Question

b. fire barriers
c. fire partitions
d. smoke barriers

1. advanced walls that strengthen building by resisting lateral forces caused by high winds, earthquakes, soil load, and/or seismic activity are called ______.

a. shear walls
b. shaft walls
c. load-bearing walls
d. curtain walls

1. ______ is one of the most important aspects of shear wall strength.

a. nail size and anchor bolts
b. ratings and building codes
c. screw length and diameter
d. nail size and spacing

Explanation:

For question 14: Shear walls are specifically designed to resist lateral forces like wind, seismic activity, and soil loads to strengthen buildings. Shaft walls enclose vertical openings, load-bearing walls support vertical weight, and curtain walls are non-load-bearing exterior walls.
For question 15: Nail size and spacing are critical factors that directly impact the shear transfer capacity, which is a key component of shear wall strength. The other options do not address the core structural strength aspect as directly.

Answer:

1. a. shear walls
2. d. Nail size and spacing