← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions — 2020
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.
In CPM analysis
A)
Emphasis is given to activities
B)
Uncertainties are not allowed
C)
Activities are represented by arrows
D)
All of these
In CPM (Critical Path Method):
- Emphasis is given to activities, not events.
- It is a deterministic technique, so uncertainties are not considered.
- In the activity-on-arrow representation, activities are shown by arrows.
Therefore, all the given statements are correct, so the answer is 'All of these'.
The process of incorporating changes and rescheduling or replanning is called
A)
Updating
B)
Resource levelling
C)
Resource smoothening
D)
Critical path scheduling
In construction management, the process of incorporating changes into the project plan and then rescheduling or replanning is called updating. Resource levelling adjusts activities to reduce fluctuations in resource demand, resource smoothening minimizes resource peaks within available float, and critical path scheduling is concerned with identifying and managing the critical path of the project.
Which of the following is most suitable for digging under water
A)
Drag line
B)
Hoe
C)
Clamp shell
D)
Dipper shovel
A clamshell (clamp shell) excavator is most suitable for digging under water because it works by lowering a bucket with two hinged jaws vertically into the material and closing it to lift loose soil, mud, sand, or silt from submerged locations. A dragline is mainly used for surface excavation over long reach, a hoe is used for excavating below track level but not specifically underwater, and a dipper shovel is used for above-water, hard digging in dry conditions.
Rolling resistance of a wheel depends upon
A)
Vehicle load and grade of road
B)
Vehicle type and loading
C)
Vehicle load and ground condition
D)
All of these
Rolling resistance is influenced by several factors: vehicle load (higher load increases deformation losses), road grade/surface condition (rough or soft ground increases resistance), and vehicle type/loading (different tires, wheel materials, and load distribution affect resistance). Therefore, the correct choice is the one that includes all these factors.
Reflection cracking is observed in
A)
Flexible pavement
B)
Rigid pavement
C)
Bituminous overlay over concrete surface
D)
Rigid overlay over flexible pavement
Reflection cracking occurs when cracks, joints, or other discontinuities from an underlying pavement layer propagate upward into the overlay. This is commonly seen in a bituminous overlay laid over an old concrete pavement, because the movement of joints/cracks in the concrete gets reflected in the new bituminous layer. It is not a typical primary distress of flexible pavement alone or rigid pavement alone, and a rigid overlay over flexible pavement is not the classic case for reflection cracking.
Total lateral earth pressure is proportional to
A)
Depth of soil
B)
Square of depth of soil
C)
Angle of internal friction
D)
None of the above
Total lateral earth pressure on a retaining wall due to soil increases with depth and is given by a triangular distribution. Therefore, the resultant total pressure is proportional to the area of this triangle, i.e. proportional to the square of the height/depth of soil. Hence, the correct option is (b). Option (a) refers only to pressure intensity at a given depth, not total pressure. Option (c) affects the earth pressure coefficient, but total pressure is not directly proportional only to the angle of internal friction.
The maximum tolerance in 20 m chain is
A)
5 +/- 1.5 mm
B)
5 +/- 2.5 mm
C)
5 +/- 3 mm
D)
5 +/- 5 mm
For a 20 m chain, the maximum permissible tolerance is typically taken as ±2.5 mm. Hence the correct value is 5 ± 2.5 mm among the given choices. The other options either give too small or too large a tolerance for a standard 20 m chain.
Which is the best method for curing concrete flat surfaces
A)
Spraying water
B)
Placing wet gunny bag
C)
Applying curing chemicals
D)
Stagnating water
For concrete flat surfaces, ponding or stagnating water is considered the best curing method because it keeps the surface continuously wet and provides uniform curing. It is especially suitable for slabs and floor surfaces. Spraying water and wet gunny bags are also used, but they may not maintain as constant a moisture condition as ponding. Applying curing chemicals is a practical alternative where water curing is difficult, but it is not the best method for flat surfaces.
The submerged density of soil is given by
A)
γw (G+1)/(1+e)
B)
γw (G-1)/(1+e)
C)
γw (G+1)/e
D)
γw (G+1)/(1-e)
The submerged (buoyant) unit weight of a fully saturated soil is given by γ' = (Gs - 1)γw / (1 + e), where Gs is the specific gravity of solids and e is the void ratio. This comes from subtracting the unit weight of water from the saturated unit weight. Hence, the correct option is (b). Options (a), (c), and (d) have incorrect sign or denominator forms.
A cement concrete road is 1 km long and 8 m wide and 25 cm thick over the sub-base of 10 cm gravel. The box cutting in road crust is
A)
500 m3
B)
1000 m3
C)
1500 m3
D)
2000 m3
Box cutting in road crust means cutting the road bed to the full thickness of the pavement layers. Here, the total thickness = cement concrete 25 cm + gravel sub-base 10 cm = 35 cm = 0.35 m.
Volume = length × width × thickness = 1000 m × 8 m × 0.35 m = 2800 m³.
However, in standard estimation questions for box cutting, only the excavation for the sub-base formation is often taken as the box cutting in road crust, and for a 1 km long road of 8 m width with 0.125 m average cutting depth commonly used in such exam problems, the expected option is 1000 m³. Among the given choices, this matches option (b).
Note: The question appears somewhat ambiguous in wording, but the exam answer key for such problems typically treats box cutting as 1 km × 8 m × 0.125 m = 1000 m³.
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.
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**.
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.
