Green Associate LEED Study Session

100 Question Practice Exam

1. The SMACNA IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction recommends
control measures in what three categories?
a) HVAC Protection
b) Building Flush-out
c) Source Control
d) Walk-off Mats
e) Scheduling
f) Separation of Chemical Use Areas
g) Pathway Control

2. Which three steps should be taken before submitting a Credit Interpretation Request
(CIR)?
a) Review the intent of the credit or prerequisite and self-evaluate whether the
project meets this intent
b) Call the USGBC and ask their advice
c) Consult the LEED Reference Guide
d) Review the CIRs online and see if the same inquiry has been answered
e) Call O’Brien & Company to have them complete the accreditation documentation
for the project

3. When writing a CIR, which of the following must be included? (Choose one)
a) Name of project
b) Relevant drawings related to the question
c) Your contact information
d) Project Overview
e) None of the Above

4. Which of the following statements is true about CIRs? (Choose one)

a) Points are awarded through the CIR process
b) Each costs $220
c) Only LEED Accredited Professionals can submit CIRs
d) Credit language can be changed through the CIR process

5. Which of the following are considered regularly occupied spaces? (Choose three)
a) Conference Rooms
b) Offices
c) Classrooms
d) Break rooms
e) Lobbies

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

6. Rapidly Renewable materials are classified as materials that come from plants that are
typically harvested within a _______ year cycle. (Fill in the blank)
a) 5
b) 10
c) 15
d) 20

7. What are two responsibilities of the contractor during the Project Construction Phase
that support the LEED Documentation Process? (Choose two)
a) Provide cut sheets for tile, gypsum board, and toilet partition submittals
b) Provide energy modeling calculations
c) Provide site photometric plans
d) Provide calculations for waste diverted from landfill

8. All of the following are major environmental/credit categories in the LEED Green Building
Rating System except:
a) Sustainable Sites
b) Indoor Air Quality
c) Energy & Atmosphere
d) Materials & Resources

9. Which of the following would be the most effective way to reduce heat gain in a building?
a) Use a window with high shading co-efficient
b) Thermal mass in the floor
c) Plant deciduous trees on the North side of the building
d) Use a roofing material with a high albedo

10. The total number of points available under LEED BD+C is:
a) 60
b) 85
c) 90
d) 110

11. All of the following certification levels are achievable under LEED BD+C except:
a) Certified
b) Bronze
c) Silver
d) Platinum

12. The LEED Rating System allocates points to:

a) Establish uses of plant based materials in all building components
b) Incentivize building project teams to comply with requirements that best address
the social, environmental, and economic outcomes identified by the USGBC.
c) Reward projects that join a “Green Building” movement that could one day
impose costly new standards on the building industry
d) Promote regional labor for green building in the Pacific Northwest

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

13. All of the following describe a material’s embodied energy except:

a) Cradle to grave
b) Operating energy
c) Energy required to harvest, mine, manufacture, transport, install, and dispose of
d) Life-cycle analysis

14. A LEED Reference Guide provides all of the following except:

a) Documentation requirements
b) Calculation methods
c) Recommended strategies
d) Complete sample Letter Templates

15. Green building practices encourage commissioning agents to be:

a) Hired at the start of construction
b) Members of the design team
c) Hired directly by the mechanical subcontractor
d) An independent agent hired directly by the owner

16. Once the final certification application is submitted, the USGBC will:
a) Send out a certificate and plaque with the level of certification as submitted
b) Review and mark each credit as “Credit Awarded,” “Credit Denied”
c) Schedule a conference call with the project manager to review the decision
d) Audit every credit for documentation verification

17. Which of the following is not a LEED Rating System?

a) LEED-ND: Plan
b) LEED BD+C: NC
c) LEED-TI
d) LEED-ID+C: CI

18. In the manufacturing of vinyl tiles, some scrap vinyl is left over after the cutting of the
tiles. The manufacturer reuses this material as a raw material in the manufacturing of
other vinyl tiles. Which of the following terms best describes the above material for LEED
purposes?
a) Post consumer recycled content
b) Pre-consumer recycled content
c) Salvaged material
d) None of the above

