← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2015
If the R.L. of a B.M. is 100.00 m, the back- sight is 1.215 m and the foresight is 1.870 m, the R.L. of the forward station is
A)
99.345 m
B)
100.345 m
C)
100.655 m
D)
101.870 m
Use the height of instrument method or simple leveling relation: R.L. of forward station = R.L. of B.M. + back sight - foresight = 100.00 + 1.215 - 1.870 = 99.345 m. Hence option (a) is correct. The other options do not match this calculation.
In a cavity wall, both leaves of which are load bearing, the effective thickness is taken as
A)
sum of thickness of both leaves
B)
two-third of the sum of thickness of both the leaves
C)
actual thickness of the stronger leaf
D)
larger of (b) and (c)
In a cavity wall where both leaves are load-bearing, the effective thickness is taken as two-third of the total thickness of the two leaves. This accounts for the reduced structural contribution due to the cavity. Option (a) is incorrect because the full sum is not used. Option (c) is incorrect because only the stronger leaf thickness is not the effective thickness in this case. Option (d) is incorrect because the standard rule is specifically two-third of the sum, not the larger of two values.
Rolling resistance of a wheel depends upon: (i) Vehicle load (ii) Grade (iii) Ground conditions. Which of these statements are correct?
A)
only (i) is correct
B)
(i) and (ii) are correct
C)
(i) and (iii) are correct
D)
(ii) and (iii) are correct
Rolling resistance mainly depends on the vehicle load and the ground/surface conditions. A heavier load increases deformation and thus rolling resistance, and rough/soft ground increases it further. Grade affects the component of gravitational force along the slope, not rolling resistance itself. Therefore, statements (i) and (iii) are correct.
Due to battering action of wheels over the end of the rails, the rails get bent down and are deflected at ends. These rails are called
A)
roaring rails
B)
hogged rails
C)
corrugated rails
D)
buckled rails
When train wheels repeatedly strike the rail ends, the ends get battered and bend downward, causing a depression at the rail ends. This condition is called **hogging**, and such rails are known as **hogged rails**.
- **Roaring rails**: rails that produce excessive noise due to vibration/looseness.
- **Corrugated rails**: rails with wave-like wear on the running surface.
- **Buckled rails**: rails that bend sideways due to excessive compressive stress, usually in hot weather.
Hence, the correct answer is **hogged rails**.
Which of the following is an example of failure in flexible pavements?
A)
Alligator cracking
B)
Mud pumping
C)
Warping cracks
D)
Shrinkage cracks
Alligator cracking is a typical failure/distress in flexible pavements caused by repeated traffic loading and fatigue of the bituminous layers. It appears as interconnected cracks resembling an alligator skin. Mud pumping is mainly associated with rigid pavements, while warping cracks and shrinkage cracks are also characteristic of concrete (rigid) pavements.
Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factors Nc, Nq and Nr are functions of
A)
cohesion only
B)
angle of internal friction only
C)
both cohesion and angle of internal friction
D)
none of these
Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factors Nc, Nq and Nr (or Nγ) depend only on the soil’s angle of internal friction, φ. They are tabulated or computed as functions of φ, not cohesion. Cohesion affects the bearing capacity equation separately through the term cNc, but the factors themselves are functions of φ only. Hence, option (b) is correct.
The side slope of embankments for a railway track is generally taken as
A)
1:1
B)
1.5:1
C)
2:1
D)
1:2
For railway embankments, the side slope is generally taken as 1.5:1 (horizontal:vertical) for stability and economy. A steeper slope like 1:1 may be unsafe, while 2:1 is usually flatter than necessary for normal railway embankments. Hence, 1.5:1 is the standard general value.
The main function of a fish plate is
A)
to join the two rails together
B)
to join rails with the sleeper
C)
to allow rail to expand and contract freely
D)
none of these
A fish plate is a metal plate used at the rail joint to connect two rail ends together and maintain continuity of the track. It is bolted to the rails on both sides of the joint. Option (b) is incorrect because rails are joined to sleepers by fastenings, not fish plates. Option (c) refers to expansion joints or rail gaps, not fish plates.
