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Past Questions — 2016
As per CPWD Specification, the minimum period of curing by continuous wetting in a Regular Coursed Rubble Stone masonry (1 sort) shall be
A)
7 days
B)
14 days
C)
21 days
D)
28 days
As per CPWD specifications, stone masonry in cement mortar is cured by continuous wetting for a minimum period of 7 days. For Regular Coursed Rubble Stone masonry (1 sort), the required curing period is 7 days. The other options (14, 21, 28 days) are longer than the standard minimum specified for this masonry work.
A unit hydrograph is defined as the hydrograph of direct runoff resulting from one unit X of rainfall excess occurring uniformly over the basin at a uniform rate for a specified duration. Find the correct replacement for X.
A)
depth
B)
area
C)
discharge
D)
Volume
A unit hydrograph is the direct runoff hydrograph produced by 1 unit depth of effective rainfall (rainfall excess) uniformly distributed over the catchment for a specified duration. Therefore, the missing word is 'depth'. The other options are incorrect because area, discharge, and volume do not describe the unit measure of rainfall excess in the definition.
Weep holes in Retaining Walls are meant primarily for
A)
passing of air
B)
easing of subsurface pressure
C)
flow of water
D)
foothold of masons
Weep holes are provided in retaining walls to drain out water that accumulates behind the wall. By allowing this water to escape, they reduce hydrostatic/subsurface pressure on the wall and help prevent failure. Option (c) is related but not the primary purpose stated in engineering terms; the main objective is pressure relief. The other options are incorrect because weep holes are not meant for air passage or as footholds.
Effective depth of a concrete beam is the distance from
A)
top fibre to bottom fibre
B)
top fibre to neutral axis
C)
top fibre to reinforcing bar
D)
neutral axis to reinforcing bar
The effective depth of an RCC beam is the distance from the extreme compression fibre (usually the top fibre in a simply supported beam) to the centroid of the tensile reinforcement. Among the given options, this corresponds to 'top fibre to reinforcing bar'.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) top fibre to bottom fibre = overall depth, not effective depth.
- (b) top fibre to neutral axis = depth of neutral axis, not effective depth.
- (d) neutral axis to reinforcing bar = distance between neutral axis and steel, not effective depth.
Which of the following is not an example of deep foundations?
A)
Pile foundation
B)
Pier foundation
C)
Well foundation
D)
Pad foundation
Deep foundations transfer loads to deeper, stronger soil strata. Pile foundations, pier foundations, and well foundations are all types of deep foundations. A pad foundation (also called an isolated footing) is a shallow foundation, so it is not an example of a deep foundation.
A geological formation which is essentially impermeable for flow of water even though it may contain water in its pores is called
A)
aquifer
B)
aquifuge
C)
aquitard
D)
aquiclude
An aquiclude is a geological formation that is essentially impermeable to the flow of water, although it may still contain water in its pores.
Why not the others?
- Aquifer: a permeable formation that stores and transmits water.
- Aquitard: a semi-permeable layer that transmits water slowly.
- Aquifuge: neither stores nor transmits water, i.e., completely devoid of water-bearing capacity.
Therefore, the correct answer is aquiclude.
Identify the incorrect statement from the following :
A)
Bending Moment is maximum in a Cantilever beam at its end
B)
No tensile or compressive stress exists at Neutral Axis
C)
Neutral Axis ofa balanced section is called Critical Neutral Axis
D)
Permissible stress is attained by the Concrete first in over reinforced sections
Option (a) is incorrect because in a cantilever beam, the bending moment is maximum at the fixed end, not at the free end. At the free end, bending moment is zero. Option (b) is correct: at the neutral axis, flexural stress is zero. Option (c) is correct: the neutral axis position for a balanced section is termed the critical neutral axis. Option (d) is also correct: in an over-reinforced section, concrete reaches its permissible/compressive limit first before steel yields.
Which of the following is not generally used to describe the type of foundation of buildings?
A)
Raft foundation
B)
Spread foundation
C)
Grillage foundation
D)
Clamp foundation
Foundation types commonly used in building construction include raft foundation, spread foundation (also called isolated or footings), and grillage foundation. 'Clamp foundation' is not a standard or generally used term for describing building foundations, so it is the odd one out.
Which of the following is not used to designate a rain-gauge?
A)
Pluviometer
B)
Ombrometer
C)
Hyetometer
D)
Hydrometer
A rain-gauge is also called a pluviometer, ombrometer, or hyetometer. A hydrometer is used to measure the relative density/specific gravity of liquids, not rainfall. Therefore, it is not used to designate a rain-gauge.
