← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
The State Legislature consists of
A)
The Legislative Assembly
B)
The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council
C)
The Governor and one or two Houses of the Legislature, i.e., Legislative Assembly and Legislative Councils as the case may be
D)
None of these
Under the Indian Constitution, the State Legislature is not just the elected House(s). It consists of the Governor and the Legislature proper. In some states it is unicameral, with only the Legislative Assembly; in others it is bicameral, with both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. Therefore option (c) is correct. Option (a) is incomplete, option (b) applies only to bicameral states, and option (d) is incorrect.
Who among the following has recently warned that the global economy may be slipping into a 1930s-like depression?
A)
Janet Yellen
B)
Mario Draghi
C)
Jim Yong Kim
D)
Raghuram Rajan
Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank President, had warned that the global economy could be slipping into a 1930s-like depression. Among the given options, this statement is associated with him, not Janet Yellen, Mario Draghi, or Raghuram Rajan. Yellen was the U.S. Fed Chair, Draghi was ECB President, and Rajan was RBI Governor, but this specific warning is linked to Jim Yong Kim.
Re-write the provided passage about the 'typical Australian' into 1/3 of its length giving a suitable title.
This brick bond consists of alternate courses of headers and stretchers laid with 3/4 bat as quoin in the stretcher course. Identify the bond.
A)
Stretcher bond
B)
English bond
C)
Flemish bond
D)
Dutch bond
In a Dutch bond, the wall is built with alternate courses of headers and stretchers, and a 3/4 bat is used as the quoin in the stretcher course. This is the distinguishing feature mentioned in the question. English bond also has alternate header and stretcher courses, but it does not specifically use a 3/4 bat at the quoin in the stretcher course in this manner. Flemish bond has headers and stretchers in the same course, not alternate courses. Stretcher bond contains only stretchers, so it is also incorrect.
First class bricks should have crushing strength not below
A)
50 kg /sqcm
B)
55 kg /sqcm
C)
60 kg/sqcm
D)
65 kg/sqcm
First class bricks are expected to have a minimum crushing strength of about 10.5 N/mm², which is approximately 105 kg/cm² in many standard references; however, in many conventional civil engineering MCQs based on older classification, the expected minimum crushing strength for first class bricks is taken as not below 60 kg/cm². Among the given options, 60 kg/sqcm is the correct answer. The lower values 50, 55, and 65 do not match the standard MCQ key used for first class bricks in such exam contexts.
Rail section is generally designated by its
A)
total weight
B)
total length
C)
weight per metre length
D)
area of cross-section
Rail sections are generally designated by their weight per unit length, i.e., weight per metre length. This is the standard railway engineering practice because rail sizes are compared based on how much they weigh per metre (for example, 60 kg/m rail). The other options are incorrect because total weight and total length do not uniquely define a rail section, and area of cross-section is not the usual designation criterion.
Plasticity index is defined as the range of water content between
A)
liquid limit and plastic limit
B)
plastic limit and semi-solid limit
C)
liquid limit and solid limit
D)
semi-solid limit and liquid limit
Plasticity index (PI) is defined as the difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit of a soil. It represents the range of water content over which the soil remains in the plastic state. Hence, the correct range is between liquid limit and plastic limit. The other options are incorrect because semi-solid and solid limits are not used to define plasticity index.
The angle between the observer’s meridian and the declination circle of the celestial body is known as the
A)
polar distance
B)
azimuth
C)
right ascension
D)
hour angle
In astronomical surveying, the angle measured along the celestial equator between the observer’s meridian and the declination circle of a celestial body is called the hour angle.
Why not the others:
- Polar distance: the angular distance of a celestial body from the celestial pole.
- Azimuth: the horizontal angle of a body measured from the north/south direction on the observer’s horizon.
- Right ascension: the angle measured eastward along the celestial equator from the vernal equinox to the body’s hour circle, not from the observer’s meridian.
List the general conditions of stability of retaining walls. What are the limitations of Rankine’s theory of earth pressure?
Counterforts are provided in counterfort type retaining walls on the
A)
toe side
B)
heel side
C)
vertical side
D)
none of these
In a counterfort retaining wall, counterforts are triangular reinforced concrete webs provided on the backfill side of the wall, i.e., the heel side. They connect the stem and base slab to reduce bending moments in the stem and slab. Hence, the correct answer is heel side. Toe side is the front side, and vertical side is not the usual location for counterforts.
Define wing walls, retaining walls, breast walls and toe walls clearly highlighting the distinguishing features of each one of them from the others.
The steepest gradient permitted on roads which, in ordinary conditions, must not be exceeded is known as
A)
ruling gradient
B)
exceptional gradient
C)
maximum gradient
D)
floating gradient
In highway engineering, the steepest gradient that should ordinarily not be exceeded on a road is called the **maximum gradient**. The **ruling gradient** is the desirable/normal gradient adopted for design, while the **exceptional gradient** is allowed only for very difficult situations and for short lengths. **Floating gradient** is not the standard term for this definition.
