← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2020
CCTV Headquarters in Beijing is an example of
A)
Modernism
B)
Post- Modernism
C)
Deconstructivism
D)
Art Nouveau
The CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA, is a well-known example of Deconstructivist architecture. Its unusual looped, irregular form breaks away from traditional rectangular skyscraper design. Modernism emphasizes functional, clean forms; Post-Modernism reintroduces ornament and historical references; Art Nouveau is an earlier decorative style with organic motifs. Therefore, the correct answer is Deconstructivism.
The four LEED certification level designations are Platinum, Gold, Silver and ________.
A)
Bronze
B)
Certified
C)
Pearl
D)
Paper
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) has four certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Therefore, the missing designation is Certified. The other options are not part of the LEED rating system: Bronze and Pearl belong to other contexts, and Paper is irrelevant.
From where does the term ‘Brutalism’ come from?
A)
From its Architecture Style
B)
From the Architects of this style
C)
From the material used
D)
From the expressions of public
The term 'Brutalism' comes from the French phrase 'béton brut', meaning 'raw concrete'. It refers to the exposed, unfinished appearance of the material used in this architectural style. Hence, the name is derived from the material and its raw treatment, not from the architects, public opinion, or just the style name itself.
What is “green fatigue”?
A)
Living in Sick building
B)
Weariness in talking about all things green
C)
An erosion of materials in green construction
D)
Endorsing something which is not as green as it sounds
“Green fatigue” means becoming tired or bored of hearing, discussing, or promoting environmental/green topics repeatedly. So option (b) is correct. Option (a) refers to sick building syndrome, (c) is about material erosion, and (d) describes greenwashing, not green fatigue.
Who pioneered Cubism
A)
Douglas Cooper and Allan Quartermain
B)
Georges Valmier and Pablo Picasso
C)
Allan Quartermain and Georges Braque
D)
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque
Cubism was pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 20th century. They developed the style around 1907–1914, breaking objects into geometric forms and showing multiple viewpoints at once. The other options are incorrect because Douglas Cooper was an art historian, Allan Quartermain is not associated with founding Cubism, and Georges Valmier was a later Cubist painter rather than the pioneer.
The lowest edge of the sloping surface of roof is called
A)
Ridge
B)
Rafters
C)
Pitch
D)
Eves
The lowest edge of a sloping roof is called the **eaves**. It is the part where the roof projects beyond the wall line, helping to throw rainwater away from the building.
- **Ridge**: the highest horizontal line at the top of the roof.
- **Rafters**: the sloping structural members supporting the roof covering.
- **Pitch**: the slope/steepness of the roof.
- **Eaves**: the lower edge of the roof, so this is the correct answer.
Cloud seeding is one method of?
A)
Soil modification
B)
Weather modification
C)
Plant modification
D)
Soil testing
Cloud seeding is the process of introducing substances like silver iodide into clouds to induce rainfall or alter precipitation. Since it is used to influence atmospheric conditions, it is a method of weather modification. It is not related to soil modification, plant modification, or soil testing.
The under surface of an arch is called
A)
Soffit
B)
Intrados
C)
Haunch
D)
Back
The under surface or inner curve of an arch is called the **intrados**. In building construction terminology, **soffit** is also used for the underside of a structural element in general, but for an arch specifically the correct term is **intrados**.
- **Intrados**: inner or under surface of an arch ✅
- **Soffit**: underside of a horizontal member or general underside, not the standard term for arch curvature here
- **Haunch**: part of the arch between the crown and the springing
- **Back**: outer/top surface of the arch (extrados)
So the correct answer is **(b) Intrados**.
Which of the following is not an influencing factor of Thermal Comfort
A)
Relative Humidity
B)
Clothing
C)
Air speed
D)
Carbon footprint
Thermal comfort is influenced by environmental and personal factors such as relative humidity, clothing, air speed, air temperature, and metabolic rate. Carbon footprint is an environmental impact measure, not a direct factor affecting human thermal comfort. Hence, the correct answer is Carbon footprint.
Asbestos sheets are no longer favoured in the building construction world today due to
A)
its brittleness
B)
its lack of aesthetic appeal
C)
health hazards
D)
difficult to handle
Asbestos sheets are no longer preferred mainly because asbestos fibres can cause serious health problems, including lung diseases and cancer, when inhaled. That is why their use has been restricted or discouraged in modern construction. The other options are not the primary reason for their decline: brittleness, appearance, and handling difficulties are secondary compared to the health risk.
The Architect who designed and advocated the geodesic dome for cities of tomorrow was?
A)
Mies van der Rohe
B)
Le Corbusier
C)
Buckminster Fuller
D)
Louis Kahn
Buckminster Fuller is the architect and inventor best known for designing and promoting the geodesic dome, which he presented as an efficient and futuristic form for the cities of tomorrow. Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and Louis Kahn were major modern architects, but the geodesic dome is specifically associated with Fuller.
Which of the following actions may best help maintain human comfort even in an increased indoor temperature?
A)
Lowering the humidity
B)
Re-circulating the air supply
C)
Lowering the lighting intensity
D)
Increasing the ventilation rate
Human comfort in a warm indoor environment is improved mainly by increasing air movement and removing excess heat from the room. Increasing the ventilation rate helps carry away warm air and can also improve evaporation of sweat from the skin, making occupants feel cooler. Lowering humidity can also help comfort, but among the given options, increasing ventilation is the most direct and effective action for maintaining comfort when indoor temperature rises. Re-circulating air only moves the same air around without removing heat, and lowering lighting intensity may reduce heat slightly but is not as effective as ventilation.