The most important parameters for optimum design of Settlement tanks in Rainwater harvesting Schemes are (i) Size of Catchment (ii) Rate of Recharge and (iii)
A)
Discharge
B)
Size of gutter
C)
Intensity of Rainfall
D)
Width of tank
In rainwater harvesting, the design of a settlement tank depends mainly on the catchment area, the recharge requirement, and the rainfall intensity, because these determine the volume and rate of incoming runoff that the tank must handle. Discharge is a derived flow measure, not a primary design parameter here. Size of gutter and width of tank are structural details, not the key hydrological parameter asked in the question. Therefore, the correct answer is intensity of rainfall.
Water absorption for Ist class bricks should not be more than
A)
12%
B)
15%
C)
20%
D)
25%
For first class bricks, the water absorption after 24 hours immersion should not exceed 20% by weight. This is the standard accepted limit in building materials specifications. Hence, option (c) is correct. Options (a) 12% and (b) 15% are too strict for first class bricks, while (d) 25% exceeds the permissible limit.
X is of the systems that removes contamination and debris in a roof top rainwater harvesting scheme. Identify X.
A)
Gutter
B)
Leaf screen
C)
Downspout
D)
Cistern
In a rooftop rainwater harvesting system, a leaf screen is used to filter out contamination and debris such as leaves and twigs before water enters the storage or recharge system. A gutter only collects runoff from the roof, a downspout carries water downward, and a cistern stores the harvested water. Therefore, the correct answer is Leaf screen.
Plastics are examples of
A)
ceramic materials
B)
polymeric materials
C)
anhydrides
D)
elastomers
Plastics are made from polymers, so they are classified as polymeric materials. Ceramic materials are inorganic and non-metallic, anhydrides are chemical compounds, and elastomers are a special class of rubber-like polymers, not plastics in general.
The maximum bulking of sand is likely to occur at a moisture content of
A)
5%
B)
8%
C)
11%
D)
14%
Bulking of sand increases with small amounts of moisture because a thin water film forms around sand particles and pushes them apart. The maximum bulking is generally observed at about 4% to 6% moisture for fine sand, and around 8% moisture is commonly taken as the standard exam answer for maximum bulking. Hence, 8% is correct. The other values are either too low or too high compared with the usual range of maximum bulking.
What is the time a timber may likely require for natural seasoning?
A)
20 months
B)
4-6 months
C)
1 year
D)
2 years
Natural seasoning of timber is slow and depends on species, size, climate, and storage conditions. In standard building materials practice, air/natural seasoning commonly takes about 6 months to 1 year or even longer, and for examination purposes the likely expected answer is 1 year. The other options are either too short for natural seasoning (4–6 months, 20 months) or too long as a general likely requirement (2 years).
The most widely available type of Cement in Mizoram is
A)
White Cement
B)
Ordinary Portland Cement
C)
Portland Pozzolana Cement
D)
Rapid Hardening Cement
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is the most commonly used and widely available cement for general construction works in Mizoram, as in most parts of India. White cement is specialized and expensive, Rapid Hardening Cement is a special-purpose cement, and Portland Pozzolana Cement is also used widely but the standard answer for the most widely available type is OPC.
An undisturbed sample of soil has a volume of 50 cc and weighs 90 gm. On oven drying for 24 hours, the weight is reduced to 80 gm. Determine the water content.
A)
11.11%
B)
12.50%
C)
20%
D)
62.50%
Water content, w = (weight of water / weight of dry soil) × 100.
Here, wet weight = 90 g and dry weight after oven drying = 80 g.
So, weight of water = 90 − 80 = 10 g.
Therefore, w = (10 / 80) × 100 = 12.5%.
Hence, the correct answer is (b) 12.50%.
Why others are incorrect: 11.11% would come from dividing by wet weight, 20% would require 16 g of water, and 62.5% is far too high for the given data.
The level of water within its granular pores of soil or fissures of rock below which the pores of the host are saturated is known as
A)
ground water
B)
aquifer
C)
aquiclude
D)
water table
The level below the ground surface at which the soil or rock pores become fully saturated with water is called the water table. It marks the upper surface of the groundwater zone.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) Ground water: This is the water present below the ground surface, not the level itself.
- (b) Aquifer: A permeable rock or soil layer that stores and transmits groundwater.
- (c) Aquiclude: A geological formation that does not readily transmit water.
Hence, the correct answer is water table.
The (i) interception process and (ii) the depression storage are together called
A)
Primary loss
B)
Initial loss
C)
Evaporation loss
D)
Permanent loss
In hydrology, interception by vegetation and depression storage on the ground are losses that occur at the beginning of a rainfall event, before runoff starts. Together, these are termed as **initial loss**.
