← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
Bowditch rule is applied to
A)
An open traverse for graphical adjustment
B)
A closed traversed for adjustment of closing error
C)
Determine the effect of local attraction
D)
None of these
Bowditch rule (also called the compass rule) is used to adjust the closing error in a closed traverse by distributing the linear and angular misclosure proportionally to the lengths of the traverse sides. Hence, option (b) is correct.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) An open traverse for graphical adjustment: Bowditch rule is not a graphical method and is generally applied to closed traverses, not open traverses.
- (c) Determine the effect of local attraction: local attraction is detected by comparing bearings in traverse observations, not by Bowditch rule.
- (d) None of these: incorrect because option (b) correctly states the application of Bowditch rule.
For the design of retaining walls, the minimum factor of safety against overturning is
A)
1.5
B)
2.0
C)
2.5
D)
3.0
For retaining walls, the usual minimum factor of safety against overturning is 2.0. This means the resisting moments should be at least twice the overturning moments under design conditions, providing adequate stability against rotation about the toe. Hence option (b) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- 1.5 is generally too low for overturning safety in retaining wall design.
- 2.5 is higher than the commonly specified minimum and is not the standard answer for this question.
- 3.0 is excessively conservative for the minimum required factor of safety against overturning.
Which of the following does not represent activity?
A)
Site located
B)
Foundation is being dug
C)
Office area is being cleaned
D)
Invitation are being sent
Correct option: (a) Site located. In CPM/PERT terminology, an activity is a task that consumes time and usually resources. "Site located" is a milestone/event showing completion of a stage, not a time-consuming activity. The other options are all activities because they describe ongoing work: (b) foundation is being dug, (c) office area is being cleaned, and (d) invitations are being sent.
The projection of a traverse line on a line perpendicular to the meridian is known as
A)
Latitude of the line
B)
Departure of the line
C)
Bearing of the line
D)
Co-ordinate of the line
The projection of a traverse line on a line perpendicular to the meridian (i.e., on the east-west direction) is called the departure of the line. In traverse surveying, the north-south projection is latitude, while the east-west projection is departure. Bearing is the direction of the line with respect to the meridian, not a projection. Co-ordinate is a general term for position values, not specifically this projection.
The time with which direct cost does not reduce with the increase in time is known as
A)
Crash time
B)
Normal time
C)
Optimistic time
D)
Standard time
The correct answer is **Normal time**. In time–cost trade-off (crashing), **direct cost remains constant up to the normal time**; it does not reduce further by increasing the activity duration beyond the normal duration. Hence, the time with which direct cost does not reduce with increase in time is called **normal time**.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Crash time**: This is the minimum possible duration of an activity, achieved at maximum direct cost. It is not the time where direct cost stops reducing.
- **Optimistic time**: This is a PERT estimate meaning the shortest possible activity duration under ideal conditions; it is unrelated to direct cost behavior.
- **Standard time**: This is not the usual term used in CPM time–cost analysis for this concept; the correct term is **normal time**.
Shear strength of a soil
A)
Is directly proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil
B)
Is inversely proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil
C)
Decreases with increase normal stress
D)
Decreases with decrease normal stress
Shear strength of soil is given by the Mohr-Coulomb equation: \u03c4 = c + \u03c3 tan\u03c6, where c is cohesion, \u03c3 is normal stress, and \u03c6 is the angle of internal friction. For a given soil, shear strength increases as normal stress increases, because the frictional resistance term \u03c3 tan\u03c6 becomes larger. Therefore, if normal stress decreases, shear strength also decreases, making option (d) correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) Incorrect: shear strength is not directly proportional to the angle of internal friction itself; it is proportional to tan\u03c6, not \u03c6.
- (b) Incorrect: shear strength is not inversely proportional to the angle of internal friction. In fact, a larger friction angle generally means higher shear strength.
- (c) Incorrect: shear strength does not decrease with increase in normal stress; it increases with normal stress according to the Mohr-Coulomb relation.
