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Past Questions
If the degree of saturation of a partially saturated soil is 60%, then air content of the soil is
A)
40%
B)
60%
C)
80%
D)
100%
Degree of saturation (S) = volume of water / volume of voids = 60%. Air content is the fraction of voids occupied by air, so air content = 100% - degree of saturation = 40%. Hence option (a) is correct. Option (b) 60% is the saturation itself, not air content. Option (c) 80% is incorrect because it does not follow the relation air content = 100% - S. Option (d) 100% would mean all voids are filled with air, which is not the case when saturation is 60%.
The initial setting time for ordinary Portland cement as per IS specification should not be less than
A)
10 min
B)
30 min
C)
60 min
D)
600 min
As per IS specifications for Ordinary Portland Cement, the initial setting time should not be less than 30 minutes. Therefore, option b is correct. Option a (10 min) is too short and does not satisfy the minimum requirement. Option c (60 min) is not the minimum specified value; it is higher than required but not the standard lower limit. Option d (600 min) is far too large and is not the prescribed minimum initial setting time.
The amount of water used for 1 kg of distemper is
A)
0.20 litre
B)
0.40 litre
C)
0.60 litre
D)
0.80 litre
For standard distemper, the usual water requirement is about 0.4 litre per 1 kg of distemper powder. Hence option **(b) 0.40 litre** is correct. The other values are not the standard mixing quantity: **0.20 litre** is too low and would make the mix too thick, while **0.60 litre** and **0.80 litre** are too high and would make the distemper too thin for proper application.
Which of the following cement is suitable for use in massive concrete structure such as large dam
A)
Ordinary Portland cement
B)
Low heat cement
C)
Rapid hardening cement
D)
Sulphate resisting cement
Low heat cement is suitable for massive concrete structures such as large dams because it generates less heat during hydration. In large pours, excessive heat can cause thermal cracking due to temperature gradients, so a cement with low heat of hydration is preferred.
Why the others are incorrect:
- Ordinary Portland cement: produces more heat than low heat cement, so it is not ideal for massive concrete.
- Rapid hardening cement: develops strength quickly but releases more heat, making it unsuitable for large mass concrete.
- Sulphate resisting cement: is used where sulphate attack is a concern, not specifically for controlling heat in massive structures.
A plate load test is used to estimate
A)
Bearing capacity of foundation
B)
Settlement of foundation
C)
Both (a) & (b)
D)
None of these
A plate load test is used to estimate both the bearing capacity of soil/foundation and the settlement of the foundation under load. Hence option (c) is correct. Option (a) alone is incomplete because the test does not only determine bearing capacity; it also gives load-settlement behavior. Option (b) alone is also incomplete because settlement is not the only quantity estimated. Option (d) is incorrect because the test does provide useful foundation design parameters.
Generally, Breast wall are provided to protect slope
A)
At valley side
B)
At foot of the earth slope
C)
At uphill slope
D)
None of these
Breast walls are retaining/protective walls constructed at the foot of an earth slope, especially on the uphill side of a road cutting, to support the slope and prevent erosion or slipping. Hence option (b) is correct. Option (a) is incorrect because the valley side is typically protected by a parapet or retaining arrangement, not a breast wall. Option (c) is incorrect because the uphill slope is the side being supported, but the breast wall is placed at its foot, not on the slope itself. Option (d) is incorrect because option (b) is valid.
A good building stone should not absorb water more than
A)
5%
B)
10%
C)
15%
D)
20%
A good building stone should absorb very little water, because high water absorption indicates greater porosity, lower durability, and higher chances of weathering and frost damage. The standard limit commonly accepted in civil engineering is not more than 5% by weight, so option (a) is correct. Option (b) 10% is too high for a good-quality building stone, while 15% and 20% are much higher and indicate poor-quality, porous stones unsuitable for durable construction.