The soil which contains finest grain particles is
A)
coarse sand
B)
fine sand
C)
silt
D)
clay
Soil particles are generally classified from coarse to fine as gravel, sand, silt, and clay. Among the given options, clay has the finest grain particles. Coarse sand and fine sand are larger than silt, and silt is larger than clay.
The formation width of a road in plain areas means the width of
A)
carriageway
B)
embankment at ground level
C)
pavement and shoulders
D)
embankment at the top level
The formation width (or roadway width at formation level) is the total width of the road at the top of the embankment/cutting, including carriageway, shoulders, and side margins. In plain areas, this refers to the width at the top level of the embankment, not just the carriageway or only the paved portion. Hence, option (d) is correct. Options (a) and (c) are only parts of the road width, while (b) refers to the base, not the formation width.
Closed contours of decreasing values towards their centre represent a
A)
hill
B)
depression
C)
saddle or pass
D)
river bed
Closed contour lines with decreasing elevation values toward the centre indicate that the ground level is going down inward, which represents a depression or basin. In contrast, closed contours with increasing values toward the centre represent a hill. A saddle/pass is a low area between two higher points, and a river bed is usually shown by contour patterns along a valley, not simply by closed decreasing contours.
The time by which activity completion time can be delayed without affecting the start of a succeeding activity is known as
A)
maximum float
B)
free float
C)
minimum float
D)
zero float
Free float is the amount of time by which an activity can be delayed without delaying the early start of any succeeding activity. In other words, it does not affect the start time of the next activity.
Why others are incorrect:
- Maximum float: not the standard term for this definition.
- Minimum float: not used for this concept.
- Zero float: means no delay is possible without affecting the project schedule.
The difference between the time available to do the job and the time required to do the job is known as
A)
a float
B)
a duration
C)
an event
D)
a constant
In construction management and network scheduling, the difference between the time available to complete a job and the time actually required to complete it is called a float. It represents scheduling flexibility. The other options are not standard terms for this concept: duration means length of time, event is a point in time, and constant is unrelated.
Bar charts are suitable for
A)
minor works
B)
major works
C)
large projects
D)
all the above
Bar charts (Gantt charts) are simple planning and scheduling tools. They are best suited for minor works or small projects where activities are limited and interdependencies are not too complex. For major or large projects, network methods like CPM/PERT are more suitable because they handle many activities and relationships better. Hence, the correct answer is minor works.
The ratio of the volume of water present in a given soil mass to the total volume of its voids is known as
A)
porosity
B)
void ratio
C)
degree of saturation
D)
water content
The ratio of the volume of water present in a soil mass to the total volume of voids is called the degree of saturation (S = Vw / Vv). Porosity is the ratio of void volume to total volume, void ratio is the ratio of void volume to volume of solids, and water content is the ratio of weight of water to weight of solids.
What are railway yards? Give a broad classification of different railway yards in India. Describe any one of them in detail.
The ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of the given soil mass is known as
A)
porosity
B)
specific gravity
C)
void ratio
D)
water content
Porosity is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume of the soil mass. Mathematically, n = Vv / V. In contrast, void ratio is the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume of solids (Vv / Vs). Specific gravity refers to the ratio of the density of soil solids to the density of water, and water content is the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids.
In which part of the stem of semi - gravity retaining walls does one generally provide reinforcements to resist the tensile stresses?
A)
top toe side
B)
bottom toe side
C)
top heel side
D)
bottom heel side
In a semi-gravity retaining wall, the stem behaves like a vertical cantilever fixed at the base. Due to earth pressure, the stem bends in such a way that tensile stresses develop on the heel side near the bottom. Therefore, reinforcement is generally provided on the bottom heel side to resist these tensile stresses. The toe side mainly remains in compression, so it is not the usual location for tensile reinforcement.
The critical activity has
A)
maximum float
B)
free float
C)
minimum float
D)
zero float
In CPM/PERT, the critical path consists of critical activities. A critical activity has no slack in time, so its total float is zero. If it is delayed, the entire project is delayed. Hence, the correct answer is zero float. The other options are incorrect because float is not maximum, free float, or minimum for a critical activity; it is specifically zero.
Staggered rail joints are generally provided
A)
on curves
B)
on tangents
C)
on bridges
D)
in tunnels
Staggered rail joints are generally provided on straight track (tangents). On a tangent, the joints in the two rails are kept opposite each other or staggered as required to distribute the impact of wheels and reduce bending stresses. On curves, joints are usually avoided in such a way that they do not create extra complications at the curve, and special arrangements may be used depending on track conditions. Hence, the standard answer is tangents.
You are given a sample of soil containing coarse grain to determine its water content. You will use
A)
Pycnometer
B)
oven-drying method
C)
calcium carbide method
D)
alcohol method
For coarse-grained soils, the water content is commonly determined by the calcium carbide method because it is rapid and suitable for field/lab use on granular soils. The oven-drying method is the standard method for many soils but takes longer, and the alcohol method is used for quick determination of water content in some cases, not specifically preferred for coarse-grained soil. A pycnometer is used for specific gravity determination, not water content.