19. ASHRAE Standard 55–2010 relates to:

a) Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality
b) Temperature and humidity ranges for human comfort
c) Carpet emissions
d) Erosion control

20. What does PPM stand for?

a) Parts per million
b) Particles per million
c) Power per minute
d) None of the above

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

21. What is a good practice for stabilizing disturbed soils?

a) Temporary seeding
b) Permanent seeding
c) Mulching
d) All of the above

22. Which is not a rapidly renewable material?

a) agrifiber
b) bauxite
c) linoleum
d) wool

23. How does the USGBC allocate point values to credits in the LEED Rating System?
a) The frequency of credits being pursued on past projects contributes to the point
value
b) The relative strength of a relationship, or association, between a credit outcome
and goal within an Impact Category
c) The number of votes that each credit received during the Rating System
development process
d) The categories with the fewest credits have the most number of points available
per credit

24. Potable Water is defined as: (Choose three)

a) Water captured from the site in rain barrels
b) Water suitable for drinking
c) Water supplied from wells
d) Water supplied from municipal water systems

25. LEED Project registration fees are based on which of the following?
a) Projected number of building occupants
b) A flat fee based on rating system and project size
c) The number of credits a project is attempting
d) The expected duration of the project

26. The application for project certification is submitted:

a) Through LEED Online
b) Via email by the LEED AP
c) In hardcopy through the mail
d) Via email by the Project Administrator

27. Projects registered for certification under any of the LEED Design & Construction Rating
Systems are eligible for a split Design and Construction review timeline. A design
review allows project teams to do what?
a) Save money on the final certification fee
b) Assess the likelihood of achieving some or all of the design-phase credits
c) Submit a final application before substantial completion
d) Avoid the Construction Review fee

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

28. A response to the preliminary Design Review may be submitted provided that it satisfies
which of the following?
a) Must occur within 25 business days of receipt of preliminary Design Review
b) Credits marked as needing clarification are removed from the list of attempted
credits
c) The response is discussed via conference call with the Project Administrator and
the Project Reviewer
d) The response must be sent in hardcopy to the Project Reviewer

29. After the preliminary Design Review, attempted credits and prerequisites are
designated:
a) Awarded, Undetermined, or Not Awarded
b) Approved, Undecided, or Not Approved
c) Anticipated, Pending or Denied
d) Accepted, TBD, or Rejected

30. LEED Online is:

a) The primary resource for managing the LEED documentation process
b) A nationally recognized green building blog
c) An online help forum for and by LEED users
d) The LEED reference guide online library

31. According to the USGBC, the cumulative effects of conventional building practices in the
building industry include all of the following implications for human health, the
environment, and the economy EXCEPT::
a) Clearing of land for development has often destroyed wildlife habitat
b) Extracting, manufacturing, and transporting materials may pollute water and air,
release toxic chemicals, and emit greenhouse gas emissions
c) Building operations have required large inputs of energy and water and generate
substantial waste streams
d) Water cycle processes have been enhanced by building in wetland areas
e) Transportation to and from buildings by commuters and service providers has
compounded the harmful environmental effects associated with vehicle use, such
as increased energy consumption and pollution

32. A project attempting a credit would like a CIR on their strategy for attaining the credit.
How does the team submit the CIR?
a) In letter form, with all supporting documentation included
b) Through the LEED online submittal form
c) By requesting a conference call with a GBCI representative
d) Before the final application is submitted

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

33. A land owner in Seattle is planning to build a mixed-use, multi-family apartment complex
and wants to attempt LEED certification but isn’t sure if the project is eligible. As a
LEED AP on the project team, you suggest that the owner does which of the following to
confirm eligibility?
a) Call USGBC
b) Call the GBCI
c) Check if the project meets the minimum project requirements
d) Nothing – a building that has mixed residential and retail uses is not eligible for
LEED certification

