← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
When does Deconstructivism appear?
A)
1960s
B)
1970s
C)
1980s
D)
None of these
Deconstructivism emerged as an architectural movement in the 1980s. It became widely recognized after the 1988 Museum of Modern Art exhibition 'Deconstructivist Architecture' in New York. Therefore, the correct option is (c) 1980s. The other options are incorrect because the 1960s and 1970s predate the movement’s formal emergence.
Marble stone belong to
A)
Igneous Rocks
B)
Metamorphic Rocks
C)
Sedimentary Rocks
D)
Foliated Rocks
Marble is formed when limestone undergoes metamorphism due to heat and pressure, so it is classified as a metamorphic rock. Igneous rocks form from molten magma, and sedimentary rocks form by deposition and compaction. 'Foliated' is a texture/type of metamorphic rock, not the rock group itself.
What is the name of this carpentry joint?
A)
tongue and groove
B)
dovetail
C)
butt joint
D)
lap joint
Without image, standard carpentry joint tested in MES paper is dovetail joint for strength.
Due to battering action of wheels over the end of the rails, the rails get bent down and deflected at the end, these rails are termed as
A)
Buckled rails
B)
Hogged rails
C)
Corrugated rails
D)
Bent rails
When train wheels repeatedly batter the ends of rails, the rail ends get bent downward and deflected. This condition is called a "hogged rail" because the rail end sags downward.
Why others are incorrect:
- Buckled rails: rails that are laterally displaced or warped due to compressive forces, usually from heat.
- Corrugated rails: rails with a wavy surface wear pattern.
- Bent rails: too general; the specific term for downward deflection at ends is hogged rails.
The specified width of ballast section for Broad gauge is
A)
1.83 m
B)
2.25 m
C)
3 m
D)
3.35 m
For Indian Railways, the standard specified width of ballast section for Broad Gauge is 1.83 m. This is the usual ballast shoulder/section width adopted in track geometry standards. The other options are not the standard BG ballast section width.
In brick masonry the bond produced by laying alternated headers and strechers in each course is
A)
English bond
B)
Double Flemish bond
C)
Zigzag bond
D)
Single Flemish bond
In brick masonry, when each course is laid with alternate headers and stretchers, the bond is called **Flemish bond**. Since the question specifies this arrangement in **each course**, it refers to **Double Flemish bond**.
Why others are incorrect:
- **English bond**: has alternate courses of headers and stretchers, not alternate units in the same course.
- **Zigzag bond**: used mainly for decorative flooring patterns, not standard brick masonry bonding.
- **Single Flemish bond**: combines English bond on the backing and Flemish bond on the face, used for thick walls.
So the correct answer is **Double Flemish bond**.
How many types of concrete batching are there
A)
1
B)
2
C)
3
D)
4
Concrete batching is generally classified into 2 types: (1) volume batching and (2) weight batching. Volume batching measures materials by volume, while weight batching measures them by mass and is more accurate. Hence, the correct answer is 2.
The vertical staff intercept is 0.65 m from tacheometer, the horizontal distance between the staff and tacheometer is
A)
0.65 m
B)
6.5 m
C)
65 m
D)
650 m
In tacheometry, for a horizontal line of sight and standard stadia constants, the horizontal distance D is proportional to the staff intercept s. Here, the usual relation gives D = 10 × s. With staff intercept s = 0.65 m, D = 10 × 0.65 = 6.5 m. So the correct option is (b). Options (a), (c), and (d) are respectively too small or too large.
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.
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 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.
In approach areas of runways equipped with instrumental landing facilities any object within 4.5 km distance from runway end shall be considered obstruction if the height is above
A)
20 m
B)
30 m
C)
45 m
D)
55 m
For runways equipped with instrumental landing facilities, obstruction standards are stricter in the approach zone. Within 4.5 km from the runway end, any object is treated as an obstruction if its height exceeds 45 m. Hence, option (c) is correct. The other values (20 m, 30 m, 55 m) do not match the standard obstruction limit for this zone.
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.
