← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2016
When equal quantities of oil, water and mercury are poured into a beaker, the order in which the liquids arrange themselves from bottom to top is
A)
mercury, water, oil
B)
water, mercury, oil
C)
water, oil, mercury
D)
mercury, oil, water
Liquids arrange themselves in a beaker according to density, with the densest at the bottom and the least dense at the top. Mercury is the densest, water is less dense than mercury, and oil is the least dense of the three. So the order from bottom to top is mercury, water, oil. The other options place the liquids in an incorrect density order.
During thunder and lightning, we often see the light first and the sound is heard only after few seconds. Which could be the correct explanation for this?
A)
Thunder is always produced after lightning
B)
Sound travels slower than light in air
C)
Light can travel in vacuum while sound cannot
D)
Light travels faster than sound in water
We see lightning before hearing thunder because light reaches our eyes almost instantly, while sound from thunder takes much longer to travel through air. Light travels at about 3 × 10^8 m/s, whereas sound travels only about 340 m/s in air. So the delay is due to the much slower speed of sound. Option (a) is not the reason; thunder is produced by the lightning event, but the key point is speed difference. Option (c) is true in general, but it does not explain the delay here because both light and sound travel through air during a storm. Option (d) is irrelevant because the medium mentioned is water, not air.
The RBI has estimated the current account deficit at 1.5 per cent in FY 16. The estimation is based on
A)
sharp decrease in oil demand in the country
B)
sharp fall in oil prices
C)
sharp fall in international demand for gold imports
D)
sharp rise in IT exports
The RBI’s FY16 current account deficit estimate of about 1.5% of GDP was mainly based on lower crude oil prices, which reduced the import bill. This was the key macroeconomic factor behind the improved CAD outlook.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) Oil demand in the country: demand conditions were not the stated basis of the estimate.
- (c) Fall in international demand for gold imports: gold imports can affect CAD, but the RBI’s FY16 estimate was specifically tied to lower oil prices.
- (d) Rise in IT exports: IT exports help the current account, but this was not the main basis of the 1.5% estimate.
According to the latest Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011, which state has the highest number of households headed by women?
A)
Mizoram
B)
Sikkim
C)
Kerala
D)
Karnataka
According to the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, Mizoram had the highest proportion and also one of the highest counts among states of households headed by women. This is consistent with the social structure in the state, where female-headed households are comparatively more common. The other options—Sikkim, Kerala, and Karnataka—do not rank as high as Mizoram in this indicator.
Which of the following is/are the major objective of planning in India? 1. Controlling economic inequality 2. Self-reliance 3. Credit control 4. Poverty alleviation
A)
2 only
B)
2, 3 and 4 only
C)
1, 2 and 4 only
D)
2 and 3 only
The major objectives of planning in India include reducing economic inequality, achieving self-reliance, and alleviating poverty. Credit control is not a major objective of planning; it is a monetary policy tool used by the central bank. Therefore, statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct, while 3 is incorrect.
A Programme which aims to improve the socio-economic standards of the minority community is
A)
Multi Sectoral Development Programme
B)
Twenty point programme for Minorities
C)
Both (a) and (b)
D)
Neither (a) nor (b)
Both the Multi Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) and the Twenty Point Programme for Minorities are meant to improve the socio-economic conditions of minority communities. MSDP focuses on development of minority-concentrated areas, while the Twenty Point Programme includes specific items for welfare and development of minorities. Hence, the correct answer is both (a) and (b).
Re-write the provided passage about the 'typical Australian' into 1/3 of its length giving a suitable title.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What are railway yards? Give a broad classification of different railway yards in India. Describe any one of them in detail.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.