Humber/Ontario Real Estate Course 4 Exam Practice

Which of the following statements does NOT describe a function of a foundation?

1. Serves as a structural base that transmits the weight of the building to the soil.

2. Supports and anchors the structure to withstand external forces.

3. Represents a type of retaining wall to hold back soil.

4. Transmits the weight of the structure to the footings.

5. Transfers the load of the structure below the frost line.

6. Distributes the overall weight evenly to maintain stability.

The correct answer is: Represents a type of retaining wall to hold back soil.

The statement that describes a function of a foundation is focused primarily on the responsibilities of a foundation in a building's construction. Foundations are designed to support and distribute the weight of the entire structure to the underlying soil or bedrock. This includes serving as a base that transmits weight effectively, anchoring the building to withstand various external forces (like wind or snow load), and transferring loads below the frost line to prevent heaving caused by freeze-thaw cycles. The function of a retaining wall, on the other hand, is to hold back soil and prevent erosion or instability in sloped areas. While some foundations can have retaining wall characteristics—especially in certain types of construction that involve slopes—this is not a primary purpose of a typical foundation. Instead, foundations are fundamentally about load-bearing and stability, rather than actively retaining soil in the way a dedicated retaining wall is designed to do. Therefore, representing a type of retaining wall does not accurately characterize a foundation's core functions.