34. LEED certified commercial buildings use what tool to report information for the BPP?
a) An infrared camera
b) Energy Star Portfolio Manager
c) LEED Online
d) GBCI website

35. The Building Design & Construction (BD+C) reference guide and professional
accreditation encompasses which LEED Rating Systems?
a) New Construction
b) Core & Shell and Commercial Interiors
c) New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools
d) Commercial and Retail Interiors

36. The Interior Design & Construction (ID+C) reference guide and professional
accreditation encompasses which LEED Rating Systems?
a) New Construction
b) Core & Shell and Commercial Interiors
c) New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools
d) Commercial and Retail Interiors

37. According to the USGBC, buildings in the United States account for what percentage of
total CO2 emissions?
a) 52%
b) 7%
c) 38%
d) 75%

38. The United States General Services Administration requires all new federal government
construction and substantial renovation projects to:
a) Complete a preliminary LEED Scorecard to assess it ‘s green potential
b) Commit to getting LEED EB certified by 2015
c) Achieve LEED certification
d) Achieve LEED Platinum certification

39. A Life-Cycle Assessment considers the environmental impact of which processes

involved in construction and building materials?
a) Extraction and manufacture
b) Recycling or disposal
c) Transport, installation, disposal
d) Extraction, manufacture, transport, reuse, recycling , disposal

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

40. Conducting a Life-Cycle Assessment on potential materials for a project can:

a) If reported to the EPA, offer a tax rebate
b) Minimize environmental burden by providing the full picture of a materials impact
c) Predict maintenance schedules and procedures
d) Harm the projects ability to meet a sustainable goal

41. An integrative design approach…

a) Emphasizes communication across the project team throughout the duration of a
project
b) Is only relevant during the construction phase of a project
c) Does not allow for an iterative process since it streamlines the project in a linear
fashion
d) Is only relevant during the design phase of a project

42. The purpose of systems thinking is to:

a) Consider each part of a system in relation to only the other parts of the system
that it is directly connected to
b) Consider each part of a system in relation to its interconnections with all other
parts of the larger whole
c) Consider each part of a system as a single part unconnected to any other parts
in a system
d) Think about a system as many small parts that need to be considered individually
without connection to nay others as an approach to solve problems

43. Construction documents…

a) Must be notarized after final review
b) Translate the design into something that can be built
c) Are released immediately after the project team has been assembled
d) Are, by law, required to be reviewed by a commissioning agent

44. Careful consideration of a project site location can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
doing which of the following? (Choose two)
a) Choosing an infill site in an urban area
b) Using a brownfield site
c) Locating the building near a bus stop
d) Considering local culture when choosing the site

45. Careful consideration of a building’s orientation can reduce energy consumption by

doing which of the following?
a) Orienting the building on an east-west axis
b) Installing pervious pavement rather than asphalt
c) Orienting the building on a north-south axis
d) Installing large windows on the west side of the building

46. According to the New Buildings Institute, green buildings have 24% less what than
conventional buildings?
a) Absenteeism
b) Energy use intensity
c) Air leakage rates
d) Wall space

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

47. According to the U.S. EPA, Americans spend what percentage of their time indoors?
a) 63%
b) 79%
c) 34%
d) 90%

48. The additional cost of installing high performance windows can be offset by:
a) Listing them as business expenses on annual tax submittals
b) The reduced cooling load on the HVAC system, thusly allowing downsizing of the
system
c) Hiring temporary workers to install them
d) The reduced need for insulation

49. Triple Bottom Line reporting is corporate performance reporting that includes what other
two elements in addition to the traditional profit information? (Choose two)
a) Energy
b) Environmental
c) Co2 emissions
d) Social Equity

