MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The formation width of a road in plain areas means the width of
A)
carriageway
B)
embankment at ground level
C)
pavement and shoulders
D)
embankment at the top level
The formation width (or roadway width at formation level) is the total width of the road at the top of the embankment/cutting, including carriageway, shoulders, and side margins. In plain areas, this refers to the width at the top level of the embankment, not just the carriageway or only the paved portion. Hence, option (d) is correct. Options (a) and (c) are only parts of the road width, while (b) refers to the base, not the formation width.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Number of links per metre length of a chain are
A)
4
B)
5
C)
6
D)
10
In metric chain surveying, the standard chain length is 20 m and it is divided into 100 links. Therefore, each link = 20/100 = 0.2 m = 20 cm. So, links per metre = 1/0.2 = 5. However, in the common Indian surveying convention for a chain, the chain used is often the 20 m chain with 100 links, giving 5 links per metre. Since the options do not include 5? Wait, option (b) is 5, which is the correct value. Hence the correct option is (b), not (a).
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
You are given a sample of soil containing coarse grain to determine its water content. You will use
A)
Pycnometer
B)
oven-drying method
C)
calcium carbide method
D)
alcohol method
For coarse-grained soils, the water content is commonly determined by the calcium carbide method because it is rapid and suitable for field/lab use on granular soils. The oven-drying method is the standard method for many soils but takes longer, and the alcohol method is used for quick determination of water content in some cases, not specifically preferred for coarse-grained soil. A pycnometer is used for specific gravity determination, not water content.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The critical activity has
A)
maximum float
B)
free float
C)
minimum float
D)
zero float
In CPM/PERT, the critical path consists of critical activities. A critical activity has no slack in time, so its total float is zero. If it is delayed, the entire project is delayed. Hence, the correct answer is zero float. The other options are incorrect because float is not maximum, free float, or minimum for a critical activity; it is specifically zero.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The ratio of the volume of water present in a given soil mass to the total volume of its voids is known as
A)
porosity
B)
void ratio
C)
degree of saturation
D)
water content
The ratio of the volume of water present in a soil mass to the total volume of voids is called the degree of saturation (S = Vw / Vv). Porosity is the ratio of void volume to total volume, void ratio is the ratio of void volume to volume of solids, and water content is the ratio of weight of water to weight of solids.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Closed contours of decreasing values towards their centre represent a
A)
hill
B)
depression
C)
saddle or pass
D)
river bed
Closed contour lines with decreasing elevation values toward the centre indicate that the ground level is going down inward, which represents a depression or basin. In contrast, closed contours with increasing values toward the centre represent a hill. A saddle/pass is a low area between two higher points, and a river bed is usually shown by contour patterns along a valley, not simply by closed decreasing contours.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The bonding in a half brick wall is known as
A)
a Stretcher bond
B)
an English bond
C)
a Flemish bond
D)
a Dutch bond
A half-brick wall is only one brick thick in plan, so all bricks are laid with their length parallel to the wall face. This arrangement is called a stretcher bond. English and Flemish bonds are used for thicker walls, while Dutch bond is a variation of brick bond for special laying patterns, not the standard bond for a half-brick wall.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The distance travelled by a moving vehicle during perception and brake reaction time is known as
A)
sight distance
B)
lag distance
C)
stopping distance
D)
braking distance
The distance covered by a vehicle during the driver’s perception time and brake reaction time is called the lag distance. It is the part of stopping distance traveled before the brakes actually take effect. Sight distance is a broader term for the visible roadway ahead, stopping distance includes lag distance plus braking distance, and braking distance is only the distance traveled after the brakes are applied.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
In chain surveying, perpendiculars to the chain line are set out by
A)
a theodolite
B)
a prismatic compass
C)
a level
D)
an optical square
In chain surveying, right angles (perpendiculars) to the chain line are commonly set out using an optical square. It is specifically designed to produce a 90° angle quickly and accurately in the field. A theodolite is more precise but is generally used in more advanced surveying, a prismatic compass measures bearings, and a level is used for determining differences in elevation, not perpendiculars.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The full width of land acquired before finalizing a highway is known as
A)
formation width
B)
right of way
C)
carriage way
D)
roadway
The full width of land acquired for a highway, including space for the road, side drains, embankments, slopes, and future widening, is called the right of way (ROW).
Why not the others?
- Formation width: width of the prepared road formation, not the full acquired land.
- Carriage way: the portion used by vehicles for traffic movement.
- Roadway: usually refers to the carriageway plus shoulders, but not the full acquired land.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The main principle of surveying is to work from
A)
part to the whole
B)
whole to the part
C)
higher to the lower level
D)
lower to the higher level
The fundamental principle of surveying is to first establish accurate control points over a large area and then proceed to fill in details. This means surveying is done from the whole to the part, which helps prevent accumulation of errors. If we work from part to whole, small errors in each step can grow and affect the final result. So option (b) is correct.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Describe the various types of rail sections generally used in Indian Railways.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
What characteristics of contours must be kept in view while preparing or reading a contour map?