The unit of Thermal Transmittance is
A)
W/K
B)
W/m2
C)
W/mK
D)
W/m2K
Thermal transmittance (U-value) is the rate of heat flow through a building element per unit area per unit temperature difference. So its unit is watt per square metre per kelvin, i.e. W/m²K. Option (c) W/mK is the unit of thermal conductivity, not transmittance. Option (a) W/K lacks area, and option (b) W/m² lacks the temperature difference term.
Who is the famous architect of the Arts and Crafts Movement?
A)
Le Corbusier
B)
Frank Lloyd Wright
C)
Walter Gropius
D)
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
The Arts and Crafts Movement emphasized craftsmanship, simplicity, and harmony with nature. Among the given options, Frank Lloyd Wright is most closely associated with these ideas through his organic architecture and design philosophy. Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe are primarily associated with modernist architecture and the Bauhaus/International Style, not the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Who is the architect of the New National Stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?
A)
Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano
B)
Kengo Kuma
C)
Foster & partners
D)
Shigeru Ban
The New National Stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. He won the redesign competition after the original plan was scrapped. The other options are incorrect because Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano are associated with other major projects, Foster + Partners did not design this stadium, and Shigeru Ban is also not the architect of the Tokyo Olympic stadium.
Which material is a poor conductor of heat and the cracks when heated and then suddenly cools down.
A)
Glass
B)
Steel
C)
Brick
D)
Aluminium
Glass is a poor conductor of heat and it is brittle, so when it is heated and then suddenly cooled, thermal stress develops and it cracks. Steel and aluminium are good conductors of heat, and brick is not the usual material referred to for this property in this context.
Which of the following is an important technique of earthquake resistant design and construction?
A)
flexible steel form
B)
reinforced concrete
C)
base isolation
D)
steel strengthening treatment
Base isolation is a well-known earthquake-resistant design technique. It separates the building structure from ground motion using isolators, reducing the transfer of seismic energy to the superstructure. Reinforced concrete is a construction material, not specifically a seismic technique; flexible steel form and steel strengthening treatment are not standard primary earthquake-resistant methods in this context.
In which area did the art nouveau developed?
A)
Painting
B)
Furniture
C)
Sculpture
D)
All of these
Art Nouveau was a broad decorative art movement that developed across multiple art forms, including painting, sculpture, and furniture/design. It was not limited to one medium. Therefore, the most correct option is 'All of these'.
What is the full form of GRIHA?
A)
Green Rating for Intense Habitat Assessment
B)
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment
C)
Green Rating for Intense Housing Assessment
D)
Green Rating for Integrated Housing Assessment
GRIHA stands for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment. It is India's national green building rating system. Option (a) is incorrect because it says 'Intense' instead of 'Integrated'; (c) and (d) are incorrect because GRIHA refers to 'Habitat', not 'Housing'.
Slenderness ratio of a column is represented as:
A)
Effective length / Cross-sectional area
B)
Effective length / Radius of gyration
C)
Actual length / Cross-sectional area
D)
Actual length / Radius of gyration
The slenderness ratio of a column is defined as the ratio of its effective length to its least radius of gyration: λ = Le / r. Hence option (b) is correct. Option (a) and (c) are wrong because slenderness ratio is not based on cross-sectional area. Option (d) is incorrect because the standard definition uses effective length, not actual length.
How long should curing be done for Damp proof course?
A)
At least 6 days
B)
At least 7 days
C)
At least 8 days
D)
At least 9 days
A damp proof course (DPC), when made of cement concrete or mortar-based material, should generally be cured properly for a minimum of 7 days to achieve adequate strength and durability. Hence, among the given options, 'At least 7 days' is correct. The other options are shorter or longer than the standard minimum curing period asked in such construction MCQs.
Which of the following, is a type of shallow footing?
A)
Spread footing
B)
Pile foundation
C)
Pier foundation
D)
Well foundation
Shallow foundations transfer structural load to the soil at a relatively small depth. Spread footing is a standard type of shallow footing because it spreads the load over a wider area near the ground surface. In contrast, pile foundation, pier foundation, and well foundation are deep foundations used when the load must be transferred to deeper, stronger strata.
Carbon footprint can be measured by
A)
Carbon dating
B)
Instruments
C)
Carbon accounting
D)
Formula
A carbon footprint refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an activity, person, or organization. It is measured using carbon accounting, which estimates emissions in terms of CO2 equivalents. Carbon dating is used to determine the age of ancient organic materials, instruments are too vague, and formula alone is not the standard term for the measurement method.
‘A house is a machine to live in’ philosophy is coined by
A)
Le Corbusier
B)
Peter Behrens
C)
Frank Lloyd Wright
D)
Louis Sullivan
The statement ‘A house is a machine to live in’ is famously associated with Le Corbusier, a pioneer of modern architecture. He emphasized function, efficiency, and rational design in buildings. Peter Behrens was an early modernist designer, Frank Lloyd Wright focused on organic architecture, and Louis Sullivan is known for the phrase ‘form follows function,’ not this quote.
PPGI sheet roofing should be fixed with
A)
SDSS screws
B)
SDDS screws
C)
SDST screws
D)
STSS screws
PPGI (Pre-Painted Galvalume/Iron) sheet roofing is generally fixed using self-drilling self-sealing screws designed for sheet roofing. Among the given options, SDSS stands for the appropriate screw type used for fixing such roofing sheets. The other options are not the standard designation for roofing sheet fasteners.