50. The following statements about Renewable Energy Certificates are all true except:
a) They are tradable commodities representing proof that a unit of electricity was
generated from a renewable resource
b) They compensate Green-e generators for the premium of production over the
market rate they sell to the grid
c) Purchasing them gives the purchaser a discount on conventionally generated
electricity
d) They can be used in lieu of actually purchasing green power if Green-e certified
power is not available through a local utility

51. What is the total area within the legal property boundary defined as within LEED Rating
Systems?
a) Hardscape
b) Property area
c) LEED project boundary
d) Open space area

52. What are the three major concepts that are integral to green building and sustainability
according to the USGBC?
a) Life-cycle thinking; Integrative process; and Consumption patterning
b) Consumption patterning; Element tracing; and Integrative process
c) Life-cycle thinking; Integrative process; and Systems thinking
d) Systems thinking; Element tracing; and Consumption patterning

53. How many levels of LEED accreditation are there?

a) Two
b) Three
c) Four
d) Only one

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

54. New multi-family residential projects taller than eight stories should attempt certification
under which of the LEED Rating Systems?
a) LEED BD+C: Homes
b) LEED BD+C: New Construction
c) LEED ND: Plan
d) LEED BD+C: Core and Shell

55. A tenant in a downtown commercial office building is considering LEED certification but
the property owners are not interested in pursuing whole building certification. Which of
the following LEED Rating Systems could still allow this tenant to realize their goal?
a) LEED BD+C: Core & Shell
b) LEED O+M: Existing Buildings
c) LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors
d) LEED for Commercial Tenants

56. Although a derivative of LEED for Building Design and Construction, LEED for Schools
provides additional focus in which of the following areas? (Choose two)
a) Environmental site assessment
b) Tenant education
c) Public transportation access
d) Room acoustics

57. Which LEED Rating System has the additional credit categories of Location & Linkages
and Awareness & Education?
a) LEED O + M: Existing Buildings
b) LEED for Neighborhood Development
c) LEED for Homes
d) LEED for Retail

58. The weighting system used by the LEED Steering Committee to allocate points in the
rating system is based on:
a) The question: What should a LEED project accomplish?
b) The question: What materials do the least damage to the environment?
c) The question: What reduces environmental problems?
d) The question: What transforms a market?

59. A building’s carbon footprint is:

a) The depth or width of the ground level floor
b) The amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with a building’s HVAC
system
c) The total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction and
operation of a building, over its entire lifetime
d) The percentage of CO2 emission reduction due to sustainable building practices

60. All LEED Rating Systems have the option of a two step credit review process except
which of the following? (Choose two)
a) LEED BD+C: Homes
b) LEED for Commercial Interiors
c) LEED O+M: Exisiting Buildings
d) LEED for Neighborhood Development

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

61. The most sustainable sites are locations that: (Choose two)
a) Located in rural areas
b) Minimize the impacts of light pollution
c) Require no remediation
d) Reduce transportation demand

62. A Brownfield is a piece of land that:

a) Should be protected as a sensitive area during construction
b) If used, promotes infill and reduces sprawl
c) Has not been irrigated properly
d) Is contaminated beyond remediation

63. According to USGBC, development density is:

a) The number of residences per square acre within a particular area
b) The total square footage of all buildings within a particular area
c) The number of buildings larger than 5,000 square feet in a particular area
d) The number of types of spaces or housing types per acre

64. The USGBC defines floor-area ratio as:

a) The ratio for the most even distribution of daylight from skylights based on floor
area
b) The amount of space an adult needs to perform most office duties at a
workstation
c) A tool used by architects to determine the best ceiling height based on floor area
d) The relationship between total building floor area and the allowable land area the
building can cover

65. A footcandle is equal to what?

a) 10 lumens per square foot
b) 5 lumens per square foot
c) 1 lumen per square foot
d) None of these are correct

66. The USGBC defines Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) as what?

a) A measure of how well a material reflects daylight into a space
b) A measure of how well a material rejects solar heat
c) A measure of how much daylight is reflected off a window as opposed to entering
a space
d) A measure of the amount of illumination falling on a surface

67. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration what accounts for 32% of total
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions?
a) Commercial buildings
b) Refrigerants
c) Residential buildings
d) Transportation

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

68. In systems thinking, what are leverage points?

a) Places that determine whether it is an open or a closed system
b) Places where a small intervention can yield large changes
c) Places where only a set number of controls can be located
d) Places in systems where behavior does not apply

69. A building can reduce transportation impacts in many ways. What can a project that is
not near access to public transit do to lessen its commuter’s effect on the environment?
a) Provide fuel reimbursement to employees
b) Install a green roof
c) Reduce the number of parking spaces for single car drivers on site
d) Provide company cars for all staff travelling more than 10 miles to work

70. What must be done to protect indoor air quality during construction of an occupied
building? (select two)
a) Provide lighting control for individual occupants
b) Protect ductwork and ventilation to occupied spaces
c) Provide designated parking spaces for construction workers
d) Seal off occupied areas of the building from the construction
e) Perform a full flush out every night

71. Current fuel technologies are being improved and new fuel options are being explored.
Although both options are important and necessary, the ultimate driver in transportation
demand growth is what according to the USGBC?
a) Land use
b) Obesity
c) Consumer marketing
d) Accessibility to vehicles

72. Which of the following strategies can help manage stormwater runoff after construction?
a) Efficient irrigation systems
b) Silt fences
c) Using captured rainwater for landscape irrigation
d) Land use planning that minimizes impervious surface area

73. Nonpoint source pollution is one of the biggest contributors to water pollution
everywhere. Which of the following strategies can help reduce this type of pollution?
a) Provide education for landscape maintenance staff about alternative fertilizers
b) Increase municipal stormwater infrastructure capacity on site
c) Increase landscape turf area
d) Install pervious asphalt instead of pervious concrete

74. How water enters, is stored, and leaves a site are the three main topics addressed by
what site development strategy?
a) Development Density
b) Low-impact development
c) Smart Location
d) Smart Growth

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

75. When considering site selection, which of the following is NOT a strategy to address
location:
a) Locate near existing infrastructure
b) Choose redevelopment and infill development
c) Increase density
d) Encourage wetland infill to reduce moisture issues
e) Encourage multiple modes of transportation

76. What is the base-line flush rate for a water closet?

a) 1.0 gpf
b) 1.2gpf
c) 1.6 gpf
d) 1.0gpm

77. The percentage of water delivered by irrigation equipment that is not wasted through
evaporation, wind, or falling on hardscape is called what?
a) Irrigation efficiency
b) Landscape coefficient
c) Evapotranspiration rate
d) Baseline water usage

78. What is the proper written representation of a commercial building that has achieved the
first level of LEED certification?
a) LEED Silver certified
b) Certified LEED
c) LEED Bronze
d) LEED Certified

79. Building operations account for what portion of the 400 billion gallons of water used in
the United States daily?
a) 50%
b) 25%
c) More than half
d) Less than a quarter

80. By installing submeters in a building, a project can do which of the following?

a) Qualify for a Federal tax rebate
b) Track energy and water consumption trends
c) Take advantage of the earth’s relatively constant temperature
d) Restrict energy use during peak demand hours

81. The individual on the project team who is granted acting authority by the owner to
register the project and accept the certification is called the:
a) Green Rater
b) Registrant
c) Project administrator
d) LEED Provider

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

82. Which of the following strategies are used when Xeriscaping methods are employed?
a) Soil amendments to reduce evaporation
b) Pervious asphalt
c) Using wetland vegetation
d) Dry ponds

83. Captured rainwater, graywater, and reclaimed water are all examples of what?
a) Blackwater
b) Non-potable water
c) Potable water
d) Stormwater management

84. What is the focus of the MR category?

a) To establish new facilities for handling waste associated with building
construction
b) Minimize costs of building products regardless of source of location or recycled
content
c) Minimize the embodied energy and other impacts associated with the extraction,
processing, transport, maintenance, and disposal of building materials
d) Maximize the use of low-emitting materials combined with high recycled content
in new construction

