Building Materials 1000+ MCQ with answer for UPSC CSE

1. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. The low voltage porcelain is prepared by wet process
B. The high voltage porcelain is prepared by dry process
C. The low voltage porcelain is prepared by dry process
D. None of the above
Answer : C

2. Sandstone is a (i) Sedimentary rock (ii) Aqueous rock (iii) Siliceous rock The correct answer is
A. Only (i)
B. Both (i) and (ii)
C. Both (i) and (iii)
D. All (i), (ii) and (iii)
Answer : D

3. Commonly used thinner in
A. Lacquer paints, is alcohol
B. Cellulose paints is ethyl acetate
C. Oil paints, is naphtha
D. All the above
Answer : D

4. Plastics are compounds of carbon with element
A. Hydrogen
B. Nitrogen
C. Oxygen
D. All of these
Answer : D

5. Sewer pipes are made of
A. Earthen ware
B. Stone ware
C. Refractory clay
D. All the above
Answer : B

6. Priming consists of
A. One part of white lead, 8 parts of chalk and four parts of twice boiled linseed oil
B. 8 parts of white lead, one part of chalk and four parts of twice boiled linseed oil
C. One part of white lead, 8 parts of chalk and one part of linseed oil
D. None to these
Answer : A

7. Assertion A : Normally turpentine oil is recommended as thinner for indoor painting. Reason R : Turpentine oil is costlier than other thinners. 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 : B

8. Linseed oil is used in paints as
A. Thinner
B. Vehicle
C. Base
D. Drier
Answer : D

9. Which one of the following is used for preparing porcelain?
A. Clay
B. Feldspar
C. Quartz
D. All of these
Answer : D

10. French polish is
A. Oil paint
B. Distemper
C. Spirit varnish
D. None to these
Answer : C

11. Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. The distinct plane of division along which a stone can easily be split, is called natural bed of stone
B. The natural bed of sedimentary rocks is along the planes of stratification
C. The natural bed of igneous rocks is not defined
D. All the above
Answer : D

12. Sapwood consists of
A. Innermost annular rings around the pith
B. Portion of timber between heartwood and cambium layer
C. Thin layers below the bark
D. Thin fibre which extends from the pith outwards and holds the annular rings together
Answer : B

13. The rocks in which argil (or clay) predominates, are called
A. Siliceous rocks
B. Argillaceous rocks
C. Calcareous rocks
D. Igneous rocks
Answer : B

14. First class timber has an average life of
A. Less than one year
B. 1 to 5 years
C. 5 to 10 years
D. More than 10 years
Answer : D

15. The most common admixture which is used to accelerate the initial set of concrete is
A. Gypsum
B. Calcium chloride
C. Calcium carbonate
D. None of the above
Answer : B

16. Specific gravity for most of the building stones lies between
A. 1.5 to 2.0
B. 2.0 to 2.5
C. 2.5 to 3.0
D. 3.0 to 3.5
Answer : C

17. Refractory bricks are used for
A. Retaining walls
B. Columns
C. Piers
D. Combustion chambers
Answer : D

18. Age of a tree may be ascertained by
A. Radius of its stem
B. Circumference of its stem
C. Number of branches
D. Number of annual rings
Answer : D

19. A badly mixed cement concrete results in
A. Segregation
B. Bleeding
C. Honey combing
D. None of these
Answer : C

20. Dorry's testing machine is used for
A. Crushing test of stone
B. Hardness test of stone
C. Impact test of stone
D. Water absorption test
Answer : B

21. In a mortar, the binding material is
A. Cement
B. Sand
C. Surkhi
D. Cinder
Answer : A

22. If the ore impurities is
A. Clay, lime stone is used as flux
B. Lime stone, clay is used as flux
C. Quartz, lime stone and argillaceous iron ores are used as flux
D. All the above
Answer : D

23. Depending on the chemical composition and mechanical properties, iron may be classified as
A. Cast iron
B. Wrought iron
C. Steel
D. All the above
Answer : D

24. The weight of 1 m³ of brick earth, is about
A. 1200 kg
B. 1500 kg
C. 1800 kg
D. 2000 kg
Answer : C

25. The steel used for rails under heavy traffic and on sharp curves, is
A. Nickel steel
B. Chrome steel
C. Manganese steel
D. Vanadium steel
Answer : C