The higher water cement ratio in concrete results in
A)
Better workable mix
B)
Strong mix
C)
Weak mixed
D)
Less bleeding
A higher water-cement ratio increases the amount of water in the mix, which improves fluidity and makes the concrete easier to place, compact, and finish. Therefore, it results in a better workable mix. The other options are incorrect: (b) Strong mix is wrong because increasing water-cement ratio generally reduces strength; (c) Weak mixed is not the standard result, though higher water-cement ratio does make concrete weaker, the option is poorly stated and not the best answer here; (d) Less bleeding is wrong because higher water content usually increases bleeding, not decreases it.
The suitable gradient within which the engineer must endeavour to design the road is called
A)
Limiting gradient
B)
Ruling gradient
C)
Average gradient
D)
exceptional gradient
The correct answer is **ruling gradient**. It is the **desirable or standard gradient** that the engineer should normally aim to provide while designing a road, because it offers a good balance between economy, comfort, and vehicle operation.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Limiting gradient**: This is steeper than the ruling gradient and is used only when unavoidable, such as in difficult terrain.
- **Exceptional gradient**: This is an even steeper gradient than the limiting gradient, permitted only for very short stretches under special conditions.
- **Average gradient**: This is not a standard design term for the gradient the engineer should endeavor to adopt; it is just a general descriptive term.
Hence, the suitable gradient within which the engineer must endeavour to design the road is the **ruling gradient**.
The most commonly used material for damp proofing is
A)
Bitumen
B)
Paraffin wax
C)
Cement solution
D)
Cement concrete
Bitumen is the most commonly used material for damp proofing because it is highly water-resistant, durable, and economical, making it suitable for preventing moisture penetration in walls, floors, and foundations. Cement solution is not an effective damp-proofing material by itself, paraffin wax is not commonly used in building damp proofing, and cement concrete is used as a structural or base layer but is not the standard damp-proofing material unless specially treated.
For testing a saturated clay for shear strength, the test recommended is
A)
Direct shear test
B)
Triaxial compression test
C)
Unconfined compression test
D)
All the above
For a saturated clay, the recommended test for determining shear strength is the **triaxial compression test**. It is the most reliable and widely used test because it allows control of drainage and confining pressure, which are important for saturated cohesive soils. In particular, it can simulate field stress conditions and measure shear strength under different drainage conditions.
Why the others are not correct:
- **Unconfined compression test**: Suitable mainly for saturated clays in undrained conditions, but it gives only the unconfined compressive strength and is less general/reliable than the triaxial test for shear strength determination.
- **Direct shear test**: More commonly used for cohesionless soils; it is less suitable for saturated clays because the failure plane is predetermined and drainage/stress conditions are not well controlled.
- **All the above**: Incorrect because not all listed tests are equally recommended for saturated clay shear strength testing.
The Terzaghi’s general bearing capacity equation for a continuous footing is given by
A)
qf = cNc + γDNq + 0.5γBNγ
B)
qf = cNc - γDNq + 0.5γBNγ
C)
qf = cNc + γDNq - 0.5γBNγ
D)
None of these
For a continuous (strip) footing, Terzaghi’s general bearing capacity equation is qf = cNc + γDNq + 0.5γBNγ, where c is cohesion, γ is unit weight of soil, D is depth of footing, B is footing width, and Nc, Nq, Nγ are bearing capacity factors. Hence option (a) is correct.
Option (b) is incorrect because the surcharge term γDNq must be positive, not negative, and the Nγ term is also positive.
Option (c) is incorrect because the Nγ term should be +0.5γBNγ, not negative.
Option (d) is incorrect because option (a) matches the standard Terzaghi equation.
The drains which is provided parallel to roadway to intercept and divert the water from hill slopes is known as
A)
Sloping drain
B)
Catch-water drain
C)
Side drain
D)
Cross drain
Catch-water drain is the drain provided parallel to a roadway on the hill side to intercept runoff coming from the uphill slopes and divert it safely away from the road. This prevents water from reaching and damaging the roadway. Cross drain is used to carry water across the road alignment, side drain runs along the side of the road to collect road surface runoff, and sloping drain is not the standard term for this function.
The distance travelled by a moving vehicle during perception and brake reaction times, is known as
A)
Sight distance
B)
Stopping distance
C)
Lag distance
D)
None of these
The distance a vehicle travels during the driver's perception time and brake reaction time is called the **lag distance**. It is the portion of stopping distance covered before the brakes actually start producing effective deceleration.
Why others are incorrect:
- **Stopping distance (b):** This is the total distance required to stop the vehicle, including lag distance plus braking distance.
