← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
Number of links per metre length of a chain are
A)
4
B)
5
C)
6
D)
10
In metric chain surveying, the standard chain length is 20 m and it is divided into 100 links. Therefore, each link = 20/100 = 0.2 m = 20 cm. So, links per metre = 1/0.2 = 5. However, in the common Indian surveying convention for a chain, the chain used is often the 20 m chain with 100 links, giving 5 links per metre. Since the options do not include 5? Wait, option (b) is 5, which is the correct value. Hence the correct option is (b), not (a).
This brick bond contains alternate layers of headers and stretchers. A queen closer is placed after the first header course to stagger vertical joints. Identify the bond.
A)
Stretcher bond
B)
English bond
C)
Flemish bond
D)
Dutch bond
In English bond, courses are laid in alternate layers of headers and stretchers. A queen closer is placed next to the quoin header in the header course to break the continuity of vertical joints and ensure proper staggering. Stretcher bond has only stretchers, while Flemish bond has headers and stretchers in the same course.
On a graph plotting activity duration versus cost, the cost slope is assumed to be
A)
a semi circle
B)
a parabola
C)
a straight line
D)
an ellipse
In construction management, the cost slope (also called cost gradient) for crashing an activity is assumed to be constant over the relevant range. Therefore, when activity duration is plotted against cost, the relationship is taken as a straight line. This means each unit reduction in time increases cost by a fixed amount. The other shapes—semi circle, parabola, and ellipse—do not represent the standard crashing cost-duration assumption.
Buttresses are provided in buttressed retaining walls on the
A)
toe side
B)
heel side
C)
vertical side
D)
none of these
In a buttressed retaining wall, the buttresses are provided on the back or soil-retaining side, i.e., the heel side. They act as compression members supporting the wall and reducing bending moments. The toe side is the exposed/front side of the wall, so buttresses are not placed there.
Completion of an activity on CPM network diagram is generally known as
A)
a float
B)
a duration
C)
an event
D)
a constant
In CPM/PERT network terminology, the completion of an activity is called an event (or node/milestone). An activity represents the work performed between two events, while duration is the time taken to complete the activity. Float refers to scheduling flexibility, and constant is not a network term here.
The great circle of the earth, the plane of which is perpendicular to its axis of rotation is known as the
A)
terrestrial equator
B)
celestial equator
C)
celestial sphere
D)
celestial horizon
The great circle of the Earth whose plane is perpendicular to the Earth's axis of rotation is the equator, also called the terrestrial equator. The celestial equator is the projection of the terrestrial equator onto the celestial sphere, so it is not the Earth’s great circle itself. The celestial sphere is an imaginary sphere, and the celestial horizon is the plane of the observer’s horizon.
For slopes of limited extent, the surface of slippage is usually along
A)
a parabolic arc
B)
an elliptical arc
C)
a circular arc
D)
a straight line
For a slope of limited extent, failure generally occurs along a circular slip surface because the soil mass can rotate about a center and the geometry of the slope makes a circular arc the most likely surface of slippage. A straight line is more associated with planar failure in infinite slopes or layered weak planes, while parabolic and elliptical arcs are not the usual standard assumption for limited slope stability analysis.
First class bricks, when soaked in cold water should not absorb more than X of its weight. Find the appropriate replacement for X
A)
10 %
B)
15%
C)
20%
D)
25%
First class bricks are required to absorb not more than 15% of their dry weight when soaked in cold water for 24 hours. This is a standard quality criterion for good burnt clay bricks. Hence, X = 15%. Option (a) 10% is too strict for first class bricks, while 20% and 25% exceed the permissible limit.
In modern big projects, Contract Agreements are normally signed between
A)
contractor and engineer
B)
employer and engineer
C)
contractor and employer
D)
none of these
In modern construction projects, the contract agreement is generally executed between the employer (client/owner) and the contractor. The employer engages the contractor to carry out the work, and both parties are legally bound by the terms of the contract. The engineer usually acts as the supervising/consulting authority, not as a direct contracting party. Hence, option (c) is correct.
Give the general specification of brickwork in cement mortar 1: 6 .
Describe the various types of foundations used in construction of buildings.
A chain line ABC crosses a river, B and C being on the near and distant banks respectively. A perpendicular BD, 50 m long, is set out at B on the left of the chain line. The respective bearings of C and A taken at D are 52°30' and 142°30' respectively. Find the chainage of C, given that AB= 25 m and the chainage at B = 325.30 m .
In this brick bond headers and stretchers are laid alternately in the same course. Identify the bond.
A)
Stretcher bond
B)
English bond
C)
Flemish bond
D)
Dutch bond
In a Flemish bond, headers and stretchers are laid alternately in the same course. This is the defining feature of the bond. In contrast, English bond has alternate courses of headers and stretchers, not alternate bricks within the same course. Stretcher bond contains only stretchers in each course, and Dutch bond is a variation used for specific walling patterns but not the standard answer here.
