NCCER Introduction to Earthmoving (22201) Practice Test

In earthmoving, the target is the design elevation. Cutting means removing earth from places that are higher than the plan, and filling means adding earth to places that are lower than the plan. So the fundamental difference is removal versus addition to reach the design grade. For example, if a hilltop sits above the design line, you cut it down; if a valley sits below the line, you fill it up. This distinction matters for material balance and cost, since cut material can sometimes be reused as fill or hauled away if there’s more cut than fill. The other options mix up roles or bring in water, which isn’t part of the cut-and-fill concept.