Explore topic-wise MCQs in Surveying.

This section includes 372 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Surveying knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

251.

If the plasticity index of a soil mass is zero, the soil is

A. sand
B. silt
C. clay
D. clayey silt
Answer» B. silt
252.

Stoke’s law is valid only if the size of particle is

A. less than 0.0002 mm
B. greater than 0.2 mm
C. between 0.2 mm and 0.0002 mm
D. all of the above
Answer» D. all of the above
253.

Relative density of a compacted dense sand is approximately equal to

A. 0.4
B. 0.6
C. 0.95
D. 1.20
Answer» D. 1.20
254.

Effective stress on soil

A. Increases voids ratio and decreases permeability
B. Increases both voids ratio and permeability
C. Decreases both voids ratio and permeability
D. Decreases voids ratio and increases permeability
Answer» D. Decreases voids ratio and increases permeability
255.

A pycnometer is used to determine

A. water content and voids ratio
B. specific gravity and dry density
C. water content and specific gravity
D. voids ratio and dry density
Answer» D. voids ratio and dry density
256.

The water content of soil, which represents the boundary between plastic state and liquid state, is known as

A. liquid limit
B. plastic limit
C. shrinkage limit
D. plasticity index
Answer» B. plastic limit
257.

Bishop’s method of stability analysis

A. is more conservative
B. neglects the effect of forces acting on the sides of the slices
C. assumes the slip surface as an arc of a circle
D. all of the above
Answer» D. all of the above
258.

Constant head permeameter is used to test permeability of

A. silt
B. clay
C. coarse sand
D. fine sand
Answer» D. fine sand
259.

Total number of stress components at a point within a soil mass loaded at its boundary is

A. 3
B. 6
C. 9
D. 16
Answer» D. 16
260.

If the water table rises upto ground surface, then the

A. effective stress is reduced due to decrease in total stress only but pore water pressure does not change
B. effective stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but total stress does not change
C. total stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effective stress does not change
D. total stress is increased due to decrease in pore water pressure but effective stress does not change
Answer» C. total stress is reduced due to increase in pore water pressure only but effective stress does not change
261.

The shear strength of a soil

A. Is directly proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil
B. Is inversely proportional to the angle of internal friction of the soil
C. Decreases with increase in normal stress
D. Decreases with decrease in normal stress
Answer» E.
262.

Allowable bearing pressure for a foundation depends upon

A. allowable settlement only
B. ultimate bearing capacity of soil only
C. both allowable settlement and ultimate bearing capacity
D. none of above
Answer» D. none of above
263.

If the shearing stress is zero on two planes, then the angle between the two planes is

A. 45°
B. 90°
C. 135°
D. 225°
Answer» C. 135°
264.

If a cohesive soil specimen is subjected to a vertical compressive load, the inclination of the cracks to the horizontal is

A. 90°
B. 45°
C. 22.5°
D.
Answer» C. 22.5°
265.

Which of the following types of soil is transported by gravitational forces ?

A. loess
B. talus
C. drift
D. dune sand
Answer» C. drift
266.

In the triaxial compression test, the application of additional axial stress (i.e. deviator stress) on the soil specimen produces shear stress on

A. horizontal plane only
B. vertical plane only
C. both horizontal and vertical planes
D. all planes except horizontal and vertical planes
Answer» E.
267.

In hydrometer analysis for a soil mass

A. both meniscus correction and dispersing agent correction are additive
B. both meniscus correction and dispersing agent correction are subtractive
C. meniscus correction is additive and dispersing agent correction is subtractive
D. meniscus correction is subtractive and dispersing agent correction is additive
Answer» D. meniscus correction is subtractive and dispersing agent correction is additive
268.

The coefficient of active earth pressure for a loose sand having an angle of internal friction of 30° is

A. 1/3
B. 3
C. 1
D. 1/2
Answer» B. 3
269.

The major principal stress in an element of cohesion-less soil within the backfill of a retaining wall is

A. Vertical if the soil is in an active state of plastic equilibrium
B. Vertical if the soil is in a passive state of plastic equilibrium
C. Inclined at 45° to the vertical plane
D. None of the above
Answer» B. Vertical if the soil is in a passive state of plastic equilibrium
270.

The ultimate consolidation settlement of a structure resting on a soil

A. Decreases with the increase in the initial voids ratio
B. Decreases with the decrease in the plastic limit
C. Increases with the increase in the initial voids ratio
D. Increases with the decrease in the porosity of the soil
Answer» B. Decreases with the decrease in the plastic limit
271.

Coarse grained soils are best compacted by a

A. drum roller
B. rubber tyred roller
C. sheep’s foot roller
D. vibratory roller
Answer» E.
272.

Highway Research Board (HRB) classification of soils is based on

A. particle size composition
B. plasticity characteristics
C. both particle size composition and plasticity characteristics
D. none of the above
Answer» D. none of the above
273.

If the voids of a soil mass are full of air only, the soil is termed as

A. air entrained soil
B. partially saturated soil
C. dry soil
D. dehydrated soil
Answer» D. dehydrated soil
274.

According to IS classification, the range of silt size particles is

A. 4.75 mm to 2.00 mm
B. 2.00 mm to 0.425 mm
C. 0.425 mm to 0.075 mm
D. 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm
Answer» E.
275.

