Which term describes machines that excavate by dragging a bucket toward the machine by a cable?

• A. Gradation
• B. Spoils
• C. Draglines
• D. Crystalline

Answer: (C)

Draglines are the machines that excavate by dragging a bucket toward the machine with a cable. The bucket is hung from a long boom and connected to a drag cable; when the operator tightens or releases the drag line, the bucket is pulled toward the machine, filling it as it moves. This dragging action lets the machine scoop up loose material and lift it away with relatively little ground disturbance, which is why draglines are favored for large-scale overburden removal and dredging projects.

The other terms don’t describe a machine type for excavation: gradation refers to the size distribution of the material, spoils denotes the excavated material (often waste), and crystalline relates to crystal structure.