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Past Questions — 2016
Removal of very fine and light colloidal impurities like gels and emulsions from water is achieved by means of
A)
Filtration
B)
Chlorination
C)
Coagulation
D)
Aeration
Very fine and light colloidal impurities such as gels and emulsions do not settle or get removed easily by simple filtration. Coagulation is used to destabilize these colloids and aggregate them into larger flocs, which can then be removed by sedimentation and filtration. Chlorination is mainly for disinfection, aeration is for removing gases and improving taste/odor, and filtration alone cannot effectively remove colloids of this type.
Public Works Department, normally, publish a booklet listing all the likely items of work with per unit cost of such items to be extensively used for preparation of Estimates. Such a booklet is known as
A)
Schedule of Works
B)
Analysis of Rates
C)
Schedule of Rates
D)
Cost Index
The booklet published by the Public Works Department that lists likely items of work along with their per-unit costs for use in preparing estimates is called the Schedule of Rates (SOR). It is the standard reference for unit rates of materials, labour, and common items of work.
Why the others are wrong:
- (a) Schedule of Works: This is not the standard term for a rate booklet.
- (b) Analysis of Rates: This is the method of working out the cost of an item, not the booklet itself.
- (d) Cost Index: This is used to measure changes in cost level, not to list item-wise rates.
So the correct answer is Schedule of Rates.
The value realized by sell of a structure or machinery which has outlived its span of life is
A)
Assessed Value
B)
Scrap Value
C)
Depreciated Value
D)
Distress Value
The value realized by selling a structure or machinery after it has outlived its useful life is called its scrap value. It refers to the amount obtainable from dismantling or disposing of the asset. Assessed value is the valuation made for tax or other assessment purposes, depreciated value is the book value after accounting for depreciation, and distress value is the forced-sale value when sold urgently.
Normally 3% of the Estimated Cost has to be provided to meet unforeseen expenditures while preparing Estimates. Such provisions are known as
A)
Deviations
B)
Extra and substituted items
C)
Expenditure Sanction
D)
Contingencies
In estimate preparation, a provision of about 3% of the estimated cost is kept to cover unforeseen expenses. This provision is called a contingency allowance or contingencies.
Why others are incorrect:
- Deviations: refers to changes from the sanctioned work/estimate, not the reserved provision.
- Extra and substituted items: items added or replaced during execution, not the general allowance for unforeseen expenditure.
- Expenditure Sanction: is the formal approval to incur expenditure, not the reserve amount itself.
The Efficiency of a riveted joint is defined as the ratio, expressed in percentage, of the least strength of a riveted joint to
A)
bearing strength of rivet
B)
strength of solid plate
C)
rivet value
D)
tearing strength of plate
The efficiency of a riveted joint is defined as:
Efficiency = (least strength of the riveted joint / strength of the uncut or solid plate) × 100
The least strength of the joint may be due to tearing of plate, shearing of rivet, or bearing failure, whichever is minimum. It is compared with the strength of the original solid plate because that represents the maximum strength available before making holes for rivets.
So, the correct answer is strength of solid plate. The other options are only individual failure strengths, not the reference basis for efficiency.
Road Rollers of various types are extensively used in modern highway construction projects. They are used for
A)
Consolidation
B)
Compression
C)
Contraction
D)
Compaction
Road rollers are used to compact soil, granular layers, and bituminous mixes in highway construction. Compaction reduces air voids and increases density and stability of the pavement layers. The other options are not correct because consolidation is a time-dependent soil settlement process, compression is a general term for squeezing, and contraction means shrinking.
Brickwork, more than one brick thick, shall be measured in
A)
m
B)
sqm
C)
cum
D)
10 cum
In estimation and costing, brickwork more than one brick thick is measured in cubic metres (cum) because its thickness is significant and volume is the correct basis for measurement. Brickwork of one brick thickness or less is generally measured in square metres (sqm). Therefore, the correct answer is cum.
As per IRC Specifications, the minimum Carriageway width for double-lane National Highways in hilly areas is
A)
6.00 m
B)
6.50 m
C)
7.00 m
D)
7.50 m
As per IRC hill road/highway standards, the minimum carriageway width for a double-lane National Highway in hilly areas is 6.5 m. This is slightly less than the usual 7.0 m adopted for plain terrain because of topographic constraints in hill regions. Hence, option (b) is correct.
