Engineering Ethics:
Interactive Quiz
 
  1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a profession?
  A. Specialized knowledge
  B. Responsibility to the public
  C. Self-Regulation
  D. High Salary
     
  2. Which of the following is an actual conflict of interest?
  A. Serving on a codes-and-standards committee for your own industry sector
  B. Voting in a public election on an environmental issue that directly affects your business
  C. Developing a site plan for a highway construction project in your own home community
  D. Accepting a coffee mug with one of your suppliers' business logo
     
  3. You have met the standard for "competence" to undertake a public works engineering project only if…
  A. you hold an appropriate professional engineering license in that discipline.
  B. the project outcome will protect the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
  C. you hold a degree in that engineering discipline.
  D. you follow appropriate codes and specifications.
     
  4. A requirement for maintaining competence to practice engineering is that you…
  A. maintain membership in a professional engineering society.
  B. take a continuing education course for credit at least once every two years.
  C. read the monthly magazine for your engineering discipline.
  D. maintain current knowledge of your discipline.
     
  5. The principles for ethical practice of engineering require the protection of all of the following EXCEPT …..
  A. health of the public
  B. safety of the public
  C. welfare of the public
  D. local and global environment
     
  6. You have been asked to design a hydroelectric dam. This dam will flood a picturesque valley and ten farms that have been worked by the same families for 5 generations. The electricity from the dam will benefit a town of 20,000 people, and the lake will provide tourist income for the region. On balance, the economic analysis favors the dam, and you concur. Your reasoning would probably be classified in which of the following philosophical models?
  A. Minimalist
  B. Due Care
  C. Good Works
     
  7. You are a registered engineer working for a large design and construction firm. You would like to be more independent, so you decide to practice your entrepreneurial spirit by taking on very small design contracts on your own, working evenings and weekends to meet the contracts. You do not inform your supervisor of your activity, but your firm would not consider bidding on these small contracts as they would be more bother than they are worth. Is this a conflict of interest situation?
  A. Yes
  B. No
     
  8. Consider the scenario in question 7. Which Canon or Canons apply in this situation?
  A. Canon 2
  B. Canon 3
  C. Canon 4
  D. Canon 5
  E. All of the above
     
  9. Consider further the scenario in question 7. If you inform you current supervisor of what you would like to do and keep him or her informed of your contracts, does the conflict of interest remain?
  A. Yes
  B. No
     
  10. You are working on the toll plaza construction phase of the Grand Harbor Tunnel project. You notice that the concrete being poured by Acme Construction for the tunnel roadway seems thin. Because of your previous work in a cement factory, your curiosity causes you to look more closely at the wet concrete. Your practiced eye tells you that the concrete has too much cheap aggregate and sand in it, and not enough cement. Under the ASME code, your proper course of action is:
  A. Do nothing --- it's not part of your job.
  B. Bring your concerns to your supervisor.
  C. Report your concerns to the local newspaper.
     
  11. Consider question 10. You have raised you concern to your supervisors and you are told that is none of your business and that you should get back to work. Furthermore, you are reminded that you are an "at will" employee and could easily be replaced if you cause trouble. Which Canon or Canon Interpretation applies in this situation?
  A. Canon 2, interpretation a
  B. Canon 4, interpretation b
  C. Canon 6, interpretation
  D. Canon 1, interpretation d
     
  12. Which one of the following forms of advertising is ethical?
  A. Running a full-page ad in the Yellow Pages claiming you are a "Jack-of-All-Trades" Engineer.
  B. Printing and distributing wall calendars to clients and potential clients with pictures of major achievements of engineering, such as the space shuttle, Hoover Dam, and Brooklyn Bridge, including the name, address, and phone number of your company printed at the bottom of each page.
  C. Printing and distributing wall calendars to clients and potential clients with the name, address and phone number of your company printed at the bottom of each page.
  D. Running an ad in the Yellow Pages stating your engineering services are the cheapest yet the best.
     
  13. You are presenting the experimental work of a multidisciplinary biomedical research team at an engineering conference. One of your colleagues, Jim, has just completed mathematical modeling of the experimental data two days prior to the presentation and has agreed to let you use the results. Jim's name is not on the paper because the abstract and paper were completed two months prior to the conference. What is the most appropriate way to recognize his contribution?
  A. There is no need to recognize Jim's contribution because the abstract and paper were completed two months prior to the conference.
  B. There is no need to recognize Jim's contribution because he has agreed to let you use his work.
  C. Mention in your talk that the mathematical modeling was carried out by Jim.
  D. Add the statement "mathematical modeling by Jim" in the slide.
     
  14. You serve on the board of XYZ Construction Company, which is planning a development in your town. The development has attracted criticism from citizens who called a meeting to organize opposition. You attended the meeting and spoke in favor of the development. Which one of the following options is most consistent with professional ethical principles?
  A. Speak in favor of the development without identifying your affiliation with XYZ, because your support is based solely on the merit of the project.
  B. Speak in favor of the development without identifying your affiliation with XYZ, because you have as much right as anyone in your town to voice your opinion.
  C. Speak in favor of the development and preface your statement by identifying yourself as an engineer whose opinion is supported by engineering analysis, but without identifying your affiliation with XYZ.
  D. Speak in favor of the development and preface your statement by identifying your affiliation with XYZ, also stating you are exercising your right as a citizen.