← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
Which of the following is not an excavating and moving type equipment
A)
Bulldozer
B)
Clam shell
C)
Scrapper
D)
Dump truck
Bulldozer, clamshell, and scraper are all used for excavating and/or moving earth materials. A dump truck is mainly a hauling vehicle used to transport material after it has been excavated, so it is not classified as excavating and moving equipment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
In big construction work to raise and shift heavy loads from one place to another, we use
A)
Conveyor
B)
Cranes
C)
Truck
D)
Dump truck
For big construction works, heavy loads are lifted and shifted from one place to another using cranes. A conveyor is used for continuous material transport, while trucks and dump trucks are mainly used for hauling materials, not lifting heavy loads vertically or moving them precisely at height.
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.
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.
Terzaghi’s theory of one dimensional consolidation assumes
A)
Soil is homogenous and fully saturated
B)
Deformation of the soil is entirely due to change in volume
C)
Water and soil particles are incompressible
D)
All the above
Terzaghi’s one-dimensional consolidation theory is based on the assumptions that the soil is homogeneous and fully saturated, the deformation occurs only due to reduction in volume, and both soil particles and pore water are incompressible. Since all three statements are correct, the correct option is (d) All the above.
The item of steel work which is measured in sq.m, is
A)
Collapsible gates
B)
Rolling shutters
C)
Ventilators and glazing
D)
All of these
In estimation and costing, steel work is measured differently depending on the item. Collapsible gates, rolling shutters, and ventilators with glazing are all measured in square metres (sq.m) because their quantity depends on the area covered. Therefore, the correct answer is 'All of these'.
Rankine’s theory of earth pressure assumes that back of the wall is
A)
Plane and smooth
B)
Plane and rough
C)
Vertical and smooth
D)
Vertical and rough
Rankine’s theory assumes that the back of the retaining wall is **vertical or plane and smooth**, so there is no wall friction between soil and wall. This simplifies the earth pressure analysis. Hence, among the given options, **plane and smooth** is the correct choice. The rough options are incorrect because Rankine’s theory neglects wall friction.
The principle of “working from whole to part” is used in surveying because
A)
Plotting becomes easy
B)
Surveying work is faster
C)
Accumulation of errors prevented
D)
All of these
In surveying, the principle of "working from whole to part" means first establishing a control framework over the entire area and then filling in details within it. This prevents small errors from spreading and accumulating over the whole survey. Hence, the main reason is to prevent accumulation of errors. Plotting becoming easy or work becoming faster may be indirect benefits, but they are not the principle’s primary purpose.
The sample of the soil has the following properties, find the Consistency index: Liquid limit = 45%, Plastic limit = 25%, Shrinkage limit = 17%, Natural moisture content = 30%
A)
15/20
B)
13/20
C)
8/20
D)
5/20
Consistency index, Ic = (Liquid limit - Natural moisture content) / (Liquid limit - Plastic limit). Here, Ic = (45 - 30) / (45 - 25) = 15 / 20 = 0.75. Since the options are given as fractions over 20, the corresponding value is 15/20. However, if the question intended liquidity index or used a different soil consistency relation, the only mathematically correct consistency index from the given data is 15/20. Therefore, among the options, the correct choice is (a) 15/20.
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.
The minimum width of a septic tank is taken as
A)
70 cm
B)
75 cm
C)
80 cm
D)
90 cm
For septic tank design, the minimum internal width is generally taken as 75 cm to allow proper sedimentation and maintenance access. Widths below this are not considered adequate. Hence, 75 cm is the correct answer.
For water bound macadam roads in heavy rainfall areas, the recommended camber value is
A)
1 in 20
B)
1 in 25
C)
1 in 30
D)
1 in 36
For water bound macadam (WBM) roads in heavy rainfall areas, a steeper camber is provided to facilitate quick drainage of rainwater. The recommended camber is 1 in 20. The other options are flatter cambers and are generally used where rainfall is less intense or for more paved surfaces.
Creep in rails is
A)
Longitudinal movement of rail
B)
Lateral movement of rail
C)
Vertical movement of rail
D)
Difference in level of two rails
Creep in rails means the gradual longitudinal movement of a rail along the direction of the track due to repeated passage of trains, braking, acceleration, and temperature effects. It is not lateral movement, vertical movement, or difference in level between two rails. Hence, option (a) is correct.
Drift method of tunneling is used to construct tunnels in
A)
Soft ground
B)
Rocks
C)
Broken ground
D)
Self supporting ground
The drift method is used for tunneling in soft ground where full-face excavation is not safe. In this method, a small pilot tunnel (drift) is first driven and then enlarged in stages, giving temporary support to the surrounding soil. It is not suitable for hard rock or self-supporting ground, where other methods like full-face excavation are preferred. Broken ground may require different special support methods, but the standard answer for drift method is soft ground.
Toughness index is defined as the ratio of
A)
Plasticity index to consistency index
B)
Plasticity index to flow index
C)
Liquidity index to flow index
D)
Consistency index to liquidity index
In soil mechanics, the toughness index is defined as the ratio of the plasticity index (PI) to the flow index (If): Toughness index = PI / If. The plasticity index measures the range of water content over which soil remains plastic, while the flow index indicates the rate of change in water content with resistance. Hence option (b) is correct. The other options mix up toughness index with consistency index or liquidity index, which are different Atterberg indices.
For masonry work with solid bricks, consistency of mortar should be
A)
3 – 5 cm
B)
5 – 8 cm
C)
9 – 13 cm
D)
13 – 18 cm
For masonry work with solid bricks, the mortar should have a plastic, workable consistency so it can spread properly in the joints and ensure good bonding. The standard consistency range used for such brick masonry is about 9–13 cm. Options (a) and (b) are too stiff/dry for proper brick laying, while (d) is too fluid and would reduce bond and strength.