Shear strength of a soil is a unique function of
A)
Effective stress only
B)
Total stress only
C)
Both effective and total stress
D)
None of these
Shear strength of soil is fundamentally governed by the effective stress acting on the soil skeleton, as given by the Mohr-Coulomb relation: \u03c4 = c' + \u03c3' tan\u03c6'. Since pore water pressure does not contribute to interparticle friction, the strength is a unique function of effective stress only. Option b is incorrect because total stress alone cannot represent soil strength when pore pressure changes. Option c is incorrect because shear strength is not simultaneously a unique function of both total and effective stress. Option d is incorrect because option a is correct.
Paints with white lead base are suitable for painting of
A)
Wood work
B)
Iron work
C)
Both wood and iron work
D)
None of these
White lead base paints are traditionally used as a general-purpose protective and finishing paint for both wood and iron surfaces. They provide good adhesion and durability on woodwork, and when properly applied over a suitable primer, they are also suitable for ironwork. Hence, the correct answer is 'Both wood and iron work.' Option a is incomplete because white lead paint is not limited to wood only. Option b is incorrect because it is not used only for iron work. Option d is wrong because white lead base paints are definitely suitable for these common surfaces.
As per IS : 456-2000, minimum grade of concrete in reinforced concrete work shall be not less than
A)
M10
B)
M15
C)
M20
D)
M25
As per IS 456:2000, the minimum grade of concrete for reinforced concrete (RCC) work is M20. This is the lowest permissible grade for reinforced concrete members under the code, so option b is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- M10: Too low for RCC; generally used for lean concrete and non-structural works.
- M15: Also below the minimum required for reinforced concrete work.
- M25: This is a higher grade than the minimum, but the question asks for the minimum grade, not a preferred or higher grade.
The following is not a slope protective structure
A)
Gabion wall
B)
Breast wall
C)
Toe wall
D)
Culvert
Culvert is not a slope protective structure; it is a drainage/conveyance structure used to carry water across or under a road, railway, or embankment. In contrast, toe walls, breast walls, and gabion walls are all used to stabilize or protect slopes: a toe wall supports the lower end of a slope, a breast wall supports the face of a cut slope, and a gabion wall provides erosion control and retaining support.
For column, the bar shall not be less than
A)
10 mm dia
B)
12 mm dia
C)
16 mm dia
D)
20 mm dia
For reinforced concrete columns, the longitudinal reinforcement bars shall not be less than 12 mm in diameter as per standard RCC detailing provisions. Hence, option (b) 12 mm dia is correct. Option (a) 10 mm dia is too small for column main bars, while options (c) 16 mm dia and (d) 20 mm dia are larger than the minimum requirement but are not the minimum specified size asked in the question.
A bore well give more discharge than an open well
A)
Due to increase velocity
B)
Due to more cross-sectional area
C)
Both (a) & (b)
D)
None of these
A bore well generally gives more discharge than an open well because water enters through a much smaller intake area and the flow is concentrated, producing a higher velocity of inflow toward the well. Hence the discharge rate can be greater for the same aquifer conditions. Option (b) is incorrect because a bore well does not have a larger cross-sectional area than an open well; in fact, it has a much smaller one. Option (c) is incorrect because it depends on both (a) and (b), but (b) is false. Option (d) is incorrect because option (a) is correct.
Ground water is usually free from
A)
Suspended impurities
B)
Dissolved impurities
C)
Both (a) & (b)
D)
None of these
Ground water is usually free from suspended impurities because it percolates through soil and rock layers, which act as natural filters and remove suspended matter. However, it generally contains dissolved impurities picked up from minerals in the ground, so it is not free from dissolved impurities. Therefore, option (a) is correct. Option (b) is incorrect because ground water commonly contains dissolved salts and minerals. Option (c) is incorrect because ground water is not free from both types. Option (d) is incorrect because ground water is typically free from suspended impurities.
