1000+ Building Construction MCQ for GMAT [Solved]

1. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. Lime mortar with cement in the ratio of in 10 is cheaper and better for outside plaster
B. For very cold or very hot climate, a compact and closed plan should be provided
C. On the sea coast, an exposed and open house is generally preferred
D. All the above
Answer : D

2. During percussion drilling
A. Ground water observations are hindered due to entry of the slurry in the soil below the bottom of the hole
B. Caving or mixing of strata are caused in soft soils or cohesionless soils
C. The soil to a considerable depth below the bottom of the hole gets disturbed
D. All the above
Answer : D

3. Cast iron piles
A. Are suitable for works under sea water
B. Resist shocks or vibrations
C. Are suitable for use as batter piles
D. Are useful for heavy vertical loads
Answer : D

4. The maximum total settlement for raft foundation on clayey soils should be limited to
A. 25 mm
B. 25 to 40 mm
C. 40 to 65 mm
D. 65 to 100 mm
Answer : D

5. In ordinary residential and public buildings, the damp proof course is generally provided at
A. Ground level
B. Plinth level
C. Water table level
D. Midway ground level and water-table level
Answer : B

6. The entrained concrete is used in lining walls and roofs for making
A. Heat insulated
B. Sound insulated
C. Neither (a) nor (b)
D. Both (a) and (b)
Answer : D

7. The additional piles which are driven to increase the capacity of supporting loads on vertical piles, are known
A. Construction piles
B. Raking piles
C. Eccentric piles
D. Sinking piles
Answer : B

8. Rotary drilling
A. Is not suitable for deposits containing very coarse gravel
B. Hinders the ground water observations and permeability test
C. Is not economical for holes of less than 10 cm
D. All the above
Answer : D

9. Pick up the commonly adopted geophysical method in civil engineering from the following:
A. The seismic method
B. Electrical resistivity method
C. Gravitational method
D. Both (a) and (b) of the above
Answer : D

10. Weep holes are provided in retaining and breast walls
A. To drain off the water from the filling
B. To ventilate the stone masonry
C. To add architectural beauty
D. To increase compaction of the earth retained
Answer : A

11. For a wall carrying heavy load on low bearing capacity soil,
A. Lean concrete bed is provided
B. Thick concrete bed is provided
C. Reinforced concrete bed is provided
D. Both (a) and (c) of the above
Answer : D

12. The depth of an arch is the distance between
A. Ground level and springing line
B. Crown and springing line
C. Crown and ground level
D. Intrados and extrados
Answer : D

13. The triangular space formed between the extrados and the horizontal line drawn through the crown of an arch is known as
A. Haunch
B. Spandril
C. Voussoirs
D. Skewbacks
Answer : B

14. Bearing capacity of soils cannot be improved by
A. Draining sub-soil water
B. Ramming crushed stone in soil
C. Driving sand piles
D. Watering surface of soil
Answer : D

15. The depth of concrete bed of the foundation depends upon
A. The projection of the concrete block beyond the footing over it
B. The upward soil pressure
C. The mix of the concrete
D. All the above
Answer : D

16. Grillage foundation
A. Is used to transfer heavy structural loads from steel columns to a soil having low bearing capacity
B. Is light and economical
C. Does not require deep cutting as the required base area with required pressure intensity is obtained at a shallow depth
D. All the above
Answer : D

17. Two columns 50 cm × 50 cm and 60 cm × 60 cm carry 80 tonnes and 120 tonnes of loads respectively. The centre to centre distance between columns is 5.00 metres. The permissible bearing capacity of the soil is 20 t/m². If the footing is not to project more than 25 cm beyond the outside of the smaller column, pick up the correct design parameters of the footing from the following:
A. Distance of C.G. of the loads from the smaller column = 3.00 m
B. The length of the foundation slab = 7.00 m
C. Area of footing slab = 11.00 m2
D. All the above
Answer : D

18. The concrete slump recommended for columns, is
A. 25 to 50 mm
B. 25 to 75 mm
C. 75 to 125 mm
D. 50 to 100 mm
Answer : C

19. The minimum thickness of walls built in cement mortar (1 : 6) for a single storey building, is
A. 10 cm
B. 15 cm
C. 20 cm
D. 25 cm
Answer : C

20. The type of arch generally constructed over a wooden lintel or over a flat arch for the purpose of carrying the load of the wall above is
A. Segmental arch
B. Pointed arch
C. Relieving arch
D. Flat arch
Answer : C

21. Pitched and sloping roofs are suitable for
A. Coastal regions
B. Plain regions
C. Covering large areas
D. All of the above
Answer : A

22. The lower half portion between crown and skew back of the arch, is called
A. Spandril
B. Haunch
C. Springing
D. Soffit
Answer : B

23. While designing a stair, the product of rise and going is approximately kept equal to
A. 350
B. 420
C. 450
D. 500
Answer : B

24. While investigating the site, a thick layer of fairly firm clay over a deep layer of soft clay is encountered. In such a situation, the following type of foundation is useful:
A. Pile formation
B. Raft foundation
C. Grillage foundation
D. None of these
Answer : B

