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Past Questions — 2016
Write 'T' for correct statement and 'F' for false statement: Construction of bund is one of the most effect engineering measures of soil conservation.
A)
True
B)
False
Construction of bunds is an effective engineering measure for soil conservation because bunds slow down runoff, reduce soil erosion, and help retain moisture and sediment on खेत/field slopes. Therefore, the statement is correct. Option (b) is incorrect because the statement is not false.
In a rigid pavement, arrangements given for tying two slabs together but without transferring the pavement load are
I)
Wire meshes
II)
Tie bars
III)
Dowel bars
IV)
Bar mat
In rigid pavements, **tie bars** are used to hold adjacent slabs together so they do not separate, but they are **not designed to transfer wheel load** across the joint. Their function is only to provide lateral tie between slabs.
- **Wire meshes** and **bar mats** are used as reinforcement in concrete, not for tying slabs at joints.
- **Dowel bars** are used to transfer load across joints while allowing some movement.
Therefore, the correct answer is **(ii) Tie bars**.
The effect of altitude on capacity of air compressor is
I)
reduced compression ratio resulting reduced capacity
II)
increased compression ratio resulting increased capacity
III)
reduced compression ratio resulting increased capacity
IV)
increased compression ratio resulting reduced capacity
At higher altitude, atmospheric pressure decreases. Since an air compressor takes in air at a lower suction pressure, the pressure difference it must create changes, and the compressor’s effective delivery/capacity is reduced. Therefore, the correct effect is reduced compression ratio resulting reduced capacity. The other options are incorrect because altitude does not increase atmospheric pressure or compressor capacity.
Choose one of the advantages of crawler mounted over wheel mounted Bulldozers from the following
I)
Less operator fatigue
II)
Greater floatation
III)
Higher travel speed
IV)
Greater output
Crawler-mounted bulldozers have tracks, so their weight is distributed over a larger area. This gives them greater floatation and better traction on soft or uneven ground than wheel-mounted bulldozers.
Why others are incorrect: (i) less operator fatigue is not a standard main advantage of crawler over wheel type, (iii) higher travel speed is actually an advantage of wheel-mounted bulldozers, and (iv) greater output is not generally the key advantage here.
Stability of hill slope depends upon
I)
Nature of Slope
II)
Angle of Slope
III)
Geological conditions
IV)
Ground Water Conditions
Hill-slope stability is influenced by several factors, but among the given options the most direct and important controlling factor is the ground water condition. Presence of water increases pore water pressure, reduces effective stress and shear strength of soil/rock, and can trigger slope failure. Nature of slope, angle of slope, and geological conditions also affect stability, but in standard geotechnical MCQs the key answer asked here is ground water conditions.
For small diameter shallow blast holes, especially on rough surfaces, the most suitable drilling equipment is
I)
Piston drills
II)
Jack hammers
III)
Rotary drills
IV)
Shot drills
For small-diameter, shallow blast holes on rough surfaces, jack hammers are the most suitable because they are portable, hand-held, and effective for short drilling depths in hard rock. Piston drills are generally heavier and used for more substantial drilling work, rotary drills are better for larger and deeper holes, and shot drills are not the preferred choice for such shallow rough-surface blasting holes.
If there will be numerous small jobs in different locations, the most suitable power shovel would be
I)
Crawler-mounted
II)
Smooth wheel-mounted
III)
Rubber tire-mounted
IV)
All of the above
For numerous small jobs spread over different locations, mobility and quick movement between sites are important. A rubber tire-mounted power shovel is best suited because it can travel faster on roads and between scattered work locations. Crawler-mounted shovels are better for rough terrain and heavy digging, but they are slower to move. Smooth wheel-mounted is not the usual preferred choice for such site conditions. Therefore, the correct answer is rubber tire-mounted.
For small drainage crossings, culverts are often found to be most economical in practice
I)
Concrete
II)
Masonry
III)
Pipe
IV)
Steel
For small drainage crossings, pipe culverts are generally the most economical because they are simple to construct, need less material, and are suitable for small discharge. Concrete and masonry culverts are costlier and usually used where higher durability or larger openings are needed. Steel culverts are not usually the most economical choice for small drainage works due to corrosion and higher maintenance cost.
The minimum design speed of hair-pin bend is
I)
15 km/hr
II)
20 km/hr
III)
25 km/hr
IV)
30 km/hr
In hill-road/highway design, hair-pin bends are provided with very low design speed because of the sharp curvature and steep terrain. The commonly adopted minimum design speed for a hair-pin bend is 15 km/hr. Hence option (i) is correct. The higher values 20, 25, and 30 km/hr are generally used for less restrictive road features and are not the minimum for hair-pin bends.
Minimum thickness for rigid pavement is
I)
150mm
II)
125mm
III)
175mm
IV)
165mm
For rigid pavements (cement concrete pavements), the minimum slab thickness generally taken in highway engineering practice and standard exam references is 150 mm. Thicknesses below this are not ordinarily adopted for pavement slabs because rigid pavements need adequate structural rigidity and load distribution. Among the given options, 150 mm is the correct minimum thickness.
Temporary enclosure built to exclude water from working area is
I)
Caisson
II)
Coffer Dam
III)
Bund
IV)
Sheet Pile
A temporary enclosure constructed to keep water out of a work area, especially in bridge and foundation works, is called a coffer dam. It allows construction work to be carried out in dry conditions.
- Caisson: A watertight retaining structure used for foundation work, usually sinking below water level; not the general term for a temporary enclosure.
- Bund: An embankment or ridge, mainly for containment or protection, not specifically for excluding water from a construction area.
