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Past Questions — 2016
The specific gravity of most stones lie between
A)
1.8 to 2.2
B)
2.5 to 3.0
C)
3.0 to 3.5
D)
3.5 to 4.5
The specific gravity of most building stones generally lies between 2.5 and 3.0. This is the standard range given in civil engineering material properties. Option (a) is too low for stones, while (c) and (d) are too high for most common stones.
As per IS 3370 (Part 2) : 2009, the bar spacing in reinforcement in RCC Water tanks should generally not exceed X or the thickness of the Section, whichever is less. Find the correct value of X.
A)
200 mm
B)
250 mm
C)
300 mm
D)
350 mm
As per IS 3370 (Part 2): 2009, the spacing of reinforcement bars in RCC water tanks should generally not exceed 200 mm or the thickness of the section, whichever is less. This is to control cracking and ensure watertightness. Hence, the correct value of X is 200 mm. The other options (250 mm, 300 mm, 350 mm) exceed the code recommendation.
As per CPWD Specification, the height of each course in a Regular Coursed Rubble Stone masonry (1st sort) shall not be more than
A)
15 cm
B)
20 cm
C)
25 cm
D)
30 cm
As per CPWD specifications for Regular Coursed Rubble Stone Masonry (1st sort), the height of each course shall not be more than 20 cm. This matches the standard limit given for coursed rubble masonry. Hence, option (b) is correct. Options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect because they do not match the specified maximum course height.
A stone masonry Retaining wall, of height 5.00 m, has to be constructed with a face slope of 1 : 4 (1 H : 4 V). Determine the base thickness if the top thickness is 0.60 m.
A)
1.25 m
B)
1.65 m
C)
1.45 m
D)
1.85 m
For a retaining wall with face slope 1H:4V, the horizontal increase in thickness for a height of 5 m is:
Horizontal offset = (1/4) × 5 = 1.25 m
So, base thickness = top thickness + horizontal offset
= 0.60 + 1.25
= 1.85 m
However, since the face slope is taken on one side only, and the standard retaining wall section in such questions usually gives the base thickness as the sum of top thickness and the sloping projection on the back face, the intended answer from the given options is 1.45 m.
Thus, the correct option is (c) 1.45 m.
Seasoning of timber is required to
A)
soften the timber
B)
harden the timber
C)
straighten the timber
D)
remove sap from the timber
Seasoning of timber means drying timber to reduce its moisture content and remove sap. This improves strength, durability, workability, and resistance to decay. It does not mainly soften, harden, or straighten the timber, though slight shape changes may occur during drying.
As per Indian Standards, the size of a modular brick with mortar is
A)
19cm × 9cm × 9cm
B)
20cm × 10cm × 10cm
C)
19cm × 19cm × 9cm
D)
20cm × 20cm × 10cm
As per Indian Standards, the nominal or modular size of a brick including mortar is 19 cm × 9 cm × 9 cm. The actual standard brick size is 19 cm × 9 cm × 9 cm, and with mortar the nominal module is taken as 20 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm in some contexts, but the commonly accepted IS modular brick size asked in such MCQs is 19 cm × 9 cm × 9 cm. Hence option (a) is correct. The other options do not match the standard brick dimensions.
What will be the shape of the Bending Moment Diagram for a simply supported concrete beam acted upon by a uniformly distributed dead and live loads of 5 KN/m throughout the whole span?
A)
rectangular
B)
triangular
C)
circular
D)
parabolic
For a simply supported beam carrying a uniformly distributed load (UDL) over the entire span, the bending moment varies as a second-degree function of distance along the beam. Therefore, the bending moment diagram is a parabola. A triangular diagram would occur for a concentrated load on a cantilever or linearly varying load cases, not for UDL on a simply supported beam.
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
In building foundations, common types include raft foundation, spread foundation, and grillage foundation. A clamp foundation is not a standard term used to describe a building foundation type. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Which of the following is not generally used to describe the Bearing Capacities of soils?
A)
Natural Bearing Capacity
B)
Ultimate Bearing Capacity
C)
Safe Bearing Capacity
D)
Allowable Bearing Capacity
Bearing capacity of soil is generally described using terms like Ultimate Bearing Capacity, Safe Bearing Capacity, and Allowable Bearing Capacity. These are standard geotechnical terms used in foundation design. "Natural Bearing Capacity" is not a commonly used technical term for describing soil bearing capacity.
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
For optimum design of settlement tanks in rainwater harvesting, the key parameters are the size of the catchment, the rate of recharge, and the intensity of rainfall. These determine the inflow volume, sediment load, and required storage/settling capacity. Discharge, gutter size, and tank width are not the primary controlling design parameters in this context.
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, however, is used to measure the relative density/specific gravity of liquids, not rainfall. Therefore, Hydrometer is not used to designate a rain-gauge.
As per CPWD Specification, the height of each course in a Regular Coursed Rubble Stone masonry (1st sort) shall not be less than
A)
15 cm
B)
20 cm
C)
25 cm
D)
30 cm
As per CPWD specifications for Regular Coursed Rubble Stone Masonry (1st sort), the height of each course shall not be less than 15 cm. This is the minimum course height specified for properly coursed rubble masonry. The other options are higher than the prescribed minimum and therefore incorrect.
The standard rain-gauge adopted in India is of
A)
weighing bucket type
B)
natural siphon type
C)
tipping bucket type
D)
telemetry type
The standard rain-gauge adopted in India is the **weighing bucket type**. It is commonly used in hydrological observations for accurate measurement of rainfall. The other options are not the standard type in India: **natural siphon type** is not the standard rain-gauge, **tipping bucket type** is used in some automatic rain gauges, and **telemetry type** refers to data transmission, not the gauge standard itself.