- **Sight distance (a):** This is the length of roadway visible ahead to the driver; it is not the distance traveled by the vehicle.
- **None of these (d):** Incorrect because the correct term is lag distance.
Contour interval is
A)
The vertical distance between two consecutive contours
B)
The horizontal distance between two consecutive contours
C)
The vertical distance between two points on same contours
D)
The horizontal distance between two points on same contours
Contour interval is the vertical difference in elevation between two successive contour lines on a map. Therefore, option (a) is correct. Option (b) is incorrect because the horizontal distance between contours is called contour spacing, not contour interval. Option (d) is incorrect because it refers to the horizontal distance between two points on the same contour, which is not the definition of contour interval. Option (c) is incorrect because points on the same contour have the same elevation, so the vertical distance between them is zero, not the contour interval.
The type of roof which slopes in two directions with a break in the slope on each side is known as
A)
Gable roof
B)
Hip roof
C)
Mansard
D)
Gambrel roof
A gambrel roof slopes in two directions on each side, with a distinct break in the slope. This is the defining feature asked in the question. A mansard roof also has two slopes on each side, but it is typically associated with a nearly vertical lower slope and is more specifically a French roof form; in many exam contexts, the classic roof with a break in slope on each side is identified as a gambrel roof. A hip roof slopes downward on all four sides without a break in slope. A gable roof has two sloping sides meeting at a ridge and does not have a break in slope.
Remote sensing techniques are being usefully employed for the purpose of
A)
Improving natural resource management
B)
Land use
C)
Protection of environment
D)
All of these
Remote sensing is widely used for land use/land cover mapping, improving natural resource management (such as water, forests, soils, and agriculture), and environmental protection/monitoring (such as pollution, deforestation, and disaster assessment). Therefore, all the listed purposes are valid, making option d correct. Options a, b, and c are not incorrect in themselves; each describes one real application of remote sensing, but they are only partial answers. Since the question asks for the overall purpose, the best choice is d, All of these.
The safe stopping distance may be calculated from the equation
A)
D = 0.278Vt + V^2 / 254f
B)
D = 0.254Vt + V^2 / 278f
C)
D = 0.254Vt + V^2 / 225f
D)
D = 0.225Vt + V^2 / 254f
The safe stopping distance (SSD) on a level road is given by the standard highway engineering formula: D = 0.278 V t + V^2 / (254 f), where V is speed in km/h, t is reaction time in seconds, and f is the coefficient of friction. Hence option (a) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (b) uses 0.254 instead of 0.278 in the reaction-distance term and 278 instead of 254 in the braking-distance term, so both constants are wrong.
- (c) has both constants incorrect: 0.254 should be 0.278, and 225 should be 254.
- (d) has 0.225 instead of 0.278 and 0.225 is not the standard coefficient used in the SSD formula; the braking term is correct only in the denominator 254f, but the first term is wrong.
Therefore, the correct answer is (a).
The ratio of volume of air voids to the volume of total voids is known as
A)
Air content
B)
Percentage of air voids
C)
Percentage voids
D)
Porosity
The ratio of the volume of air voids to the total volume of voids is called **air content**. In soil mechanics, air content = (volume of air voids / volume of voids) × 100, so the term matches the given definition.
Why others are incorrect:
- **b) Percentage of air voids**: this is not the standard term for the ratio; the standard name is air content.
- **c) Percentage voids**: this refers to void ratio/void percentage concepts, not specifically air voids divided by total voids.
- **d) Porosity**: porosity is the ratio of volume of voids to total volume of soil, not air voids to total voids.
A correction for sagging during chain surveying is
A)
Always additive
B)
Always subtractive
C)
Always zero
D)
Sometimes additive or subtractive
In chain surveying, the chain or tape sags between supports, making the measured length longer than the true horizontal distance. Therefore, a sag correction is always negative, i.e., subtractive, to reduce the measured length to the true value. Option (b) is correct.
Why the others are wrong:
- (a) Always additive: incorrect, because sag causes an overestimation, so the correction must be subtracted.
- (c) Always zero: incorrect, because sag does affect the measured length unless the tape is perfectly supported and taut.
- (d) Sometimes additive or subtractive: incorrect for sag correction specifically; sag correction is always subtractive.