25. Depth or height of the arch is the
A. Perpendicular distance between intrados and extrados
B. Vertical distance between springing line and intrados
C. Perpendicular distance between springing line and extrados
D. None of the above
Answer : A

26. The stone whose crushing strength is maximum, is
A. Granite
B. Chalk
C. Slate
D. Sand stone
Answer : A

27. The pile which supports the load partly by friction and partly by resting on hard stratum, is called
A. Friction pile
B. Bearing pile
C. Friction bearing pile
D. Rough pile
Answer : C

28. The inclined surface of an abutment to receive the arch, is known as
A. Skew back
B. Soffit
C. Spandril
D. Haunch
Answer : A

29. Stud(s) of a common wooden partition
A. Are vertical wooden members
B. Is the upper horizontal wooden member
C. Is the lower horizontal wooden member
D. Are the intermediate horizontal wooden members
Answer : A

30. The foundation in which a cantilever beam is provided to join two footings, is known as
A. Strip footing
B. Strap footing
C. Combined footing
D. Raft footing
Answer : B

31. Engineering news formula for obtaining safe bearing capacity of pile for drop hammer, is,
A. Q = Wh/6 (S + 2.5)
B. Q = Wh/2.5 (S + 6)
C. Q = (W × 6)/h (S + 2.5)
D. Q = (W × 2.5)/6 (S + h)
Answer : A

32. Pick up the correct statement about silt soil from the following:
A. The silt soil has particle size from 0.02 mm to 0.06 mm
B. In organic fine grained silt soil possesses no plasticity
C. The least plastic type normally consists of more or less equidimensional grains of quartz
D. All the above
Answer : D

33. Stability of an existing structure may be disturbed by
A. Rising of water table
B. Vibrations caused by traffic movements
C. Mining in the neighbourhood
D. All the above
Answer : D

34. The minimum width of a stair in residential buildings, is
A. 55 cm
B. 70 cm
C. 85 cm
D. 100 cm
Answer : C

35. Exposed portions of vertical surface at right angles to the door or window frame, are known as
A. Jambs
B. Lintels
C. Reveals
D. Soffits
Answer : C

36. An arch may fail due to
A. Uneven settlement of abutments
B. Sliding of voussoirs
C. Crushing of the material
D. All the above
Answer : D

37. An ordinary concrete may be made water proof by adding
A. Pudlo
B. Impermo
C. Snowcem
D. All of these
Answer : D

38. For plastering the exposed brick walls, the cement sand mortar should be
A. 1 : 2
B. 1 : 3
C. 1 : 4
D. 1 : 6
Answer : C

39. In flat roof of reinforced cement concrete, the recommended angle of slope, is
A. Zero
B. A few degrees
C. 10°
D. 200°
Answer : B

40. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. D.P.C. should be continuous
B. D.P.C. should be of good impervious material
C. D.P.C. may be horizontal or vertical
D. All the above
Answer : D

41. The bond in which headers and stretchers are laid in alternate courses and every stretcher course is started with a three fourth brick bat, is known as
A. English cross bond
B. Dutch bond
C. Monk bond
D. Rat-trap bond
Answer : B

42. For heavy embankments and dams, of height h, the depth of exploration of soil should not be less than
A. h/4
B. 1/2 h
C. h
D. 2 h
Answer : D

43. For constructing a terrazzo floor, Pick up the incorrect statement from the following:
A. A base course is prepared as in cement concrete flooring
B. A 32 mm thick layer of cement concrete (1 : 2 : 4) is laid on the base course and the surface is made smooth by trowelling
C. Glass strips are driven into the layer according to the pattern required
D. After final grinding is over, oxalic acid mixed with water is spread over and rubbed hard with soft material
Answer : B

44. Pick up the incorrect statement from the following:
A. Cement is added to lime mortar to increase its hydraulic properties only
B. Lime surkhi mortar is used for pointing the walls
C. Lime should be slaked before preparing lime mortar
D. High early strength concrete is generally used in cold weather
Answer : A

45. The steel pile which is generally sunk in soft clay or loose sand of low bearing capacity, is
A. H-pile
B. Pipe pile
C. Screw pile
D. Disc pile
Answer : C

46. The maximum total settlement for isolated foundations on clayey soils should be limited to
A. 25 mm
B. 40 mm
C. 65 mm
D. 100 mm
Answer : C

47. Herringbone bond is used for
A. Walls having thickness more than 4 bricks
B. Architectural finish to the face work
C. Ornamental panels in brick flooring
D. All the above
Answer : D

48. Higher pitch of the roof
(i) Results in stronger roof
(ii) Results in weaker roof
(iii) Requires more covering material
(iv) Requires less covering material
The correct answer is
A. (i) and (iii)
B. (i) and (iv)
C. (ii) and (iii)
D. (ii) and (iv)
Answer : A

49. The 9 cm × 9 cm side of a brick as seen in the wall face, is generally known as
A. Stretcher
B. Face
C. Front
D. Header
Answer : D

50. In the construction of arches, sand box method is used for
A. Centring
B. Actual laying of arch work
C. Striking of centring
D. None of the above
Answer : C