← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2020
While estimating the qualities for the construction of a building, the correct metric unit is
A)
Cubic meter for area
B)
Liter for capacity
C)
Square meter for volume
D)
Meter per cubic meter
In estimation and costing, different quantities are measured using appropriate metric units. Capacity is measured in liters. The other options are incorrect because area is measured in square meters, volume in cubic meters, and meter per cubic meter is not a valid unit for such estimation.
The sudden loss of shear strength by saturated soil mass under external forces where the soil behave as fluid is called
A)
Liquefaction
B)
Piping of soil
C)
Quick condition
D)
mud slide
The phenomenon described is liquefaction: a saturated soil mass suddenly loses shear strength under external loading and behaves like a fluid. Piping is erosion of soil by seepage, quick condition is a related state in cohesionless soils under upward seepage but the standard term for fluid-like loss of strength is liquefaction, and mud slide is a general mass movement, not the soil mechanics term asked here.
Which process during concreting comes after batching in manufacturing process
A)
Transportation
B)
Placing
C)
Mixing
D)
Compacting
In the manufacturing process of concrete, the usual sequence is: batching → mixing → transportation → placing → compacting → curing. Batching means measuring the ingredients, and the next step is mixing them thoroughly to produce uniform concrete. Transportation, placing, and compacting all occur after mixing, so the correct answer is Mixing.
Horizontal distances obtained by tacheometric observations
A)
Require slope correction
B)
Require tension correction
C)
Require slope and tension correction
D)
Do not require slope and tension correction
In tacheometric surveying, the horizontal distance is computed directly from staff intercept and instrument constants, using the line of sight and staff readings. The method is designed to give horizontal distance without the need for separate slope correction or tension correction. Slope correction is needed in chain/tape measurement on inclined ground, and tension correction applies to tape measurements, not tacheometry.
The most suitable soil for compressed air tunneling is
A)
Silt
B)
Sand
C)
Clay
D)
Gravel
Compressed air tunneling is most suitable in permeable, cohesionless soils where air pressure can balance groundwater seepage and prevent collapse. Sand is ideal among the given options because it is porous and allows compressed air to control water inflow. Clay is less permeable and does not need compressed air as much; silt is unstable and difficult to control; gravel is too coarse and highly permeable, making air loss excessive.
As per ICAO, all markings on the airport runways are
A)
Yellow
B)
White
C)
Black
D)
Red
As per ICAO standards, runway markings are painted in white for clear visibility against the runway surface. Yellow is generally used for taxiway markings, not runway markings. Black and red are not the standard color for runway markings.
Which of the following binders is recommended for a wet and cold climate
A)
Tar
B)
80/100 penetration asphalt
C)
Cutback
D)
Emulsion
For wet and cold climates, emulsion is recommended because it can be used at lower temperatures and in the presence of moisture. Cutback is generally preferred for cold weather when some heating/penetration assistance is needed, tar is less commonly recommended due to health and performance issues, and 80/100 penetration asphalt is more suitable for warm conditions and requires proper heating for use.
Water retentivity for brick masonry should not be less than
A)
50 %
B)
60 %
C)
70 %
D)
80 %
Water retentivity is the ability of bricks to retain water needed for proper hydration and bonding of mortar. For brick masonry, the required water retentivity should not be less than 70%. Hence, option (c) is correct. Options (a), (b), and (d) are below or above the standard minimum requirement asked in such building-materials questions.
The precise control of excavation is possible by
A)
Scrapper
B)
Hoe
C)
Clamp shell
D)
Bulldozer
A hoe (dragline excavator type with backhoe action) allows precise control of excavation, especially below ground level and near foundations. It is suitable where accurate depth and limited over-excavation are required. A bulldozer is mainly for rough grading and pushing soil, a scraper is for bulk earth moving, and a clamshell is used for deep vertical excavation but not for the most precise control.
Which of the following sights are taken on a “turning point”
A)
Foresight only
B)
Backsight only
C)
Foresight and Backsight
D)
Foresight and intermediate sight
In levelling, a turning point (or change point) is a point on which the staff is observed from two consecutive instrument setups. From the first setup, the staff reading on the turning point is taken as a foresight (FS), and after shifting the instrument, the same point is observed again as a backsight (BS). Therefore, both foresight and backsight are taken on a turning point. Intermediate sights are taken on ordinary points, not on turning points.
Undisturbed soil samples are required for conduction
A)
Shrinkage limit test
B)
Consolidation test
C)
Specific gravity test
D)
Proctor test
Undisturbed soil samples are needed when the soil structure, fabric, and in-situ condition must be preserved. The consolidation test measures compressibility and settlement characteristics of soil, so an undisturbed sample is required. Shrinkage limit and specific gravity tests can be done on disturbed samples, and the Proctor test is performed on remoulded soil to determine compaction characteristics.
The error due to bad ranging is
A)
Cumulative positive
B)
Cumulative negative
C)
Compensating
D)
Cumulative positive or negative
In chain surveying, bad ranging causes the measured length of a line to be either more or less than the true length, depending on whether the intermediate points are set off inward or outward from the straight line. Since the error may increase the measured distance or decrease it, it is a cumulative error that can be positive or negative. Hence, option (d) is correct. Compensating errors are not systematic like this, and the error is not fixed as only positive or only negative.
Critical path lies along the activity having total float
A)
Zero
B)
Equal activity
C)
Positive
D)
Negative
In CPM, the critical path is the sequence of activities with the longest duration, and every activity on it has zero total float. Zero float means any delay in that activity will delay the entire project. Activities with positive float can be delayed without affecting the project completion time, while negative float is not a normal condition for a standard critical path.