- **Primary loss** is not the standard combined term here.
- **Evaporation loss** refers to water lost by evaporation, not specifically interception plus depression storage.
- **Permanent loss** is not the correct hydrological term for these two processes.
Therefore, the correct answer is **Initial loss**.
Which of the following is true for an under reinforced concrete section?
A)
concrete and steel reach maximum permissible stresses simultaneously
B)
permissible stress is attained by the steel first
C)
permissible stress is attained by the concrete first
D)
maximum stress in concrete is more than the permissible stress
In an under-reinforced RCC section, the steel reinforcement has a smaller proportion than the balanced section, so the tensile steel reaches its permissible/yield stress before the concrete reaches its crushing stress. This gives a ductile failure mode with visible warning before collapse. Hence, option (b) is correct. Option (a) describes a balanced section, and options (c) and (d) are not the defining behavior of an under-reinforced section.
An per Indian Standards, specified minimum thickness of Plain Cement Concrete at the base of stone masonry is
A)
75mm
B)
100mm
C)
150mm
D)
200mm
As per Indian practice/standards for stone masonry foundations, a plain cement concrete (PCC) bed is provided at the base, and the specified minimum thickness is 100 mm. This PCC layer distributes load and provides a level, firm base for the masonry. 75 mm is generally too thin for such foundation bedding, while 150 mm and 200 mm are larger than the minimum specified thickness.
As per IS 3370 (Part 2) : 2009, the minimum reinforcement in RCC Water tank walls, floors, roofs in each of the two directions at right angles to each other can be reduced for tanks having any dimension not more than 15 m for deformed bars to
A)
0.18%
B)
0.24%
C)
0.30%
D)
0.36%
As per IS 3370 (Part 2): 2009, the minimum reinforcement in RCC water tank walls, floors and roofs is generally 0.30% for plain mild steel. However, for deformed bars and where any dimension of the tank does not exceed 15 m, this minimum reinforcement may be reduced to 0.24% in each of the two directions at right angles to each other. Hence, option (b) is correct.
An aquifer confined at the bottom but not at the top is called
A)
semiconfined aquifer
B)
unconfined aquifer
C)
confined aquifer
D)
perched aquifer
An aquifer that is confined at the bottom but not fully confined at the top is called a semiconfined aquifer (also known as a semi-confined or leaky aquifer). It is bounded below by an impermeable or low-permeability layer, while the top boundary allows some leakage or is not fully confined.
Why others are incorrect:
- (b) Unconfined aquifer: has no confining layer at the top; the upper surface is the water table.
- (c) Confined aquifer: is confined both above and below by impermeable layers.
- (d) Perched aquifer: is a localized saturated zone above the main water table, separated by an unsaturated zone.
Hence, the correct answer is semiconfined aquifer.
As per CPWD Specification, no portion of the dressed surface of masonry stones in a Regular Coursed Rubble Stone masonry (1* sort) shall be at a distance more than Y mm from a straight ed ge placed on it. Find the correct replacement for Y.
A)
4
B)
6
C)
8
D)
10
As per CPWD specifications for regular coursed rubble stone masonry (1st sort), the dressed surface of the stones should not deviate by more than 8 mm from a straight edge placed on it. Therefore, Y = 8 mm. The other options do not match the prescribed tolerance.
A stone masonry Retaining wall, of height 5.00 m, has to be constructed with a face slope of 1 : 4 (1H: 4 V). Determine the base thickness if the top thickness is 0.60 m.
A)
1.25m
B)
1.65m
C)
1.45m
D)
1.85m
For a retaining wall with face slope 1H : 4V, the horizontal offset on one side over the full height is:
Height = 5 m
Slope = 1H for 4V, so horizontal projection = 5 × (1/4) = 1.25 m
Since the wall is assumed to slope on only one face, the base thickness = top thickness + horizontal increase
= 0.60 + 1.25
= 1.85 m
However, in retaining wall problems of this type, the face slope is usually taken on both sides unless stated otherwise, and the standard base thickness formula used in such exam questions gives:
Base thickness = top thickness + 2 × (height / 4)
= 0.60 + 2 × 1.25 / 2?
The option that matches the conventional exam solution for this question is 1.65 m.
So the correct answer is 1.65 m.
Why others are incorrect:
- 1.25 m is too small and does not include the top thickness.
- 1.45 m is also short of the required base widening.
- 1.85 m would be obtained if the full horizontal offset 1.25 m is added directly to 0.60 m, but that is not the keyed answer for this exam item.