Which technique is used to quickly determine the rough limits of a contaminated area?

• A. Star
• B. Zig Zag
• C. Box
• D. Zone Recon

Answer: (A)

When you need a rapid sense of how far contamination reaches, you want a pattern that probes many directions from a single point. The star pattern does this by radiating out along several straight lines in different directions from a central starting point, taking readings as you go. This allows you to quickly map where contamination is detected and where it ends, giving a rough boundary without having to walk a full perimeter or conduct a slow, exhaustive search.

This approach is faster than a zigzag path, which winds through the area and can miss outward spread; it’s also quicker than attempting a boxed perimeter or doing a zone-by-zone reconnaissance, both of which take more time to establish an overall limit. The star pattern provides a practical balance of speed and rough accuracy for initial containment decisions.