- Sheet Pile: A structural element used to form retaining walls or cofferdams, but it is not the enclosure itself.
Therefore, the correct answer is Coffer Dam.
If the existing formation level at a point ‘A’ to be established is 100.00m and the height of instrument is 102.00m. If the required formation level at point ‘A’ is 99.00 m, the top of the stake should be fixed at a height above the ground of
I)
1.00m
II)
1.20m
III)
2.00m
IV)
2.20m
In surveying, the height of the stake above ground is set so that its top represents the required formation level.
Given:
- Height of instrument (HI) = 102.00 m
- Required formation level at A = 99.00 m
Staff reading required at A = HI - RL = 102.00 - 99.00 = 3.00 m
The existing formation level at A is 100.00 m, so the ground is 1.00 m above the required formation level. Therefore, the stake top should be fixed 1.00 m above the ground to indicate the required level.
So, the correct answer is 1.00 m.
Other options are incorrect because they do not match the level difference between the existing ground/formation and the required formation level.
The width of shoulder for a 2-lane National Highway on each side is
I)
0.90m
II)
1.0m
III)
1.25m
IV)
0.75m
For a 2-lane National Highway, the standard shoulder width on each side is 1.25 m. Hence option (iii) is correct. The other values are not the prescribed standard shoulder width for a 2-lane NH in basic highway design conventions.
Primary factor to be considered in selecting the size of a Power shovel would be
I)
concentration of work to be performed
II)
soil condition of the project site
III)
costs per Cum of material excavated
IV)
topography of the project site
The size of a power shovel is mainly chosen based on the concentration or volume of work available at one place. A larger shovel is economical only when there is enough concentrated excavation work to keep it continuously utilized. Soil condition, cost per cubic metre, and topography also matter in equipment selection, but the primary deciding factor for size is how concentrated the work is. Hence, option (i) is correct.
‘Lead’ considered for removal of materials in measurement of civil works shall be
I)
the route actually taken
II)
the longest practical route
III)
the shortest practical route
IV)
the average distance
In measurement of civil works, 'lead' means the horizontal distance between the place of excavation and the place of disposal of materials. As per standard measurement practice, it is considered along the shortest practical route, not the actual route taken, longest route, or an average distance. Therefore, option (iii) is correct.
The actual horse power input required by an air compressor is
I)
Load factor
II)
Capacity
III)
Brake horse power
IV)
Theoretical horse power
The actual horsepower input required by a machine is the brake horse power (BHP), i.e., the power available at the shaft/input side after accounting for losses. In the case of an air compressor, the real power needed to drive it is therefore BHP. Theoretical horse power is the ideal power without losses, while load factor and capacity are not measures of input horsepower.
The length of abutment at the top is normally equal to
I)
Road Width
II)
Carriageway
III)
Formation Width
IV)
Land Width
In bridge engineering, the top width of an abutment is normally kept equal to the formation width of the approach road so that the roadway, kerbs/footpaths (if any), and parapets are properly supported and aligned. It is not equal to only the carriageway or the road width in a general sense, because the abutment must accommodate the full roadway formation. Hence, the correct answer is Formation Width.
The size of bulldozer is indicated by
I)
Length and height of blade
II)
Type of mounting
III)
Horse power of engine
IV)
Kind of control, whether cable or hydraulic
The size of a bulldozer is generally indicated by the power of its engine, i.e., its horse power. A larger horsepower usually means a larger and more powerful bulldozer. The blade dimensions and control type describe features, but they are not the standard measure of size. Type of mounting and whether the control is cable or hydraulic are also construction/design characteristics, not the size indicator.
The required camber of a pavement depends on
I)
Class of road
II)
Type of pavement surface
III)
Geological condition of soil
IV)
All of the above
Camber is the cross slope provided on a pavement to drain rainwater quickly. The required camber depends on: (i) class of road, because higher-class roads generally need better riding quality and drainage standards; (ii) type of pavement surface, since impervious bituminous or concrete surfaces require less camber than earth or gravel roads; and (iii) geological condition of soil, because soil type and drainage behavior affect water infiltration and the camber needed for safe runoff. Hence, all the given factors influence camber.
Maximum stress due to application of load in a rigid pavement occurs at
I)
the edges
II)
the interior
III)
the bottom surface
IV)
the top surface
In a rigid pavement (cement concrete slab), wheel load can cause maximum tensile stress at the slab edges because the slab is less supported there than at the interior. The edge region is also more vulnerable to bending due to load application near the free boundary. The interior generally experiences lower load stress, while top and bottom surfaces are locations of stress due to bending, not the usual maximum location asked here.
The traffic forecast period considered in India in highway design is
I)
10 years
II)
12 years
III)
15 years
IV)
20 years
In Indian highway design, the traffic forecast period commonly considered for deciding pavement design is 15 years. This is the standard design life adopted in Indian Roads Congress (IRC) practice for many highway pavement designs. Therefore, among the given options, 15 years is correct. The other periods are not the standard forecast period used in Indian highway design.
Mr. X held an Imprest of Rs.800. On 21st March, he submitted his account (Vr. 4. Muster roll paid Rs.750). The Imprest was recouped the same day in cash. On 23rd he again submitted his account (Vr. 8. Paid contingent charges Rs. 300.) The Imprest was recouped the same day by Cheque No. 908. Make necessary entries in the Cash Book.
What are the checks applied to Muster Rolls?
What are the documents required to be prepared before notice inviting tender is issued? What are the guidelines to be followed in preparation of notice inviting tenders?
What are the important duties of Disbursing Officer in respect of verification of entries in his Cash Book?