The rate of payment is made for 100 m3 (per % m3) in case of
A)
Earth work in excavation
B)
Rock cutting
C)
Excavation in trenches for foundation
D)
All of these
In estimation and costing, earthwork items such as excavation in ordinary earth, rock cutting, and excavation in trenches for foundations are commonly measured and paid for per 100 m3 (per centum cubic metre) in standard schedule/rate analysis practice. Since all three listed works are earthwork excavation-related items and are typically rate-based on 100 m3, the correct choice is **All of these**.
Expansion joints in masonry walls are provided in wall length greater than
A)
10 m
B)
20 m
C)
30 m
D)
40 m
Expansion joints are provided in masonry walls to accommodate temperature and moisture movements and prevent cracking. As a standard building construction rule, masonry walls exceeding about 30 m in length are provided with expansion joints. Hence, the correct answer is 30 m. The other options are too small for the usual threshold used in such exam questions.
Stability of hill slope depends on
A)
Angle of slope
B)
Geological condition
C)
Groundwater conditions
D)
All of these
Hill slope stability is influenced by multiple factors: (1) angle of slope, because steeper slopes are generally less stable; (2) geological condition, including rock/soil type, stratification, joints, faults, and weathering; and (3) groundwater conditions, since seepage and high pore water pressure reduce shear strength. Therefore, all the listed factors affect slope stability.
The safe stopping distance may be calculated from the equation
A)
D = 0.278Vt + V^2/254f
B)
D = 0.278Vt + V^2/254f
C)
D = 0.254Vt + V^2/225f
D)
D = 0.225Vt + V^2/254f
Safe stopping distance = reaction distance + braking distance.
- Reaction distance = 0.278 V t, where V is speed in km/h and t is reaction time in seconds.
- Braking distance = V^2 / (254 f), where f is the coefficient of longitudinal friction.
So the correct equation is D = 0.278Vt + V^2/254f.
Options (b) is identical to (a), so the question appears to have a duplication/printing error. The standard formula matches option (a).
Effective stress on soil
A)
Increases voids ratio and decreases permeability
B)
Increases both voids ratio and permeability
C)
Decrease void ratio and increases permeability
D)
Decreases both void ratio and permeability
Effective stress is the stress carried by the soil skeleton. When effective stress increases, soil particles are pressed closer together, so the void ratio decreases. Since permeability depends on the size and connectivity of voids, it also decreases. Therefore, the correct option is (d). Options (a), (b), and (c) are incorrect because they state an increase in void ratio and/or permeability, which is opposite to the effect of higher effective stress.
The upstream slope of an earth dam under steady seepage condition is
A)
Equipotential lines
B)
Phreatic line
C)
Water table
D)
Seepage line
In an earth dam under steady seepage, the upstream slope corresponds to the line along which seepage occurs within the dam body. This is called the seepage line. It is not an equipotential line (which represents equal head), nor the water table (a free surface in soil due to saturation), nor the phreatic line in this context as asked. Hence, the correct answer is seepage line.
In long and short wall method of estimation, the long wall is the center to center distance between the walls and
A)
Breadth of the wall
B)
Half breadth of wall on each side
C)
One fourth breadth of wall on each side
D)
None of these
In the long and short wall method, the long wall length is measured from centre to centre, and the actual length of the wall is obtained by adding half the breadth of the wall on each side. This is why the long wall is taken as centre-to-centre distance plus half breadth on each side. Option (a) is incomplete, option (c) is incorrect, and option (d) is not correct because option (b) matches the method.
A soil having particles of nearly the same size is known as
A)
Poorly graded
B)
Well graded
C)
Uniformly graded
D)
Gap graded
A soil with particles of nearly the same size is called uniformly graded soil. In such soil, the size range is narrow and most particles are of similar diameter. By contrast, well graded soil contains a wide range of particle sizes, poorly graded soil is not well distributed in sizes, and gap graded soil lacks certain intermediate sizes.
Sinking fund is
A)
Raised to meet maintenance cost
B)
Fund kept for providing additional structures
C)
Amount of money to be paid to municipality by tenant
D)
Fund for rebuilding a structure when its economic life is over
A sinking fund is a reserve fund created by setting aside money periodically so that enough amount is available to replace, rebuild, or redeem an asset or liability when its useful life ends or when it matures. In civil engineering estimation and costing, it is used for rebuilding a structure after its economic life is over. Options (a), (b), and (c) do not describe a sinking fund.
Intersection method of detailed plotting is most suitable for
A)
Hilly areas
B)
Forest
C)
Urban areas
D)
plains
The intersection method of detailed plotting is best where direct chaining is difficult or impossible, such as in hilly or inaccessible terrain. In such areas, points can be fixed by intersecting rays from two known stations without measuring all details on the ground. It is less suitable for plains, where chain surveying is easier, and is not the most suitable standard choice for urban areas or forests compared to hilly areas.
Under-reamed piles are generally
A)
Driven piles
B)
Precast piles
C)
Cast insitu piles
D)
Bored piles
Under-reamed piles are formed by boring a hole in the ground and then enlarging the base (under-reaming) before casting concrete in place. Therefore, they are a type of bored cast-in-situ pile, not driven or precast. Option (a) driven piles are hammered into the ground, option (b) precast piles are manufactured first and then placed, and option (c) is too general; the standard classification for under-reamed piles is bored piles.
If x is the optimistic time, y pessimistic time and z most likely time of an activity, the expected time of the activity, is
A)
(x + z + y)/6
B)
(x + 2z + y)/6
C)
(x + 4z + y)/6
D)
(x + 6z + y)/6
This is the PERT expected time formula. If x = optimistic time, z = most likely time, and y = pessimistic time, then expected time te = (x + 4z + y)/6. The most likely time is given the highest weight because it is the most probable duration. Hence option (c) is correct. The other options use incorrect weights for the three time estimates.