Estimation is computations of the X required and cost likely to be incurred in the construction work. Find the appropriate word for X.
A)
materials
B)
quantities
C)
equipments
D)
labourers
In civil engineering, estimation means the computation of the quantities required for a work and the probable cost of construction. So the missing word is 'quantities'. The other options are only components involved in a project, but they do not complete the standard definition of estimation.
An impurity which is an optical property of water sample measured by the degree of absorption of light rays is
A)
Acidity
B)
Alkalinity
C)
Turbidity
D)
Hardness
Turbidity is the impurity related to the optical property of water. It is measured by the extent to which suspended particles in water scatter or absorb light. Acidity and alkalinity are chemical properties, while hardness refers to the concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts.
Pressed steel water tanks are fabricated together by joining together pressed steel plates by means of
A)
rivets
B)
pins
C)
welds
D)
bolts
Pressed steel water tanks are made of prefabricated pressed steel plates that are assembled on site by bolting them together with joints and rubber/bituminous sealing. They are not joined by rivets, pins, or welds because bolted connections allow easier fabrication, transport, erection, and maintenance. Hence, the correct answer is bolts.
Sinking fund is an amount
A)
set aside annually
B)
rent collected annually
C)
annual depreciation
D)
annual increase in value
A sinking fund is a fixed amount set aside every year to accumulate money for replacing an asset or repaying a loan at the end of a specified period. Hence, it is an amount set aside annually. It is not rent, not depreciation itself, and not an increase in value.
What type of Weld is also known as Groove Weld?
A)
Fillet Weld
B)
Spot Weld
C)
Pipe Weld
D)
Butt Weld
A groove weld is a weld made in a groove between two members. The common form of groove weld is the butt weld, where two plates or members are joined edge-to-edge. Fillet weld is used in lap, tee, and corner joints, while spot weld is a resistance weld used mainly for thin sheets. Hence, groove weld is also known as butt weld.
Los Angeles Abrasion (LAA) test is conducted on this layer in flexible pavement construction. Identify the layer.
A)
Sub-grade
B)
Granular Sub-base
C)
Wet Mix Macadam
D)
Sand Seal Coat
The Los Angeles Abrasion (LAA) test is used to assess the toughness and abrasion resistance of coarse aggregates. In flexible pavement construction, this test is relevant for layers made with aggregates, especially the granular sub-base layer. Sub-grade is soil and is not tested by LAA. Wet Mix Macadam uses aggregates too, but the standard layer specifically associated with LAA in pavement material testing is Granular Sub-base. Sand seal coat uses fine material and bitumen, so LAA is not the key test for it.
A Contour may be defined as a line on a map joining different points with the same
A)
pressure
B)
rainfall
C)
elevation
D)
temperature
A contour line joins points having the same elevation (or height above a chosen datum, usually mean sea level). Therefore, the correct answer is elevation. Pressure, rainfall, and temperature are related to other types of lines or maps, not contour lines.
A Contractor has to deposit some percentage of the Estimated Cost while participating in the Tendering process in order to show his eagerness and commitment in the Contract process. Such an amount is known as
A)
Security Deposit
B)
Earnest Money
C)
Advance Payment
D)
Performance Guarantee
The amount deposited by a contractor at the time of tendering to show seriousness and commitment is called **Earnest Money** or **Earnest Money Deposit (EMD)**. It is usually a small percentage of the estimated cost and is submitted along with the tender.
- **Security Deposit** is collected after acceptance/award of the work as a safeguard for proper execution.
- **Advance Payment** is money paid in advance for work/materials, not for showing tender seriousness.
- **Performance Guarantee** is furnished after award of contract to ensure contract performance.
Therefore, the correct answer is **Earnest Money**.
The Fore Bearing of a line AB in the Whole Circle Bearing System is 132°38'. What will be its Fore Bearing in the Quadrantal Bearing System?
A)
S 47°22' W
B)
S 42°38' E
C)
S 47°22' E
D)
S 47°22' W
In the Whole Circle Bearing (WCB) system, 132°38' lies between 90° and 180°, so the line is in the southeast quadrant. For the Quadrantal Bearing (QB) system in the SE quadrant, QB = S (180° - WCB) E. Thus, 180°00' - 132°38' = 47°22'. Therefore, the fore bearing is S 47°22' E. Options (a) and (d) are identical and correspond to the southwest quadrant, which is incorrect here; (b) has the wrong direction.