Security deposit deducted at 5% from contractor’s bill is
A)
Refunded when the contractor has completed the work
B)
Event refunded before completion of work if good progress is made
C)
Retained till expected life time of structure
D)
Refunded when defect and liability period of six months is over
A security deposit is kept by the department to ensure satisfactory completion and to cover defects during the defect liability period. It is not normally refunded immediately on completion of work. It is released only after the defect liability period is over, provided no defects remain. Hence, option (d) is correct. Options (a) and (b) are incorrect because refund is not made before completion or just on completion. Option (c) is incorrect because the deposit is not retained for the entire life of the structure.
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.
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.
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 the ship is called the draft (or draught). It indicates how deeply the ship is submerged in water.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- Beam: the width of the ship.
- Depth: vertical distance from the top deck to the bottom of the ship.
- Freeboard: vertical distance from the waterline up to the top deck/gunwale.
So, the correct answer is Draft.
Direct load carrying capacity of a brick masonry wall standing freely against when supports RC slab will be
A)
More
B)
Less
C)
Does not change
D)
100%
A brick masonry wall standing freely (without lateral support) has only its own load-carrying capacity. When it supports an RC slab, the slab load adds an eccentric vertical load on the wall, producing additional bending and reducing the wall’s effective direct load-carrying capacity. Hence, compared with a wall standing freely, the direct load-carrying capacity becomes less. The other options are incorrect because the capacity does not increase, remain unchanged, or become 100%.
Enoscope is used to find
A)
Average speed
B)
Space mean speed
C)
Spot speed
D)
Time mean speed
An enoscope is a traffic engineering instrument used to observe the speed of a vehicle at a specific point on a road, i.e., its spot speed. It does not directly measure average speed, space mean speed, or time mean speed. Therefore, the correct answer is spot speed.
The representative fraction 1/2500 means that the scale is 1 cm equal to
A)
0.25 m
B)
2.5 m
C)
25 m
D)
250 m
Representative fraction (RF) = map distance / ground distance = 1/2500. So, 1 cm on the map represents 2500 cm on the ground. Since 100 cm = 1 m, 2500 cm = 25 m? Wait, check carefully: 2500 cm ÷ 100 = 25 m. Therefore the correct conversion is 1 cm = 25 m, not 2.5 m. Hence the correct option is (c).
The distance travelled by a moving vehicle during perception and brake reaction times, is known as
A)
Lag distance
B)
Stopping distance
C)
Sight distance
D)
None of these
The distance covered by a vehicle during the driver's perception time and brake reaction time is called the lag distance. It is the distance travelled before the brakes actually begin to act.
Why not the others?
- Stopping distance includes both lag distance and braking distance.
- Sight distance is the length of road visible ahead to the driver, not a vehicle travel distance.
- None of these is incorrect because lag distance is the correct term.
The most suitable type of equipment for compaction of cohesive soils is
A)
Smooth wheeled rollers
B)
Vibratory rollers
C)
Tampers
D)
Sheep foot rollers
Cohesive soils like clay require a kneading action for effective compaction. Sheep foot rollers provide this kneading effect and are therefore most suitable. Smooth wheeled rollers are better for granular soils, vibratory rollers are mainly used for granular materials, and tampers are generally used for small areas or confined locations.
The estimated time required to perform an activity is known as
A)
Event
B)
Dummy
C)
Duration
D)
Float
In construction management, the estimated time required to complete an activity is called its **duration**. An **event** is a milestone point in the network, a **dummy** is a zero-time artificial activity used in network diagrams, and **float** is the allowable delay in an activity without affecting project completion.
For simple circular curve for 20 m arc length which one is the correct relation
A)
R = 5729.6/D
B)
R = 1718.9/D
C)
R = 1145.9/D
D)
R = 572.9/D
For a simple circular curve, the relation between radius R and degree of curve D depends on the chosen arc length. For the 20 m arc definition,
R = 1145.916 / sin(D/2) approximately, but in the standard surveying approximation used in MCQs, the correct constant form is R = 5729.6 / D when D is in degrees for a 20 m arc. The other constants correspond to different arc lengths or definitions (e.g., 30 m arc or chord-based relations). Hence option (a) is correct.
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.