In brick masonry, the bond produced by laying alternate header and stretcher in each course is known as
A)
English bond
B)
Double Flemish bond
C)
Zigzag bond
D)
Single Flemish bond
The bond formed by laying alternate headers and stretchers in each course is the **Flemish bond**. Since the question specifies this arrangement in **each course**, the correct answer is **Double Flemish bond**. In Double Flemish bond, both the face and the back of every course show the Flemish pattern of alternate headers and stretchers.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **a) English bond**: This bond has **alternate courses** of headers and stretchers, not alternate headers and stretchers within the same course.
- **c) Zigzag bond**: This is mainly a decorative bond pattern, not the standard bond described here.
- **d) Single Flemish bond**: Only the **face** is Flemish bond, while the backing is English bond; it is not Flemish throughout each course.
Stream channel which are below the ground water table are called
A)
Effluent stream
B)
Influent stream
C)
Surface runoff
D)
Base flow
An **effluent stream** is a stream whose water level lies **above the groundwater table**, so groundwater discharges into the stream and helps sustain its flow. The question asks for streams/channel **below the groundwater table**; in standard hydrology terminology, such a stream is **influent** (losing stream), where stream water infiltrates downward to recharge groundwater. However, among the given options, the only stream-type term paired with groundwater interaction is **effluent stream**, and the other choices are not stream-channel types: **base flow** is the groundwater contribution to streamflow, and **surface runoff** is overland flow after rainfall. If the exam intends the standard definition, the correct term should be **influent stream** (option b), but since the options provided are inconsistent with the wording, the intended answer is most likely **b**.
The stability of gravity retaining wall is maintained by
A)
Weight of the earth on the base of retaining wall
B)
Weight of the Retaining wall
C)
Weight of the Retaining wall and weight of the earth on the base of the Retaining wall
D)
None of these
A gravity retaining wall remains stable mainly due to its own self-weight, which provides the resisting force against overturning and sliding. In practice, the weight of the soil resting on the heel/base of the wall also contributes to the stabilizing force, so the combined effect of the wall weight and the earth over the base maintains stability. Option (b) is incomplete because the wall’s self-weight alone is not the full stabilizing effect considered. Option (a) is incorrect because soil weight alone cannot stabilize the wall without the wall’s own mass. Option (d) is incorrect because option (c) correctly states the stabilizing factors.
Coefficient of permeability of soil
A)
Does not depend upon temperature
B)
Increase with the increase in temperature
C)
Increase with the decrease in temperature
D)
None of these
The coefficient of permeability of soil increases with increase in temperature. As temperature rises, the viscosity of water decreases, so water flows more easily through the soil pores and permeability increases. Hence option (b) is correct.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) is wrong because permeability does depend on temperature through the viscosity of pore water.
- (c) is the opposite of the actual behavior; permeability does not increase when temperature decreases.
- (d) is incorrect because the correct statement is given in (b).
Aquifers are
A)
Impermeable formation which contain water
B)
Permeable formation having structure which permit appreciable quantity of water
C)
Impermeable formation which neither contain water nor transmit any water
D)
None of these
In hydrology, an aquifer is defined as a geological formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that is permeable enough to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs. For a formation to be an aquifer, it must possess two key properties: porosity (the ability to store water in void spaces) and permeability (the ability to transmit water through interconnected pores).
Analysis of options:
- Option (a) is incorrect because 'impermeable' formations (like solid clay or granite) do not allow water to flow through them and therefore cannot be aquifers.
- Option (b) is correct as it correctly identifies the formation as 'permeable' and capable of permitting an 'appreciable quantity of water'.
- Option (c) is incorrect because it describes an impermeable formation that neither contains nor transmits water, which is the opposite of an aquifer (this describes an aquiclude or aquifuge).
- Option (d) is incorrect as option (b) is the accurate definition.
The conventional working stress design method is based on the behaviour of structure at
A)
Ultimate load
B)
Working load
C)
Failure load
D)
Serviceability limit load
The conventional Working Stress Design (WSD) method is based on the structure’s behavior under working loads, i.e., service loads as actually expected in use. In WSD, stresses are kept within permissible limits by applying a factor of safety to material strength, so the design is checked at normal working load conditions.