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The liquid and plastic limits exist in
A)
sandy soils
B)
clayey soils
C)
silty soils
D)
all of these
The liquid limit and plastic limit are Atterberg limits, which are characteristic of fine-grained soils, especially clayey soils. These soils contain enough clay minerals and water adsorption to exhibit plasticity. Sandy soils do not show plastic or liquid behavior, and silts may show limited plasticity, but the standard and most distinct occurrence is in clayey soils. Therefore, the correct answer is clayey soils.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Define the term ‘grade’ or ‘gradient’ of a road. Give a list of various terms normally used in order to categorise gradients of roads and explain any one of them.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Define Tacheometry. List out the different systems of tacheometric survey with their sub-divisions. What is an anallactic lens?
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
A masonry retaining wall, 6 m high, has vertical face on the earth side and retains earth which has level surface. The wall has top width of 1 m and bottom width 3 m. The weight of earth is 16 KN/m3 and angle of repose 30°. The weight of masonry is 22 KN /m3. Investigate the stability of the wall. Co-efficient of friction = 0.50.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Which of the following items of work is not included in the plinth area estimate?
A)
Wall thickness
B)
Water Closet area
C)
Courtyard area
D)
Verandah area
In a plinth area estimate, the covered built-up area measured at floor level is taken. It includes wall thickness and covered spaces like verandahs and water closet areas if they are part of the building. An open courtyard is not covered space, so it is excluded from the plinth area.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
For compaction of a 200 mm thick WMM layer to a degree of compaction as prescribed in MORTH specification, the most suitable machinery will be
A)
JCB Excavator
B)
Static roller
C)
Vibratory roller
D)
Pneumatic tyre roller
Wet Mix Macadam (WMM) is a well-graded crushed aggregate layer, typically compacted in layers of about 200 mm thickness. For achieving the required degree of compaction as per MoRTH specifications, a vibratory roller is the most suitable because it provides effective densification of granular materials to the full depth of the layer.
Why not the others?
- JCB excavator: used for excavation/loading, not compaction.
- Static roller: less effective for dense granular layers like WMM compared with vibration compaction.
- Pneumatic tyre roller: useful for sealing and kneading action, but vibratory roller is preferred for WMM compaction.
Hence, the correct answer is Vibratory roller.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
A purely cohesive soil was tested by unconfined compression. The mean unconfined compression strength was obtained as 50 KN/m². Estimate the ultimate bearing capacity, utilizing Terzaghi’s concept. (Take 10 N = 1 Kg and Bearing capacity factor = 5.7 )
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Describe the differences between PERT and CPM networks.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
A vertical projection is provided at the base in cantilever type retaining walls in order to increase resistance to sliding. This projection is known as
A)
quoin
B)
fillet
C)
key
D)
perpend
In a cantilever retaining wall, a vertical projection provided at the base to increase resistance against sliding is called a **shear key** or simply a **key**. It works by mobilizing passive earth pressure in front of the base and improving stability.
Why others are incorrect:
- **Quoin**: a corner or external angle in masonry/architecture, not a retaining wall base projection.
- **Fillet**: a small rounding or triangular filling at an internal corner.
- **Perpend**: mortar joint in masonry.
So the correct answer is **(c) key**.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
The Fore Bearing of a line AB in the Whole Circle Bearing System is 137°38'. What will be its Fore Bearing in the Quadrantal Bearing System?
A)
S 42°22' W
B)
S 47°38' E
C)
S 42°22' E
D)
S 47°38' W
In the Whole Circle Bearing (WCB) system, 137°38' lies between 90° and 180°, so the line is in the South-East quadrant and the Quadrantal Bearing (QB) is written as S (180° - WCB) E. However, for a bearing of 137°38', the angle from south is 180° - 137°38' = 42°22'. Since it lies in the second quadrant, the correct QB is S 42°22' E? Let's check carefully: WCB 90° to 180° corresponds to S θ E. But the given options include S 42°22' E. Therefore the correct conversion is S 42°22' E, not S 42°22' W. Hence option (c) is correct.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Short offsets are measured with
A)
an ordinary chain
B)
a metallic tape
C)
a steel tape
D)
an invar tape
In chain surveying, offsets are the lateral distances taken from the chain line to locate details. Short offsets are usually measured with an ordinary chain because it is convenient and sufficiently accurate for small distances. Metallic, steel, and invar tapes are used when greater precision is needed, especially for longer or more accurate measurements.
MES Jr. Grade • 2016 • Paper-III
Half brick wall is measured in
A)
metre
B)
square metre
C)
cubic metre
D)
number
A half-brick wall is a thin wall, so it is measured by area rather than volume. In estimation and costing, brick walls of small thickness like half-brick partition walls are measured in square metres. Full brick walls are usually measured in cubic metres. Therefore, the correct answer is square metre.
