1000+ Building Construction MCQ for GRE [Solved]

1. Pile foundations are suitable for
A. Water logged soils
B. Soft rocks
C. Compact soils
D. Multi-storeyed buildings
Answer : A

2. The nominal thickness of one brick wall in mm, is
A. 90 mm
B. 150 mm
C. 190 mm
D. 200 mm
Answer : D

3. 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

4. The brick laid with its length parallel to the face of a wall, is a known as
A. Header
B. Stretcher
C. Closer
D. None of these
Answer : B

5. For providing a raft foundation, the following activities are involved
1. Ramming the foundation bed
2. Excavation of the soil upto required depth
3. Laying the reinforcement over the foundation bed
4. Curing the cement concrete placed over reinforcement
5. Pouring the cement concrete over the reinforcement The correct sequence is
A. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
B. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
C. 2, 1, 3, 5, 4
D. 3, 2, 5, 1, 4
Answer : C

6. Pick up the incorrect statement from the following:
A. The function of foundation is to distribute the load of super structure over a large bearing area
B. No timbering is required for shallow trenches
C. Shallow foundations can be constructed on made-up soil
D. Black cotton soil is very good for foundation bed
Answer : D

7. If (?) is the angle of repose of soil of weight w kg/m3, the horizontal pressure p at a depth of h metres per metre length of wall, is
A. wh × [(1 - sin ?)/(1 + sin ?)]
B. (wh/2) × [(1 - sin ?)/(1 + sin ?)]
C. wh × ?[(1 - sin ?)/(1 + sin ?)]
D. wh × ?[(1 + sin ?)/(1 - sin ?)]
Answer : A

8. The method of moving each brick through a small horizontal distance before it is finally laid in any brick wall and pressing it by means of brick hammer, is known as
A. Trowelling
B. Laying
C. Grouting
D. Placing
Answer : B

9. In soils possessing low bearing capacity, the type of foundation generally provided, is
A. Column footing
B. Grillage footing
C. Raft footing
D. All the above
Answer : D

10. The piece of a brick cut along the centre of width in such a way that its length is equal to that of full brick, is called
A. Half brick
B. Queen closer
C. King closer
D. Bevelled closer
Answer : B

11. The service area in a building means the area occupied by
A. Stairs
B. Toilets
C. Light and shafts
D. All the above
Answer : D

12. Brick nogging type of partition wall, is constructed by
A. Laying bricks as stretchers in cement mortar
B. Laying bricks as headers in cement mortar
C. Reinforcing brick wall with iron straps
D. Constructing brick work within a wooden framework
Answer : D

13. Cavity wall is generally provided for
A. Heat insulation
B. Sound insulation
C. Prevention of dampness
D. All the above
Answer : D

14. 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

15. Dado is usually provided in
A. Dining halls
B. Bath rooms
C. Living rooms
D. Verandah
Answer : B

16. 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

17. If height of the first storey of a building is 3.2 m and riser is 13 cm, the number of treads required, is
A. 12
B. 18
C. 24
D. 25
Answer : C

18. The columns of multi-storeyed buildings are designed to withstand the forces due to
A. Dead loads
B. Live loads
C. Wind loads
D. All of these
Answer : D

19. The pile which supports the load due to friction between pile face and surrounding soil, is generally known as
A. Bearing pile
B. Friction pile
C. Sheet pile
D. Battered pile
Answer : B

20. The type of pointing in which upper side of mortar joints is kept about 12 mm inside the face of the masonry and bottom is kept flushed with face of wall, is
A. Truck pointing
B. Recessed pointing
C. Struck pointing
D. Grooved pointing
Answer : C

21. The line of intersection of the surfaces of a sloping roof forming an external angle exceeding 180°, is
A. Ridge
B. Hip
C. Valley
D. None of these
Answer : B

22. The piece of a brick cut with its one corner equivalent to half the length and half the width of a full brick, is known as
A. Queen closer
B. Bevelled closer
C. King closer
D. Half king closer
Answer : C

23. If the depth of an excavation is 20 metres, number of single stage well points to be installed at various levels, is
A. 5
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2
Answer : C

24. A temporary rigid structure having platforms to enable masons to work at different stages of a building, is known as
A. Scaffolding
B. Dead shore
C. Raking shore
D. Under pinning
Answer : A

25. The maximum permissible deflection of a timber beam supporting a roof, is
A. L/100
B. L/150
C. L/260
D. L/360
Answer : D

26. 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

27. In grillage foundations, distance between flanges of grillage beams, is kept
A. 40 cm
B. Equal to flange width
C. Twice the flange width
D. Maximum of (a), (b) and (c)
Answer : C

28. The maximum bearing capacity of soil is that of
A. Black cotton soil
B. Loose fine sandy soil
C. Dry coarse sandy soil
D. Hard rocks
Answer : D

29. Pick up the incorrect statement from the following:
A. Horizontal D.P.C. is provided at plinth level in internal walls
B. D.P.C. is provided under door and verandah openings
C. Vertical D.P.C. is not provided in internal walls
D. Cement concrete is a rigid damp-proofing material
Answer : B

30. Rotary drilling is the fastest method in case of
A. Rocky soils
B. Clay soils
C. Sandy soil
D. All of these
Answer : D

31. The form Work including the props can be removed from beams, only after
A. 3 day
B. 7 days
C. 14 days
D. 21 days
Answer : C

32. The bearing capacity of granite is generally
A. 5 to 10 kg/cm²
B. 15 to 20 kg/cm²
C. 30 to 35 kg/cm²
D. 40 to 45 kg/cm²
Answer : C

33. 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

34. The bearing capacity of piles is determined by
A. Dynamic formula
B. Static formula
C. Pile load tests
D. All the above
Answer : D

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

36. The form work from the sides of beams can be removed only after
A. 1 day
B. 4 days
C. 7 days
D. 14 days
Answer : A

37. 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

38. Black cotton soil is unsuitable for foundations because its
A. Bearing capacity is low
B. Permeability is uncertain
C. Particles are cohesive
D. Property to undergo a volumetric change due to variation of moisture content
Answer : D

39. The range of spread from the wall base to outer edge of a brick work foundation does not exceed
A. 1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical
B. 2/3 horizontal to 1 vertical
C. 1 horizontal to 1 vertical
D. 2 horizontals to 1 vertical
Answer : C

40. 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

41. 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

42. The ceiling height of a building is
A. Between ceiling and ground level
B. Between ceiling and floor level
C. Upto roof above ground level
D. Upto ceiling from the ground level
Answer : B

43. The type of roof which slopes in two directions with a break in the slope on each side is known as
A. Gable roof
B. Hip roof
C. Gambrel roof
D. Mansard roof
Answer : C

44. The wedge shaped bricks forming an arch ring, are called
A. Soffits
B. Voussoirs
C. Haunches
D. Spandrils
Answer : B

45. 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

46. To support a heavy structure in sandy soil, the type of foundation generally used, is
A. Combined footing
B. Raft footing
C. Pier footing
D. Strap footing
Answer : C

47. The number of steps in a flight generally should not be less than
A. 2
B. 3
C. 5
D. No limit
Answer : B

48. For brick construction, the lime-sand mortar, is
A. 1 : 1
B. 1 : 2
C. 1 : 3
D. 1 : 4
Answer : B

49. The disease of dry rot in timber is caused by
A. Lack of ventilation
B. Alternate wet and dry conditions
C. Complete submergence in water
D. None of the above
Answer : A

50. The vertical faces of a door opening which support frame of the door, are
A. Jambs
B. Posts
C. Reveals
D. Styles
Answer : A