Skempton’s pore pressure coefficient B for saturated soil is

A. 1
B. zero
C. between 0 and 1
D. greater than 1 [CS 95]
Answer» B. zero
276.

Inorganic soils with low compressibility are represented by

A. MH
B. SL
C. ML
D. CH
Answer» D. CH
277.

During the first stage of triaxial test when the cell pressure is increased from 0.10 N/mm² to 0.26 N/mm², the pore water pressure increases from 0.07 N/mm² to 0.15 “N/mm². Skempton’s pore pressure parameter B is

A. 0.5
B. -0.5
C. 2.0
D. -2.0
Answer» B. -0.5
278.

Hydrometer readings are corrected for:

A. Temperature correction
B. Meniscus correction
C. Dispersing agent correction
D. Temperature, meniscus and dispersing agent corrections
Answer» E.
279.

When the degree of saturation is zero, the soil mass under consideration represents

A. one phase system
B. two phase system with soil and air
C. two phase system with soil and water
D. three phase system
Answer» C. two phase system with soil and water
280.

The slope of isochrone at any point at a given time indicates the rate of change of

A. effective stress with time
B. effective stress with depth
C. pore water pressure with depth
D. pore water pressure with time
Answer» D. pore water pressure with time
281.

If the natural water content of soil mass lies between its liquid limit and plastic limit, the soil mass is said to be in

A. liquid state
B. plastic state
C. semi-solid state
D. solid state
Answer» C. semi-solid state
282.

Valid range for S, the degree of saturation of soil in percentage is

A. S > 0
B. S < 0
C. 0 < S < 100
D. 0 ≤ S ≤ 100
Answer» E.
283.

Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factors Nc, Nq and Nr are functions of

A. cohesion only
B. angle of internal friction only
C. both cohesion and angle of internal friction
D. none of the above
Answer» C. both cohesion and angle of internal friction
284.

Rise of water table in cohesionless soils upto ground surface reduces the net ultimate bearing capacity approximately by

A. 25%
B. 50%
C. 75%
D. 90%
Answer» C. 75%
285.

Within the consolidation process of a saturated clay

A. a gradual increase in neutral pressure and a gradual decrease in effective pressure takes place and sum of the two is constant
B. a gradual decrease in neutral pressure and a gradual increase in effective pressure takes place and sum of the two is constant
C. both neutral pressure and effective pressure decrease
D. both neutral pressure and effective pressure increase
Answer» C. both neutral pressure and effective pressure decrease
286.

Time factor for a clay layer is

A. a dimensional parameter
B. directly proportional to permeability of soil
C. inversely proportional to drainage path
D. independent of thickness of clay layer
Answer» C. inversely proportional to drainage path
287.

Quick sand is a

A. type of sand
B. flow condition occurring in cohesive soils
C. flow condition occurring in cohesionless soils
D. flow condition occurring in both cohesive and cohesionless soils
Answer» D. flow condition occurring in both cohesive and cohesionless soils
288.

A plane inclined at an angle ‘φ’ to the horizontal at which the soil is expected to stay in the absence of any lateral support, is known as

A. Natural slope line
B. Repose line
C. The φ line
D. All the above
Answer» E.
289.

Coefficient of consolidation for clays normally

A. decreases with increase in liquid limit
B. increases with increase in liquid limit
C. first increases and then decreases with increase in liquid limit
D. remains constant at all liquid limits
Answer» B. increases with increase in liquid limit
290.

Coefficient of compressibility is

A. constant for any type of soil
B. different for different types of soils and also different for a soil under different states of consolidation
C. different for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation
D. independent of type of soil but depends on the stress history of soil
Answer» C. different for different types of soils but same for a soil under different states of consolidation
291.

Terzaghi’s theory of one dimensional consolidation assumes

A. Soil is homogeneous and fully saturated
B. Water and soil particles are incompressible
C. Deformation of the soil, is entirely due to change in volume
D. All the above
Answer» E.
292.

A fully saturated soil is said to be

A. one phase system
B. two phase system with soil and air
C. two phase system with soil and water
D. three phase system
Answer» D. three phase system
293.

Compressibility of sandy soils is

A. almost equal to that of clayey soils
B. much greater than that of clayey soils
C. much less than that of clayey soils
D. none of the above
Answer» D. none of the above
294.

Water content of soil can

A. never be greater than 100 %
B. take values only from 0 % to 100 %
C. be less than 0 %
D. be greater than 100 %
Answer» E.
295.

If the degree of saturation of a partially saturated soil is 60%, then air content of the soil is

A. 40%
B. 60%
C. 80%
D. 100%
Answer» B. 60%
296.

Shear strength of a soil is a unique function of

A. effective stress only
B. total stress only
C. both effective stress and total stress
D. none of the above
Answer» B. total stress only
297.

Rise of water table above the ground surface causes

A. Equal increase in pore water pressure and total stress
B. Equal decrease in pore water pressure and total stress
C. Increase in pore water pressure but decrease in total stress
D. Decrease in pore water pressure but increase in total stress
Answer» B. Equal decrease in pore water pressure and total stress
298.

The hydrometer method of sedimentation analysis differs from the pipette analysis mainly in

A. the principle of test
B. the method of taking observations
C. the method of preparation of soil suspension
D. all of the above
Answer» C. the method of preparation of soil suspension
299.

The effect of cohesion on a soil is to

A. reduce both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity
B. increase both the active earth pressure intensity and passive earth pressure intensity
C. reduce the active earth pressure in-tensity but to increase the passive earth pressure intensity
D. increase the active earth pressure in-tensity but to reduce the passive earth pressure intensity [GATE 99]
Answer» D. increase the active earth pressure in-tensity but to reduce the passive earth pressure intensity [GATE 99]
300.

In a consolidated drained test on a normally consolidated clay, the volume of the soil sample during shear

A. decreases
B. increases
C. remains unchanged
D. first increases and then decreases
Answer» B. increases