Building Construction 1000+ MCQ with answer for UPSC CDS

1. 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

2. In which of the following directions, the strength of timber is maximum?
A. Parallel to grains
B. 45° to grains
C. Perpendicular to grains
D. Same in all directions
Answer : A

3. Assertion A : Shishum is used for decorative woodwork. Reason R : Shishum can be polished to an excellent finish. Select your answer according to the coding system given below:
A. Both A and R is true and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R is true but R is not the correct explanation of A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Answer : A

4. The vertical sides of a door and window openings provided in a wall, are known as
A. Verticals
B. Reveals
C. Jambs
D. None of these
Answer : C

5. 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

6. 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

7. The black cotton soil
A. Undergoes volumetric changes
B. Swells excessively when wet
C. Shrinks excessively when dry
D. All the above
Answer : D

8. Raft foundation are generally preferred to when the area required for individual footing, is more than
A. 25% to total area
B. 30% of total area
C. 40% to total area
D. 50% of total area
Answer : D

9. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. The cost of square rooms is less
B. The expenditure on the foundation and roof for the double storeyed building is nearly half of that for the ground storeyed building
C. The cost of construction of a house may be minimised by restricting the height floors
D. All the above
Answer : D

10. The process of making the back ground rough, before plastering, is
A. Dubbing
B. Hacking
C. Blistering
D. Peeling
Answer : B

11. 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

12. 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

13. The type of bond in a brick masonry containing alternate courses of stretchers and headers, is called
A. Flemish bond
B. English bond
C. Stretcher bond
D. Header bond
Answer : B

14. 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

15. Mansard roof is a roof which slopes in
A. Two directions without break in the slope on each side
B. Two directions with break in the slope on each side
C. Four directions without break in the slope on each side
D. Four directions with break in the slope on each side
Answer : D

16. The foundation which consists of a thick reinforced cement slab covering whole area to support heavy concentrated structural loads, is known as
A. Combined footing
B. Strap footing
C. Raft footing
D. None of these
Answer : C

17. The line of intersection of two surfaces of a sloping roof forming an internal angle less than 180°, is known as
A. Ridge
B. Hip
C. Valley
D. None of these
Answer : C

18. The skirting/dado in a bath roof should be upto
A. Ceiling
B. 15 cm above floor level
C. 200 cm
D. Level of the tap
Answer : C

19. You are asked to design and supervise a truss for a factory to have spans 6 m to 9 m. The type of the truss you will use, is
A. Mansard truss
B. Queen post truss
C. King post truss
D. Collar truss
Answer : C

20. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. The sand in the sand pile is well compacted
B. The sand is kept moist at the time of placing and tamping
C. Sand piles are generally used under column loads
D. All of the above
Answer : D

21. 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

22. The stone whose crushing strength is least, is
A. Granite
B. Chalk
C. Marble
D. Slate
Answer : B

23. The process of working a flat for the finishing coat, is known
A. Dubbing out
B. Floating
C. Knitting
D. Blistering
Answer : B

24. For the construction of flyovers in sandy soils, the type of foundation provided, is
A. Strap footing
B. Raft footing
C. Combined footing
D. Pier footing
Answer : D

25. 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

26. 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

27. Number of vertical joints in a stretcher course is x times the number of joints in the header course, where x is equal to
A. 1/2
B. 1
C. 2
D. 1/4
Answer : A

28. In a colar beam roof
A. There is no horizontal tie beam
B. There is a horizontal tie at the feet of rafters only
C. There is a horizontal tie at almost the middle of rafters only
D. There are two horizontal ties, one at the feet and other at the middle of the rafters
Answer : C

29. The minimum depth of foundation in clayey soils is
A. 0.5 m
B. 0.7 m
C. 0.9 m
D. 1.2 m
Answer : C

30. 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

31. The predominant constituent which is responsible for strength in granite is
A. Quartz
B. Felspar
C. Mica
D. None of the above
Answer : A

32. 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

33. The Auger borings are not common
A. In soils that require lateral support
B. In cohesive soils
C. In soft soils
D. None of the above
Answer : A

34. The type of footing which is used to transmit heavy loads through steel columns is
A. Raft foundation
B. Grillage foundation
C. Well foundation
D. Isolated footing
Answer : B

35. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. The first coat of stucco plaster is called scratch coat
B. The second coat of stucco plaster is called brown coat
C. The third coat of stucco plaster is called white coat
D. All the above
Answer : D

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

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

38. Pick up the incorrect statement from the following:
A. The retaining wall should be structurally capable to resist the applied earth pressure
B. The section of the retaining wall should be so proportioned that it may not overturn by the lateral pressure
C. The retaining wall should be safe against sliding
D. To drain off water from the earth retained, weep holes are provided near the top of the retaining wall
Answer : D

39. In the method of tube boring of soil investigation, the following is essential:
A. A tube of about 2 metres length and 20 cm diameter with a cutting edge
B. A flap valve at the bottom of tube is provided to extract the soil sample
C. The tube is raised and lowered by 4 thick rope moving over a pulley suspended on a tripod stand
D. All the above
Answer : D

40. Which one of the following factors is considered for the orientation of buildings?
A. The direction of the prevailing winds in the area
B. The exposure of the walls and roof of the buildings to the rays of sun
C. The extent up to which the sunrays penetrate with the verandah
D. All the above
Answer : D

41. 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

42. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. Isolated footing is provided under column to transfer the load safely to soil bed
B. Column footings may have steps or projections in the concrete base
C. Heavily loaded column base must be provided steel reinforcement in both directions
D. All the above
Answer : D

43. In case of Raymond pile
A. Lengths vary from 6 m to 12 m
B. Diameter of top of piles varies from 40 cm to 60 cm
C. Diameter of pile at bottom varies from 20 cm to 28 cm
D. All the above
Answer : D

44. A floor constructed with 3 mm marble chips, is known
A. Mosaic floor
B. Terrazzo floor
C. Chips floor
D. Marble floor
Answer : B

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

46. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. Cavity of a cavity wall should start near ground level
B. Cavity of a cavity wall should terminate near eaves level of sloping roof
C. Cavity of a cavity wall should terminate near coping of flat roof with parapet wall
D. All the above
Answer : D

47. 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

48. The platform at the end of a series of steps, is known as
A. Platform
B. Relief
C. Rest
D. Landing
Answer : D

49. 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

50. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. The roof slabs of multi-storeyed buildings are constructed monolithically to carry the various floor loads
B. The beams of multi-storeyed buildings rest on girders and are the main load transferring members to the columns
C. The slab is spanned across the secondary beams provided between the main beams
D. All of these
Answer : D