The rise and fall method of surveying using theodolite is
A)
Less accurate than height of instrument method
B)
Is not suitable for levelling with tilting levels
C)
Provides a check on the reduction of intermediate point levels
D)
Quicker and less tedious for large number of intermediate sights
The rise and fall method is preferred because it gives a direct check on the arithmetic of levelling: the sum of rises minus the sum of falls must equal the difference between the first and last reduced levels. Hence it provides a check on the reduction of intermediate point levels, making option (c) correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) Less accurate than height of instrument method: Incorrect. Both methods use the same field observations; rise and fall is not less accurate. In fact, it is often considered more reliable because it provides an internal check.
- (b) Is not suitable for levelling with tilting levels: Incorrect. The method is a way of reducing levelling observations and is not restricted by the type of level in this way.
- (d) Quicker and less tedious for large number of intermediate sights: Incorrect. This describes the height of instrument method, which is quicker when many intermediate sights are taken. Rise and fall is more laborious because each consecutive staff reading must be compared to determine rise or fall.
When the plastic limit of a soil is greater than the liquid limit, then the plasticity index is reported as
A)
Negative
B)
Zero
C)
Non-Plastic
D)
1
Plasticity index (PI) is defined as PI = liquid limit (LL) - plastic limit (PL). If the plastic limit is greater than the liquid limit, then PI becomes negative. In soil classification, a negative PI is reported as a negative value (it indicates the soil is non-plastic in behavior, but the computed index itself is negative). Therefore, the correct option is 'Negative'.
Why the others are incorrect:
- Zero: PI is zero only when LL = PL, not when PL > LL.
- 1: There is no standard rule that PI becomes 1 in this case.
- Non-Plastic: This describes the soil behavior/classification, but the calculated plasticity index from the formula is negative, not literally reported as 'non-plastic'.
The uniformity coefficient of a soil is defined as the ratio of
A)
D40 to D10
B)
D40 to D20
C)
D50 to D10
D)
D60 to D10
The uniformity coefficient (Cu) of a soil is defined as Cu = D60 / D10, where D60 is the particle size at 60% finer and D10 is the particle size at 10% finer. Therefore, option d is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- b (D40 to D20): This is not the standard definition of uniformity coefficient.
- a (D40 to D10): Uses D40 instead of D60, so it is incorrect.
- c (D50 to D10): D50 is the median particle size, not used in the uniformity coefficient definition.
Which of the following methods of plane table surveying is used to locate the position of an inaccessible point?
A)
Intersection
B)
Radiation
C)
Resection
D)
Traversing
Intersection is the plane table method used to fix the position of an inaccessible point. In this method, the point is located by drawing rays from two known stations; the intersection of these rays gives the position of the point without needing to occupy it directly.
Why the others are incorrect:
- Resection is used to determine the position of the plane table station itself by sighting known points, not to locate an inaccessible point.
- Radiation is used when the point to be plotted is accessible from the station, so a ray can be drawn directly to it.
- Traversing is used to plot a series of connected stations along a route, not specifically for locating an inaccessible point.
The smaller horizontal angle between the true meridian and a survey line is known as
A)
Declination
B)
Azimuth
C)
Dip
D)
Bearing
The smaller horizontal angle between the true meridian and a survey line is called the **bearing** of the line. Bearing is measured with respect to a meridian and is usually taken as the smaller angle (0° to 90°) from north or south toward east or west.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Azimuth**: the horizontal angle measured clockwise from the north meridian, usually from 0° to 360°, not specifically the smaller angle.
- **Dip**: the vertical angle a line makes with the horizontal; it is not a horizontal angle in plan.
- **Declination**: the angle between the true meridian and the magnetic meridian, not between the meridian and a survey line.
Weep holes are provided in retaining and breast walls
A)
To drain off the water from the filling
B)
To ventilate the stone masonry
C)
To add architectural beauty
D)
All of these
Weep holes are small openings provided in retaining and breast walls to allow accumulated water behind the wall to escape. This relieves hydrostatic pressure and prevents damage or instability. Hence, option (a) is correct. Option (b) is incorrect because weep holes are not meant for ventilating masonry. Option (c) is incorrect because they have no architectural purpose. Therefore, option (d) is also incorrect since only (a) is valid.