Humber/Ontario Real Estate Course 4 Exam Practice

What does a foundation NOT do in construction?

1. Act as a retaining wall to hold back soil.

2. Anchor the building to the bedrock.

3. Distribute the building load across its base.

4. Protect against moisture and water intrusion.

5. Provide insulation against ground temperatures.

6. Transmit the weight of the structure to the footings.

The correct answer is: Act as a retaining wall to hold back soil.

The foundation plays a crucial role in construction, primarily providing support and stability to the structure. Among its various functions, it does not serve as a retaining wall to hold back soil, which makes that choice accurate in identifying a function that a foundation does not perform. Retaining walls and foundations are distinct in purpose; retaining walls are specifically designed to resist lateral pressure from soil and water, whereas foundations primarily focus on distributing the structure's weight and ensuring it remains stable and anchored. The other options detail functions that foundations do perform. For instance, foundations anchor buildings to the bedrock, which enhances stability and resistance to shifts in the ground. They also distribute the load of the building evenly across their base, ensuring that no one part bears too much weight, which helps prevent settlement issues. Protecting against moisture and water intrusion is another important job of foundations, as it helps maintain the integrity of the structure and prevents damage from water. Additionally, foundations can provide some degree of insulation against ground temperatures, which is beneficial for maintaining indoor climate control. Lastly, the transmission of the weight of the structure to the footings is a fundamental aspect of a foundation's role, ensuring that the weight is properly dispersed to avoid structural failure. Thus, the correct answer clearly identifies a