
  • B
    Rubber
  • C
    Fiberglass
  • D
    Concrete

Question 31

What is the average age a lineman retires?

  • A
    45 to 50
  • B
    75 to 80
  • C
    55 to 60
  • D
    35 to 40

Question 32

What does a lineman really mean if he or she asks for a "banjo"?

  • A
    Radio
  • B
    Wire
  • C
    Shovel
  • D
    Pick

Question 33

What is the most common wood type used to make electrical poles?

  • A
    Balsa wood
  • B
    Southern yellow pine
  • C
    Great oak
  • D
    Dragon blood tree

Question 34

What are the lines called that connect the power plant to the substation?

  • A
    Artery lines
  • B
    Transmission lines
  • C
    Distribution lines
  • D
    Primary lines

Question 35

When counting the length of all wires, are there more transmission or distribution lines?

  • A
    Transmission lines
  • B
    Distribution lines
  • C
    They are equal

Question 36

What is the main difference between linemen and electricians?

  • A
    Interior vs. exterior electronics
  • B
    Two names for the same job
  • C
    Powered vs. non-powered electronics
  • D
    Insulated vs. non-insulated electronics

Question 37

What is the function of a transformer?

  • A
    Transfer energy between multiple circuits
  • B
    Transform energy from DC to AC power
  • C
    Transform energy from AC to DC power
  • D
    Convert light into electrical energy

Question 38

While it is not universally required, what license might come in handy to land a lineman job?

  • A
    License to operate large utility trucks
  • B
    License to read electrical meters
  • C
    License to climb utility poles
  • D
    License to enter power substations

Question 39

What is the final stage of power delivery?

  • A
    Transmission
  • B
    Distribution
  • C
    Insulation
  • D
    Conversion

Question 40

How are linemen able to work on live wires without getting electrocuted?

  • A
    Wearing a rubber suit
  • B
    Achieving the same electric potential as the wire
  • C
    Being very careful
  • D
    Not eating for 24 hours before touching the wire

Question 41

It seems there is no shortage of strange slang terms. What does the term "pickles" refer to?

  • A
    Wire connectors
  • B
    Wire strippers
  • C
    Drill
  • D
    Hammer

Question 42

Which electrical poles are most in-need of a guy wire for support?

  • A
    Damaged poles
  • B
    Dead-end poles
  • C
    Wooden poles
  • D
    Poles in wet climates

Question 43

When were the first transformers invented?

  • A
    1790s and 1800s
  • B
    1870s and 1880s
  • C
    2000s and 2010s
  • D
    1950s and 1960s

Question 44

What does the lineman slang "dog bone" refer to?

  • A
    Hardhat
  • B
    Vibration damper
  • C
    Wire stripper
  • D
    Hammer

Question 45

Although it sounds funny, some linemen do use the term "nutty putty". What does it refer to?

  • A
    Seal-a-conn cover
  • B
    Drill case
  • C
    Climbing hooks
  • D
    Adhesive

Question 46

Linemen have all sorts of strange slang terms for their tools. If a lineman uses the term "old man" what is he or she talking about?

  • A
    Fork suspension attachment
  • B
    Single conductor
  • C
    Wire connectors
  • D
    A-Frame Transformer Gin

Question 47

What does a lineman mean if he or she uses the slang, "goatskin"?

  • A
    Tarp
  • B
    Blanket
  • C
    Electrical tape
  • D
    Insulation

Question 48

What does a lineman mean when he or she uses the term "Leroy"?

  • A
    Wire
  • B
    Climbing hooks
  • C
    Gloves
  • D
    Generator

Question 49

Do linemen need to acquire a license to work?

  • A
    Yes
  • B
    No

Question 50

What does the slang term "alligator" refer to?

  • A
    Spike
  • B
    Clamp
  • C
    Tie stick
  • D
    A live alligator

Comments (0)

We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.