The airport runway orientation is made so that landing and take-off are
A)
against the wind direction
B)
along the wind direction
C)
perpendicular to wind direction
D)
none of these
Airport runways are generally oriented so that aircraft take off and land into the wind. This reduces the required ground speed and improves lift, making operations safer and more efficient. Hence, the correct choice is against the wind direction. The other options are incorrect because landing/take-off along or perpendicular to the wind would increase difficulty and reduce safety.
Define flow net. Describe, in brief, the fundamental characteristics of a flow net.
Maximum numbers of earth-moving equipments available in Mizoram are
A)
excavators
B)
bull dozers
C)
loaders
D)
excavator-cum-loaders
Among the listed earth-moving equipments in Mizoram, excavators are the most numerous. In construction and road works, excavators are widely used for digging and earth removal, so they generally outnumber bulldozers, loaders, and excavator-cum-loaders. Therefore, option (a) is correct.
The convexity provided to the carriageway between the crown and the edge of pavement is known as
A)
super –elevation
B)
camber
C)
transverse gradient
D)
vertical curve
The convexity given to the carriageway from the crown to the edge of pavement is called camber. It helps drain off rainwater from the road surface. Super-elevation is the inward tilt provided on horizontal curves, transverse gradient is the general cross slope, and vertical curve is used in the longitudinal profile of the road.
Half brick wall is measured in
A)
metre
B)
square metre
C)
cubic metre
D)
number
A half-brick wall is a thin wall, so it is measured by area rather than volume. In estimation and costing, brick walls of small thickness like half-brick partition walls are measured in square metres. Full brick walls are usually measured in cubic metres. Therefore, the correct answer is square metre.
Darcy’s law is applicable to seepage if a soil is
A)
isotropic
B)
incompressible
C)
homogeneous
D)
all of these
Darcy’s law is valid for seepage through soil when the flow is laminar and the soil mass can be treated as isotropic, homogeneous, and incompressible. These conditions ensure that the hydraulic gradient and discharge have a linear relationship. Therefore, all the given properties are required, making option (d) correct.
Short offsets are measured with
A)
an ordinary chain
B)
a metallic tape
C)
a steel tape
D)
an invar tape
In chain surveying, offsets are the lateral distances taken from the chain line to locate details. Short offsets are usually measured with an ordinary chain because it is convenient and sufficiently accurate for small distances. Metallic, steel, and invar tapes are used when greater precision is needed, especially for longer or more accurate measurements.
Accurate determination of water content is made by
A)
calcium carbide method
B)
sand bath method
C)
alcohol method
D)
oven-drying method
The standard and most accurate laboratory method for determining the water content of soil is the oven-drying method. In this method, the soil sample is weighed, dried in an oven at about 105–110°C until constant mass, and weighed again to find the loss of water. Calcium carbide, sand bath, and alcohol methods are quicker field/rapid methods, but they are less accurate than oven drying.
The shape of a vertical curve is
A)
parabolic
B)
elliptical
C)
circular
D)
spiral
A vertical curve in highway engineering is generally provided as a parabola because it gives a smooth and uniform rate of change of gradient. This makes it suitable for comfort, visibility, and easy computation. Circular, spiral, and elliptical curves are not used as the standard shape for vertical curves.
The test recommended for testing the shear strength of a saturated clay is
A)
direct shear test
B)
unconfined compression test
C)
triaxial compression test
D)
all of these
For saturated clay, the triaxial compression test is generally recommended because it allows controlled drainage conditions and can accurately determine shear strength under different stress conditions. The direct shear test is less suitable for saturated clays because the failure plane is predetermined and drainage/stress conditions are not well controlled. The unconfined compression test is used only for cohesive soils like saturated clays, but it is a special case and does not provide as complete or reliable a measure of shear strength as the triaxial test. Therefore, the best answer is triaxial compression test.
The lift off distance is the distance along the centre of the runway between the starting point and
A)
end of the runway
B)
point where aircraft becomes air borne
C)
end of stopway
D)
point where aircraft attains 10.7 m height
In airport engineering, the lift-off distance is the runway distance along the centreline from the start of takeoff roll to the point where the aircraft leaves the ground and becomes airborne.
- (b) is correct because lift-off means the instant the aircraft becomes air borne.
- (a) is incorrect because the aircraft does not use the full runway length for lift-off distance.
- (c) is incorrect because stopway is related to rejected takeoff, not lift-off.
- (d) is incorrect because 10.7 m height refers to takeoff distance/clearance concepts, not lift-off distance.
Road rollers are basically
A)
compression equipments
B)
consolidation equipments
C)
compaction equipments
D)
leveling equipments
Road rollers are used to compact soil, subgrade, and pavement layers by applying pressure and vibration. Their primary function is to increase density and reduce air voids, so they are classified as compaction equipment. They are not mainly for leveling or simple consolidation, and "compression" is not the standard construction-equipment classification here.