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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. | 0° |
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 | |