Tennessee: Sign shapes and colors Practice Test
What the shape and color of a road sign tell you: regulatory, warning, work zone, guide and school signs.
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual" (March 2025 printing), Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
All 25 questions in this practice test
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A stop sign is partly covered by snow and dirt. What should still tell you that you must stop?
- Its diamond shape and red color
- Its round shape and red color
- Its octagonal shape and red color
- Its octagonal shape and yellow color
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Correct answer: Its octagonal shape and red color
Even a damaged or dirty stop sign can be recognized by its eight-sided (octagonal) shape and its red color.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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Red is used as a sign background color only for a few kinds of signs. Which of these is one of them?
- Speed limit signs
- WRONG WAY signs
- School zone signs
- No Passing Zone signs
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Correct answer: WRONG WAY signs
A red background is used only for STOP signs, FOUR-WAY or ALL WAY plates, DO NOT ENTER messages, WRONG WAY signs and Interstate route markers.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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On which of these signs is red used as the legend (message) color instead of the background color?
- STOP signs
- DO NOT ENTER signs
- WRONG WAY signs
- YIELD signs
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Correct answer: YIELD signs
Red is the legend color on YIELD signs, parking prohibition signs and the red circle-and-slash symbol; STOP, DO NOT ENTER and WRONG WAY signs use red as the background.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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What are regulatory signs used for?
- To inform road users of traffic laws or regulations
- To warn of hazards or unexpected conditions ahead
- To guide drivers to places of recreational interest
- To warn of construction and maintenance work
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Correct answer: To inform road users of traffic laws or regulations
Regulatory signs, shown in black and white, tell road users about selected traffic laws or regulations.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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What color is used for the message on white, yellow and orange signs?
- Brown
- Blue
- Black
- Fluorescent pink
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Correct answer: Black
The lettering or symbol on white, yellow and orange signs is black.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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When white is specified as a sign color, what does it also include?
- Light gray metallic paint
- Silver-colored reflective coating
- Cream or ivory colored paint
- Clear, unpainted aluminum metal
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Correct answer: Silver-colored reflective coating
On signs, "white" also covers silver-colored reflective coating or elements that reflect white light.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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The manual says white is the background for regulatory signs except one kind. Which kind?
- Speed limit signs
- ONE WAY signs
- Lane use signs
- STOP signs
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Correct answer: STOP signs
Regulatory signs have a white background, except STOP signs, which have a red background.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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What is an orange sign background used for?
- Construction and maintenance signs
- General warning signs of any kind
- School zone and crosswalk signs
- Incident management signs
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Correct answer: Construction and maintenance signs
Orange backgrounds are reserved for construction and maintenance signs and may not be used for anything else.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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Which kind of sign uses a yellow background?
- Route markers
- Motorist services signs
- Warning signs
- Recreation area signs
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Correct answer: Warning signs
Yellow is the background color for warning signs, except where orange (construction and maintenance) is used.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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A sign with a brown background points you to what?
- Motorist services such as rest areas
- Places of recreational or cultural interest
- Construction and maintenance work
- Hospitals and police services
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Correct answer: Places of recreational or cultural interest
Brown is the background color for guide signs about points of recreational and cultural interest.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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Which background color is used for mileposts?
- Blue
- Brown
- Orange
- Green
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Correct answer: Green
Green is the background color for mileposts and for guide signs other than those that use brown or white.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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A white sign with green lettering gives what kind of information?
- Permissive parking regulations
- Parking prohibitions
- Speed limits
- Directions to a rest area
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Correct answer: Permissive parking regulations
Green lettering on a white background is used for permissive parking regulations, that is, where and when parking is allowed.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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Which background color is used for signs about motorist services, such as police services and rest areas?
- Green
- Brown
- Blue
- White
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Correct answer: Blue
Blue backgrounds are used for information signs about motorist services, including police services and rest areas.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 35 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 35)
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Besides school zones, where is fluorescent yellow-green signage used?
- Construction and maintenance zones
- Pedestrian areas such as crosswalks
- Crash and flood incident areas
- Recreational areas and parks
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Correct answer: Pedestrian areas such as crosswalks
Fluorescent yellow-green signs are used in school zones and in other pedestrian traffic areas, such as crosswalks.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 36 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 36)
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What is an advantage of fluorescent yellow-green signs?
- They light up only when children are near
- They can be read from every lane of a highway
- They show the current speed limit at all times
- They are easier to see in low light, fog or rain
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Correct answer: They are easier to see in low light, fog or rain
Fluorescent yellow-green signs are much easier to see in low light and in foggy or rainy weather.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 36 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 36)
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What is fluorescent pink (coral) signage used for?
- Traffic control at incidents such as crashes or floods
- Marking school zones and pedestrian crosswalks
- Warning of planned road construction projects
- Pointing the way to recreational and cultural areas
Show answer
Correct answer: Traffic control at incidents such as crashes or floods
Fluorescent pink, also called coral, is used for incident management signs at events such as crashes, wildland fires, floods and hazardous material spills.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 36 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 36)
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A stop sign is always red with lettering of what color?
- Black
- White
- Yellow
- Blue
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Correct answer: White
A stop sign always has a red background with white lettering.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 36 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 36)
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What shape is a YIELD sign?
- Octagon
- Diamond
- Triangle
- Circle
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Correct answer: Triangle
The YIELD sign is the three-sided (triangular) sign.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 36 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 36)
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What do diamond-shaped signs call for?
- A complete stop at the sign itself
- Caution and usually a slower speed
- Use of your high-beam headlights
- A turn at the next intersection
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Correct answer: Caution and usually a slower speed
Diamond-shaped signs warn of hazardous or unexpected conditions and call for caution, usually with a slower speed.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 36 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 36)
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What colors can the triangular No Passing Zone sign be?
- Red or white
- Yellow or orange
- Green or blue
- Black or white
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Correct answer: Yellow or orange
The triangular No Passing Zone sign is yellow or orange.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 37 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 37)
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What shapes are construction signs generally?
- Diamond or rectangular
- Round or octagonal
- Triangular or round
- Pentagon or octagon
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Correct answer: Diamond or rectangular
Construction signs are generally diamond or rectangular, orange with black letters or symbols.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 39 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 39)
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What is at the center of a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem?
- A fluorescent orange solid triangle
- A red reflective octagon with a white border
- A white reflective diamond with black stripes
- A yellow reflective circle with a black center
Show answer
Correct answer: A fluorescent orange solid triangle
The SMV emblem has a bright fluorescent orange solid triangle in its center, surrounded by red reflective borders.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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How does a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem appear to drivers at night?
- It flashes amber on its own without any outside light
- It fades into the road until the driver is very close
- It glows brilliantly in the path of approaching headlights
- It shows only a dim gray outline in the dark
Show answer
Correct answer: It glows brilliantly in the path of approaching headlights
At night the SMV emblem glows brightly when approaching headlights shine on it, so drivers can see the slow vehicle.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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What colors do guide signs seen on Interstates and Expressways use for the background and the lettering?
- A blue background with white letters or numbers
- A white background with black letters or numbers
- A green background with white letters or numbers
- A brown background with white letters or numbers
Show answer
Correct answer: A green background with white letters or numbers
These signs have a green background with white letters and/or numbers that can be seen from some distance.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)
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On a roadside guide sign, what does a blue background direct motorists to?
- Service facilities
- Hiking trails
- Construction zones
- Railroad crossings
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Correct answer: Service facilities
Blue signs direct motorists to service facilities.
Source: Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual (March 2025 printing), page 40 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 40)