26. In stone masonry, stones (stratified rocks) are so placed that the direction of pressure to the plane of bedding is
A. Right angles
B. 45°
C. 60°
D. Parallel
Answer : A

27. Jumper is a tool used for
A. Testing of stones
B. Quarrying of stones
C. Dressing of stones
D. None of the above
Answer : B

28. Quick lime (or caustic lime)
A. Is obtained by the calcination of pure lime stone
B. Has great affinity to moisture
C. Is amorphous
D. All the above
Answer : D

29. The type of steel used for precision levelling staff, is
A. Titanium steel
B. Carbon steel
C. Invar
D. Stainless steel
Answer : C

30. Varnish is a transparent or semi-transparent solution of resinous substances in
A. Alcohol
B. Linseed
C. Turpentine
D. All the above
Answer : D

31. If the iron ore contains clay as an impurity, the flux added during calcination, is
A. Clay
B. Lime stone
C. Argillaceous iron ore
D. All the above
Answer : B

32. Inner part of a timber log surrounding the pitch, is called
A. Sapwood
B. Cambium layer
C. Heart wood
D. None to these
Answer : C

33. Plaster of Paris is obtained by calcining
A. Bauxite
B. Gypsum
C. Lime stone
D. None of these
Answer : B

34. The commonly used drying oil for oil paints, is
A. Olive oil
B. Linseed oil
C. Kerosene oil
D. Acetate of lead
Answer : D

35. Knots in timber are
A. Defects caused by crushing fibres
B. Splits radiating from the centre
C. Speckled strains
D. Signs of branches cut off
Answer : D

36. The steel which contains fissures and cavities, is manufactured by
A. Cementation process
B. Crucible process
C. Bessemer process
D. Open hearth process
Answer : A

37. The sequence of refractory materials according to increasing melting points is:
A. Dolomite, Magnesia, Bauxite, Chromites
B. Bauxite, Chromites, Dolomite, Magnesia
C. Magnesia, Bauxite, Dolomite, Chromites
D. None of these
Answer : B

38. Which of the following has more fire resisting characteristics?
A. Marble
B. Lime stone
C. Compact sand stone
D. Granite
Answer : C

39. The property by virtue of which lime sets under water, is known as
A. Slacking
B. Setting
C. Hydraulicity
D. Calcining
Answer : C

40. A heavy stone is suitable for
A. Arches
B. Rubble masonry
C. Roads
D. Retaining walls
Answer : D

41. Compared to mild steel, cast iron has (i) High compressive strength (ii) High tensile strength (iii) Low compressive strength (iv) Low tensile strength The correct answer is
A. (i) and (ii)
B. (ii) and (iii)
C. (iii) and (iv)
D. (i) and (iv)
Answer : D

42. Wrought iron is used for
A. Structural works in beams
B. Small sized water pipes
C. Columns and struts
D. None to these
Answer : B

43. Good quality cement contains higher percentage of
A. Tri-calcium silicate
B. Di-calcium silicate
C. Tri-calcium aluminate
D. Tetra calcium alumino ferrite
Answer : A

44. The commonly used raw material in the manufacture of cement, is
A. Slate
B. Sand stone
C. Lime stone
D. Basalt
Answer : C

45. The colour of statuary marble used for sculptor's work, is
A. Red
B. Blue
C. White
D. Green
Answer : C

46. The lime which contains high percentage of calcium oxide, is generally called
A. Fat lime
B. Rich lime
C. White lime
D. None of these
Answer : D

47. The yield strength and tensile strength of low carbon steel may be improved by the addition of
A. Manganese
B. Chromium
C. Nickel
D. Vanadium
Answer : D

48. A ferrous metal is
A. Cast iron
B. Wrought iron
C. Steel
D. All the above
Answer : D

49. Geologically, marble is known as
A. Sedimentary rock
B. Igneous rock
C. Metamorphic rock
D. Stratified rock
Answer : C

50. The normal curing period for lime mortar, is:
A. 1 day
B. 3 days
C. 7 days
D. 10 days
Answer : C