The next number in the following sequence would be 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, ____.
A)
22
B)
55
C)
53
D)
47
This is a Fibonacci-type sequence, where each term is the sum of the two previous terms: 3, 5, 8 (3+5), 13 (5+8), 21 (8+13), 34 (13+21). So the next term is 21 + 34 = 55. Hence, option (b) is correct. The other options do not follow the pattern.
In a compression steel member, the maximum slenderness ratio may be defined as the ratio of effective length to the appropriate
A)
Modulus of Elasticity
B)
Compressive stress
C)
Radius of gyration
D)
Moment of Inertia
For a compression member, the slenderness ratio is defined as the ratio of effective length to the least radius of gyration: \( \lambda = \frac{L_e}{r_{min}} \). This is because buckling resistance depends on how the cross-section is distributed about its centroid, which is captured by the radius of gyration. Modulus of elasticity, compressive stress, and moment of inertia are not used directly in the definition of slenderness ratio.
Nature of Impurity in hardness of water due to the presence of Carbonates and bicarbonates of Calcium and Magnesium is
A)
suspended
B)
dissolved
C)
organic
D)
vegetable
Hardness caused by carbonates and bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium is due to salts that are **dissolved** in water. These dissolved mineral salts produce temporary hardness. The other options are incorrect because suspended, organic, and vegetable impurities do not cause this type of hardness.
What does it mean to say “don’t judge a book by its cover”?
A)
Don’t believe everything you hear
B)
In judging a person or an object, do not look at outward appearance alone
C)
Well-bound books often have cheap covers
D)
Someone else’s situation always seems better than our own
The proverb “don’t judge a book by its cover” means you should not form an opinion based only on appearance. A person or thing may seem one way on the outside but be different inside. Option (b) matches this meaning exactly. Option (a) is about hearing information, (c) is literal and not the proverb’s meaning, and (d) refers to envy or comparison, which is unrelated.
For accuracy, cubic contents of woodwork shall be measured to the nearest of
A)
1.00 cum
B)
0.10 cum
C)
0.01 cum
D)
0.001 cum
In estimation and costing, cubic contents of woodwork are measured very precisely, and the standard practice is to record them to the nearest 0.001 cubic metre. This is because woodwork items like doors, windows, and frames need fine measurement accuracy. Hence option (d) is correct. The other options are too coarse for standard cubic measurement of woodwork.
In general, the main components of Analysis of Rates are cost of Materials and
A)
Labour
B)
Water
C)
Sundries
D)
Contractor’s profit
In analysis of rates, the principal components are the cost of materials and the cost of labour. Other items like sundries, tools and plants, overheads, and contractor’s profit may also be considered, but the main components are materials and labour. Therefore, the correct answer is Labour.
Gaseous impurities contribute a significant portion of Air pollution. Which of the following is not an air pollutant?
A)
Carbon monoxide
B)
Sulphur dioxide
C)
methane
D)
benzene
Carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and benzene are recognized air pollutants. Methane is a greenhouse gas and is generally not listed as a common air pollutant in this context. Therefore, the correct answer is methane.
If V= Volume of cutting or banking, D=Distance between the Sections, A0, A1, A2 etc the areas of different cross-sections, then the Volume is given by, V= D/2 { A0 + 2A1 + 2A2 + …. ….2 An-1 + An }. The Method for Volume calculation as above is
A)
Prismoidal Method
B)
Mid – Sectional Area Method
C)
Trapezoidal Method
D)
Mean – Sectional Area Method
The given formula is \(V = \frac{D}{2} \{A_0 + 2A_1 + 2A_2 + \cdots + 2A_{n-1} + A_n\}\), which is the standard formula for the **Trapezoidal Method** of volume calculation. In this method, the volume between successive cross-sections is taken as the average of adjacent sectional areas multiplied by the distance between them.
Why others are incorrect:
- **Prismoidal Method** uses a different formula involving the mid-area: \(V = \frac{L}{6}(A_1 + 4A_m + A_2)\).
- **Mid-Sectional Area Method** uses mid-section areas, not the trapezoidal summation formula.
- **Mean-Sectional Area Method** is based on the average of end areas for each interval, but the exact given expression is specifically the trapezoidal rule.
So, the correct answer is **(c) Trapezoidal Method**.