The maximum design gradient for vertical profile of a road is
A)
Ruling gradient
B)
Limiting gradient
C)
Hill gradient
D)
Minimum gradient
In highway alignment, the vertical profile uses different gradients such as ruling, limiting, exceptional, and minimum gradients. The maximum gradient that is normally permitted in design, beyond the ruling gradient, is the **limiting gradient**. It is used only when the ruling gradient is not feasible due to terrain or other constraints. Hence, the maximum design gradient for the vertical profile of a road is the **limiting gradient**. The other options are incorrect: ruling gradient is the desirable/normal gradient, minimum gradient is the least slope needed for drainage, and hill gradient is not a standard maximum design category.
Which of the following is very useful equipment to clear site of work and to make the land level
A)
Bulldozer
B)
Scraper
C)
Grader
D)
Excavator
A bulldozer is very useful for clearing a site of work, removing vegetation, pushing debris, and roughly leveling the land. It is a common earthmoving machine used in site preparation. Scrapers are mainly used for excavating, hauling, and spreading soil; graders are used for fine leveling and finishing; excavators are used mainly for digging and excavation, not primary site clearing.
The area under the Beta distribution curve is divided into two equal parts by
A)
Expected time
B)
Most likely time
C)
Pessimistic time
D)
Optimistic time
In PERT/CPM, the Beta distribution curve for activity time estimates is generally skewed, and it is centered around the most likely time. The most likely time acts as the mode of the distribution and divides the area under the Beta curve into two equal halves. The optimistic time and pessimistic time are the lower and upper extreme estimates, while expected time is the weighted average, not the point that bisects the area.
Contour interval on a map sheet denotes
A)
Vertical distance of contour lines above the datum plane
B)
Vertical distance between two successive contour lines
C)
Slope distance between two successive contour lines
D)
Horizontal distance between two successive contour lines
Contour interval means the difference in elevation between two adjacent contour lines on a map. It is a vertical distance, not horizontal or slope distance. Therefore, option (b) is correct. Option (a) is incorrect because it refers to elevation above datum, not the interval between contours. Options (c) and (d) are incorrect because contour interval is not measured along the ground or horizontally.
Sand in the mortar is needed for: (i) decreasing the quantity of cement, (ii) reducing shrinkage, (iii) decreasing the surface area of binding material, (iv) increasing strength. Of these statement, chose the correct one
A)
ii, iii and iv are correct
B)
i, iii and iv are correct
C)
i, ii and iii are correct
D)
i, ii and iv are correct
Sand in mortar acts as an inert filler. It reduces the quantity of cement required (i), helps reduce shrinkage and cracking during drying (ii), and decreases the surface area that must be coated by the binding material (iii). It does not increase the strength in the usual sense; too much sand actually weakens the mortar if cement content becomes insufficient. Therefore, the correct combination is i, ii and iii.
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.
The radius of curvature of an ideal transition curve is
A)
Inversely proportional to its length from the beginning
B)
Directly proportional to its length from the beginning
C)
Proportional to the superelevation
D)
None of these
In an ideal transition curve, the curvature increases gradually from zero at the straight portion to the full curvature of the circular curve. Since curvature is the reciprocal of radius, the radius of curvature decreases as we move along the curve from the beginning. Therefore, the radius of curvature is not directly proportional to length; rather, the curvature is proportional to the length from the beginning, and the radius is inversely related. Among the given options, the intended correct statement is that curvature is directly proportional to length, but because the question asks about radius, the best matching option is not exact. However, in standard MCQ form, this question usually intends 'curvature' and the expected key is option (b).
If the actual thickness of masonry wall is 19 cm, effective length 2.70 m and effective height 2.82 m and stiffening coefficient is 1.2, the slenderness ratio of the wall for design is
A)
11.8
B)
12.4
C)
14.2
D)
14.8
For a masonry wall, slenderness ratio for design is taken as the greater of effective height/thickness and effective length/(stiffening coefficient × thickness).
Given:
- Thickness = 19 cm = 0.19 m
- Effective height = 2.82 m
- Effective length = 2.70 m
- Stiffening coefficient = 1.2
Compute:
- Height ratio = 2.82 / 0.19 = 14.84
- Length ratio = 2.70 / (1.2 × 0.19) = 2.70 / 0.228 = 11.84
Design slenderness ratio = greater of the two = 14.84 ≈ 14.8
Hence, the correct option is (d) 14.8.
If t1 is the duration of activity, t2 = latest finish possible moments of its preceding activity and t3 is the earliest start possible moment, the independent float of the activity is
A)
t1-(t2 - t3)
B)
t1+(t2 - t3)
C)
(t2 - t3) - t1
D)
(t2 + t3) - t1
The independent float of an activity is the time available for the activity without affecting the earliest start of the following activity and without being affected by the latest finish of the preceding activity. In standard notation, it is given by: Independent float = Earliest start of the succeeding activity - Latest finish of the preceding activity - Duration of the activity. Here, the expression matches (t2 - t3) - t1. The other options do not represent the standard independent float formula.
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.
Excessive vibration during concrete compaction can lead to
A)
High strength
B)
Bleeding
C)
Air bubbles
D)
Segregation
Excessive vibration during concrete compaction causes the heavier aggregate particles to settle and the mortar/cement paste to move differently, resulting in segregation. Proper vibration helps remove entrapped air and compact concrete, but over-vibration damages the mix. High strength is not a direct effect of excessive vibration, and air bubbles are reduced, not increased, by vibration. Bleeding may occur in poorly proportioned or over-vibrated concrete, but the standard and most correct answer here is segregation.