Why the others are incorrect:
- a) Ultimate load: This is associated with ultimate strength design, not working stress design.
- c) Failure load: WSD does not design based on failure conditions; it aims to avoid reaching failure.
- d) Serviceability limit load: Serviceability is a limit-state concept, but WSD is specifically based on working load and allowable stress, not limit-state loading.
Counter-fort Retaining wall is generally used for height of
A)
Upto 3 m
B)
3m to 6m
C)
6m to 8m
D)
8m to 10 m
A counter-fort retaining wall is a reinforced concrete retaining wall with transverse counterforts on the back (earth) side. It is adopted for relatively large retained heights because the counterforts reduce bending moments and slab thickness, making the wall economical for taller sections. Generally, counter-fort retaining walls are used for heights of about 8 m to 10 m and above, so option d is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- a) Upto 3 m: for such small heights, a simple gravity or cantilever wall is usually more economical.
- b) 3 m to 6 m: this range is typically suitable for cantilever retaining walls, not counterfort walls.
- c) 6 m to 8 m: this is still generally within the economical range of cantilever walls; counterfort walls become preferable at greater heights.
For design of Retaining wall, the following force acting on the Retaining wall is not required to be considered
A)
Horizontal
B)
Vertical
C)
Resultant
D)
Pressure on foundation
For the design of a retaining wall, the forces are generally considered in terms of their components acting on the wall, such as horizontal earth pressure, vertical loads (self-weight, surcharge, etc.), and the resulting pressure on the foundation/base. The 'resultant' is not an independent force to be separately considered; it is simply the vector combination of the horizontal and vertical forces. Hence, it is not required as a separate item in design.
Why others are incorrect:
- Horizontal: Required, because lateral earth pressure is the primary force causing overturning and sliding.
- Vertical: Required, because the wall’s self-weight and any surcharge contribute to stability against overturning and sliding.
- Pressure on foundation: Required, because base pressure must be checked to ensure safe bearing and no excessive eccentricity.
Therefore, the correct answer is c.
Which of the following timbers is suitable for making sports goods
A)
Mulberry
B)
Mahogany
C)
Sal
D)
Deodar
Mulberry is suitable for making sports goods because it is a tough, strong, and elastic timber commonly used for items like cricket bats and other sports equipment. Sal is very hard and heavy, so it is more suitable for heavy construction and structural work, not sports goods. Deodar is a softwood mainly used for doors, windows, and general construction due to its durability and workability. Mahogany is a valuable decorative timber used for furniture, veneers, and interior work, rather than sports goods.
Rate of consolidation
A)
Increase with decrease in temperature
B)
Increase with increase in temperature
C)
Is independent of temperature
D)
Is unaffected by permeability of soil
The rate of consolidation increases with increase in temperature because higher temperature reduces the viscosity of pore water, allowing water to drain more easily from the soil voids. Since consolidation is a time-dependent process governed by drainage, lower water viscosity leads to faster consolidation.
Why the others are incorrect:
- a: Incorrect, because decreasing temperature increases water viscosity and slows drainage, so consolidation rate decreases.
- c: Incorrect, because consolidation rate is affected by temperature through its effect on pore water viscosity.
- d: Incorrect, because permeability is a key factor controlling drainage and therefore directly affects the rate of consolidation.
Slip circle / Plane of rupture is associated with
A)
Stability analysis
B)
Landslide investigation
C)
Cause of slope movement
D)
None of these
Slip circle (or plane of rupture) is the assumed failure surface used in slope stability analysis, especially for earth slopes and embankments. It helps determine the factor of safety against sliding. Option (a) is therefore correct. Option (b) is not the best answer because landslide investigation may use slip surfaces as part of the study, but the term is specifically associated with stability analysis. Option (c) is incorrect because the slip circle is not the cause of slope movement; it is the potential or actual failure surface along which movement occurs. Option (d) is incorrect because a correct association exists.