According to ICAO, all markings on the runways are
A)
Yellow
B)
White
C)
Black
D)
Red
According to ICAO standards, runway markings are white. Specifically, runway centerline, threshold, aiming point, designation, and touchdown zone markings are painted white for contrast and visibility. Yellow is used for taxiway markings, not runway markings. Therefore, the correct option is (b) White.
The transition curve used in the horizontal alignment of highways as per IRC recommendations is
A)
spiral
B)
lemniscate
C)
cubic parabola
D)
any of these
As per IRC recommendations, the transition curve in horizontal highway alignment may be any of the standard forms such as spiral (clothoid), cubic parabola, or lemniscate, provided it satisfies the required design criteria. Therefore, the correct choice is 'any of these'. Options (a), (b), and (c) are all acceptable transition curve forms, so none of them alone is the only correct answer.
The timber floor not spanning on the masonry wall but properly anchored to the wall gives
A)
lateral restraint but not rotational restraint
B)
rotational restraint but not lateral restraint
C)
both lateral and rotational restraints
D)
neither lateral nor rotational restraint
A timber floor that does not span on the masonry wall but is properly anchored to it prevents the wall from moving sideways, so it provides lateral restraint. However, since it does not act as a spanning member over the wall, it does not restrain the wall against rotation. Therefore, the correct answer is lateral restraint but not rotational restraint.
In the quadrantal bearing system, a whole circle bearing of 293° 30' can be expressed as
A)
W23°30'N
B)
N66°30'W
C)
S113°30'N
D)
N23°30'W
In the whole circle bearing (WCB) system, bearings are measured clockwise from North. A WCB of 293°30' lies in the northwest quadrant (between 270° and 360°). For the quadrantal bearing, take the angle from North toward West: 360°00' - 293°30' = 66°30'. So the quadrantal bearing is N66°30'W. The other options do not match the correct quadrant or angle.
The height of the centre of arm of a semaphore signal above the ground is
A)
5.5m
B)
6.5m
C)
7.5m
D)
8.5m
In railway engineering, the centre of the arm of a semaphore signal is kept at a standard height of about 6.5 m above ground. This provides sufficient visibility to the engine driver while maintaining the required clearance and operational convenience. Hence, option (b) is correct. The other values are not the standard specified height for the centre of a semaphore signal arm.
The slope of the transitional surface for A, B and C type of runway shall be
A)
1:5
B)
1:7
C)
1:10
D)
1:12
In airport zoning standards, the transitional surface slope for A, B and C type runways is 1:7. This is the standard side-slope adopted in the approach/transitional surface provisions for these runway types. The other options (1:5, 1:10, and 1:12) do not match the prescribed transitional surface slope.
The slope of the obstruction clearance line from the boundary of the heliport should be
A)
1:2
B)
1:5
C)
1:8
D)
1:40
For a heliport, the obstruction clearance line from the boundary is specified with a slope of 1:5. This means the surface rises 1 unit vertically for every 5 units horizontally. The other options are not the standard heliport clearance slope in airport engineering.
Voids ratio of a soil mass can
A)
never be greater than unity
B)
be zero
C)
take any value greater than zero
D)
take values between 0 and 1 only
Void ratio e is defined as the ratio of volume of voids to volume of solids, e = Vv / Vs. Since both volumes are non-negative and the volume of solids is positive for a soil mass, e can be 0 for a perfectly solid mass with no voids, and it can also be greater than 1 in very loose soils. Therefore, the correct statement is that void ratio can take any value greater than zero. Option (a) is wrong because e can exceed 1. Option (d) is wrong because e is not restricted to 0 to 1.
The most efficient traffic signal system is
A)
simultaneous system
B)
alternate system
C)
flexible progressive system
D)
simple progressive system
The most efficient traffic signal system is the flexible progressive system because it can adjust signal timings and progression according to varying traffic volumes and conditions. This gives better coordination, reduces delay, and improves traffic flow. A simple progressive system is less adaptable, while simultaneous and alternate systems are generally used for specific situations and are not as efficient for general traffic movement.
