PS Principles and Practice of Surveying

When an original monument called for in a deed is found in place and appears undisturbed, which evidence generally controls over a conflicting record distance?

• AThe found original monument
• BThe distance written in the deed
• CThe parcel dimensions shown in GIS
• DThe nearest tax map annotation

Under common-law riparian principles, what is the usual boundary effect of gradual and imperceptible accretion along a nonnavigable stream?

• AThe boundary remains fixed at the former waterline forever
• BThe boundary moves with the changing waterline
• CThe boundary shifts only if a new deed is recorded
• DThe boundary automatically becomes the nearest section line

If two deeds from a common grantor overlap because of a drafting error, which principle generally determines priority absent other controlling facts?

• AThe deed with the larger acreage always prevails
• BThe deed with the better tax parcel number prevails
• CThe senior conveyance generally has priority over the junior conveyance
• DBoth grantees automatically own one-half of the overlap

Which statement best describes a legally sufficient real property description?

• AIt contains a tax parcel number and owner name
• BIt matches the assessor's map exactly
• CIt states acreage to the nearest tenth only
• DIt allows the parcel to be located on the ground to the exclusion of others

In retracing PLSS lands, which evidence normally controls over a later protracted position from a map or GIS layer?

• AAn identified original corner position supported by evidence
• BA county parcel polygon
• CA modern aerial image center point
• DA roadway centerline station

When is parol evidence generally admissible in boundary interpretation?

• AWhenever a client prefers a different line
• BWhen it clarifies a latent ambiguity without contradicting the deed's plain terms
• COnly after a new survey map is recorded
• DOnly if no monuments are found

Absent contrary language, a deed bounded by a nonnavigable stream generally extends to which line?

• AThe nearest section line
• BThe top of bank only
• CThe thread or center of the stream
• DThe floodway line shown on a FEMA map

What is the usual legal effect of an appurtenant easement once it is properly created?

• AIt expires whenever the dominant estate is sold
• BIt becomes personal to the original surveyor
• CIt merges into the tax parcel map automatically
• DIt generally runs with the dominant estate unless legally terminated

What is the main purpose of the point of beginning in a metes-and-bounds description?

• ATo anchor the description at a definite starting point for tracing the boundary
• BTo state the tax assessment value
• CTo replace all monument calls
• DTo identify the county zoning district

Which statement correctly distinguishes an obliterated corner from a lost corner under PLSS restoration principles?

• AAn obliterated corner was never monumented, but a lost corner was
• BAn obliterated corner lacks a visible monument but can still be recovered from substantia…
• CA lost corner is controlled by the nearest GIS coordinate pair
• DAn obliterated corner must always be restored by single proportion

Which event generally does not cause an immediate common-law boundary shift along a watercourse?

• AGradual accretion
• BGradual reliction
• CA sudden avulsive channel change
• DOrdinary seasonal low flow

What is the key legal distinction between a prescriptive easement and adverse possession in general common-law terms?

• AA prescriptive easement requires a written deed, while adverse possession does not
• BAdverse possession applies only to public lands
• CA prescriptive easement always gives fee title
• DA prescriptive easement gives a use right, while adverse possession can ripen into title

For a boundary retracement, which action is the best records-research starting point before fieldwork?

• ACollect the deeds, plats, prior surveys, and title-related records affecting the tract an…
• BSet replacement monuments from GIS parcel corners
• CRequest aerial imagery only
• DBegin staking from assessor dimensions

Which field practice most directly improves the reliability of critical observed data?

• AUsing only one setup to avoid extra work
• BBuilding redundancy with check shots or independent observations
• CDiscarding notes after coordinates are downloaded
• DRelying on memory for monument descriptions

Which GNSS method is generally most appropriate when a surveyor needs the highest-quality control over a long baseline with strong post-processing capability?

• ASingle-point autonomous positioning
• BStakeout mode from a handheld receiver
• CStatic GNSS observations
• DPhoto-identification from aerial imagery only

What is the primary purpose of a least-squares adjustment in surveying?

• ATo force all observations to match record data exactly
• BTo maximize closure error for testing
• CTo eliminate the need for field notes
• DTo produce the statistically best-fit solution for redundant observations

When a true corner position cannot be practically occupied by a monument, what monumentation approach is commonly used to preserve its location?

• AA witness corner or reference monument tied to the true corner
• BNo monument at all, because the corner is inaccessible
• CA random nail in the nearest pavement crack
• DA benchmark at an unrelated elevation point