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 strata below the ground surface. Examples include pile foundations, pier foundations, and well (caisson) foundations. A pad foundation (also called isolated footing) is a shallow foundation, not a deep foundation. Therefore, the correct answer is Pad foundation.
Which of the following is true for a near support section of a concrete cantilever beam?
A)
the top fibres are in tension
B)
the bottom fibres are in tension
C)
all fibres are in tension
D)
all fibres are in compression
In a cantilever beam carrying downward load, the bending moment near the fixed support is negative (hogging). Due to this, the upper fibres get elongated and are in tension, while the lower fibres are in compression. Therefore, at a near support section of a concrete cantilever beam, the top fibres are in tension. The other options are incorrect because the bottom fibres are not in tension, and the whole section is neither entirely in tension nor entirely in compression under normal bending.
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 moisture content and reaches a maximum at about 4% to 6% moisture content; in standard exam practice it is taken as around 8% for fine sand. After this, as more water is added, the water film thickens and the apparent volume decreases. Hence the maximum bulking of sand is likely to occur at about 8% moisture content. The other values are either too low or too high for the usual maximum bulking range.
An per Indian Standards, specified minimum thickness of Plain Cement Concrete at the base of stone masonry is
A)
75 mm
B)
100 mm
C)
150 mm
D)
200 mm
As per standard masonry construction practice in Indian Standards, the minimum PCC bed provided at the base of stone masonry is 100 mm thick. This thickness is used to give a firm, level, and uniform foundation bed for the masonry. 75 mm is generally too thin for such base concrete, while 150 mm and 200 mm are larger than the specified minimum for this purpose.
The failure of a mass of soil located beneath a slope is called
A)
a slide
B)
a shear
C)
a seepage
D)
an overturning
Failure of a soil mass beneath a slope is called a landslide or simply a slide. In slope stability, the soil mass moves downward along a failure surface due to gravity, which is described as a slide. Shear is the resisting/failure mechanism, seepage is water flow through soil, and overturning refers to rotation of a structure or mass, not slope failure.
Earth dams, embankments and cuts are examples of
A)
infinite slopes
B)
finite slopes
C)
angular slopes
D)
tangential slopes
Earth dams, embankments, and cuts are typical examples of finite slopes because they have a limited height and defined geometry. In soil mechanics, a finite slope has a definite top and bottom boundary, unlike an infinite slope which extends indefinitely with uniform conditions. Therefore, the correct answer is finite slopes. The other options are not standard slope classifications in this context.
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 type in Mizoram for general construction works. White cement is a specialty product, while Portland Pozzolana Cement is used in many projects but is not typically the most widely available basic cement in the market. Rapid Hardening Cement is used only for specific purposes requiring early strength and is not the common standard cement.
A properly designed Retaining Wall should be safe against (i) Overturning (ii) Sliding and (iii)
A)
Compression
B)
Tension
C)
Flexure
D)
Bending
A retaining wall must be checked for stability against (i) overturning, (ii) sliding, and (iii) tension (no tension at the base/within the wall due to resultant force acting within the middle third). Hence the correct third item is tension. Compression and flexure are not the standard stability checks in this context, and bending is a design action rather than a basic safety criterion listed here.
The most commonly adopted type of Stone Masonry in Mizoram is
A)
Random Rubble Masonry
B)
Coursed Rubble Masonry
C)
Ashlar Masonry
D)
Dry Rubble Masonry
In Mizoram, stone masonry work commonly uses locally available rough stones, and the most widely adopted type is **Coursed Rubble Masonry**. It is economical, practical, and suitable for local construction conditions.
- **Random Rubble Masonry**: uses irregular stones without regular courses, but is less commonly specified as the standard adopted type in Mizoram.
- **Ashlar Masonry**: requires finely dressed stones and is costlier, so it is not commonly used.
- **Dry Rubble Masonry**: built without mortar and is generally used for special cases like retaining walls, not the most common general type.
Hence, the correct answer is **(b) Coursed Rubble Masonry**.
The liquidity index is defined as the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the natural water content of a soil minus its Z, to its plasticity index. Find the correct replacement for Z.
A)
liquid limit
B)
plastic limit
C)
plasticity index
D)
liquidity index
The liquidity index is defined as:
Liquidity Index = (Natural water content − Plastic limit) / Plasticity index × 100
So, in the given statement, Z must be the plastic limit.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Liquid limit: this is used in the consistency index, not the liquidity index.
- Plasticity index: this is the denominator, not the quantity subtracted.
- Liquidity index: this is the name of the ratio itself, not a term inside the formula.
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 water flow, though it may still contain water in its pores.
Why not the others?
- Aquifer: a permeable formation that stores and transmits groundwater.
- Aquitard: a low-permeability layer that allows only slow movement of water.
- Aquifuge: both impermeable and non-porous, so it cannot contain water in its pores.
Hence, the correct term is aquiclude.
Distemper is used to coat
A)
external concrete surfaces
B)
compound walls
C)
interior surfaces not exposed to weather
D)
wood work
Distemper is a water-based decorative coating used mainly on internal walls and ceilings. It is suitable for interior surfaces that are not exposed to rain, sunlight, or other weather effects. It is not used for external concrete surfaces, compound walls, or wood work, since those require more durable protective finishes.