Preliminary project report for a road project must contain
A)
the detailed estimated cost based on detailed design
B)
the several alternatives of the project that have been considered
C)
the soil survey, traffic survey, concept design and approximate cost
D)
the contract documents for inviting tenders
A preliminary project report for a road project is prepared at the planning stage. It normally includes basic investigations such as soil survey and traffic survey, a concept/design proposal, and an approximate cost estimate. Option (a) is for a detailed project report after final design, (b) is too general and incomplete, and (d) relates to tendering/contract documents, which come much later.
The most suitable equipment for compacting clayey soils is a
A)
smooth wheeled roller
B)
pneumatictyred roller
C)
sheep foot roller
D)
vibrator
Clayey soils are best compacted by kneading action, which helps expel air and rearrange fine particles. A sheep foot roller provides this kneading effect, so it is the most suitable for clayey soils. Smooth wheeled rollers are better for granular soils, pneumatic tyred rollers are used for mixed soils and provide some kneading, and vibrators are mainly effective for cohesionless soils like sand and gravel.
Reaction time of a driver
A)
increases with increase in speed
B)
decreases with increase in speed
C)
is same for all speeds
D)
none of these
Driver reaction time is generally taken as a human characteristic and is assumed to remain constant for a given driver, regardless of vehicle speed. In highway engineering, speed affects reaction distance, not reaction time. Hence, the correct option is (c).
Minimum compressive strength in N/mm2 for H1 type mortar used for masonry is
A)
3
B)
5
C)
7.5
D)
10
H1 type mortar for masonry is classified as a high-strength mortar, and its minimum compressive strength is 7.5 N/mm². Among the given options, 7.5 matches the standard requirement. The other values are lower than the specified minimum for H1 mortar.
Flexible pavement distribute the wheel load
A)
directly to subgrade
B)
through structural action
C)
through a set of layers to the subgrade
D)
none of these
Flexible pavements do not transfer wheel load directly to the subgrade. Instead, the load is distributed gradually through the pavement layers—surface course, base course, sub-base—so that the stress reaching the subgrade is reduced. Hence, option (c) is correct. Option (a) is wrong because direct load transfer is characteristic of rigid pavement behavior, not flexible pavement. Option (b) is too vague and not the standard description. Option (d) is incorrect because a correct option is given.
In basins subjected to strong winds and tide, the length of the berthing area should not be less than
A)
the length of design vessel
B)
the length of design vessel + 10% clearance between adjacent vessels
C)
the length of design vessel + 20% clearance between adjacent vessels
D)
twice the length of design vessel
In harbour design, when basins are subjected to strong winds and tidal effects, extra allowance is needed for safe berthing and manoeuvring. The berthing area length should therefore be increased beyond the design vessel length, and the standard recommendation is the design vessel length plus 20% clearance between adjacent vessels. Options (a) and (d) are too general or excessive, while (b) gives only 10% clearance, which is insufficient for such adverse conditions.
When a ship floats at its designed water line, the vertical distance from water line to the bottom of the ship is known as
A)
beam
B)
depth
C)
freeboard
D)
draft
The vertical distance from the waterline to the bottom of a ship is called the draft (or draught). It indicates how deep the ship sits in the water.
Why others are incorrect:
- Beam: the width of the ship.
- Depth: the vertical distance from the keel to the deck, not specifically from waterline to bottom.
- Freeboard: the vertical distance from the waterline to the deck line.
So the correct answer is draft.
The water content of soil, which represents the boundary between plastic state and liquid state is known as
A)
liquid limit
B)
plastic limit
C)
shrinkage limit
D)
plasticity index
The water content at which soil changes from the plastic state to the liquid state is called the liquid limit. The plastic limit is the boundary between semi-solid and plastic states, the shrinkage limit is between semi-solid and solid states, and the plasticity index is the range of water content between liquid limit and plastic limit.