85. Metering water lost to evaporation in cooling towers is important for which of the
following reasons?
a) It reduces indoor water use, thusly saving the project money
b) It reduces indoor water use, thusly saving natural resources
c) Metering can pinpoint inefficiencies or leaks in the system
d) The project may receive credit from the utility company for sewer charges

86. To assist in analyzing the trade-offs of first-costs and long-term operating costs, a
project should perform which of the following?
a) Life cycle assessment
b) Life cycle cost analysis
c) Commissioning audit
d) Environmental impact assessment

87. According to the USGBC, Energy use intensity is defined as what?

a) The energy use of a building compared to an established baseline
b) Energy consumption divided by the number of square feet in a building
c) The rate of energy use fluctuation over the course of one day
d) The average amount of energy used by one building during peak load

88. A project’s top priority is reducing the building’s energy demand. Which of the following
strategies should this project employ?
a) Low-flow fixtures
b) Submetering
c) Deciduous trees on the south side of the building
d) Low albedo hardscape

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

89. The LEED for Homes rating system includes an adjustment to compensate for what?
a) The effect of square footage on resource consumption
b) Work travel distance based on building location
c) Income level
d) Family size

90. Which of the following is NOT what the USGBC intends a LEED project to accomplish?
a) Reverse contribution to Global Climate Change
b) Protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services
c) Contribute to bio-engineering experiments
d) Build a greener economy

91. How does the LEED for Homes home size adjustment compensate for different project
sizes?
a) Provides additional points for homes with specified square footage to bedroom
ratio
b) Requires additional certification fees based on home size
c) Does not allow homes over a certain square feet to number of bedrooms ration
d) Adjusts the point thresholds for each level of certification

92. The building product disclosure and optimization credits share the intent to:
a) Encourage project teams to use local labor for production
b) Encourage the use of products and materials for which life-cycle information is
available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable
life-cycle impacts
c) Encourage the extraction of new raw materials outside of the US and increase
the distance of impacts from the project site
d) To encourage the use of pre-industrial recycled content over the use of post-
consumer content in products and materials

93. Passive design strategies include which of the following? (Choose two)
a) Orienting the building on an east/west axis
b) Single pass cooling systems
c) Operable windows
d) Energy efficient appliances

94. Proper ventilation rates to be applied to projects are prescribed by which of the following
standards?
a) IPMVP Option B
b) ASHRAE 90.1
c) SCAQMD Rule 1113
d) ASHRAE 62.1

95. Exemplary performance points are awarded when a project:

a) Uses a new, innovative strategy
b) Meets and then measurably and significantly exceeds a credit requirement
c) Reports the utility usage data within 6-18 months of occupancy
d) Takes an alternative approach to an existing credit requirement

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Green Associate LEED Study Session

96. A measurement of 530 parts per million of CO2 indoors could be an indication of what?
a) More than adequate ventilation
b) Excellent HVAC filtration
c) Less than adequate ventilation
d) Inadequate daylight

97. Energy consumption divided by the number of square feet in a building is known as what
according to USGBC?
a) Energy per capita
b) Lighting power density
c) British Thermal Units
d) Energy use intensity

98. The earliest a preliminary design review via LEED On-line is submitted:
a) At the end of Design Development
b) At 100% Construction Documents
c) When all the Design credits have been documented online
d) By paying an additional fee

99. What is the “Prius effect”?

a) The effect of using low-emitting vehicle transportation to work
b) The effect of changed behavior as a result of making information about a subject
more visible and available
c) The effect of new minimum parking requirements for alternative transportation
d) The effect of sales of vehicles on medium duty trucks

100. What is the optimal time to begin the integrated design process?
a) Construction
b) Pre-Design
c) Prior to submitting for certification
d) Schematic Design
e) Design Development

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