Building Materials MCQ Questions and Answers in Civil Engineering

Question. A limestone is called found in seams of great thickness in non-crystalline texture with earthy appearance is called ?
a) granular limestone
b) compact limestone
c) magnesium limestone
d) kankar

Answer : B

Question. Which of the following statement is wrong ?
a) The pan tiles are similar to pot tiles, but are less curved
b) The pan tiles are comparatively heavier, stronger and durable than curved tiles
c) The fire bricks are generally used for lining kilns
d) none of the above

Answer : D

Question. The main constituent of a Portland cement is ?
a) lime
b) alumina
c) iron oxide
d) alkalies

Answer : A

Question. The expansion in Portland cement can be tested by ?
a) fineness test
b) soundness test
c) setting time test
d) normal consistency test

Answer : B

Question.The best primer used for structural steel work is ?
a) white lead
b) red lead
c) zinc oxide
d) iron oxide

Answer : B

Question.The good clay for making bricks is ?
a) unweathered clay
b) weathered cla
c) silted soil
d) black cotton soil

Answer : B

Question. Granite is an example of ?
a) aqueous rocks
b) sedimentary rocks
c) metamorphic rocks
d) igneous rocks

Answer : D

Question. Jhama bricks are ?
a) well burnt having smooth and even surface
b) slightly over burnt having rough surface
c) under burnt and can be easily broken
d) over burnt with irregular shape

Answer : D

Question. The fineness of cement is tested by ?
a) air-permeability method
b) Le-chatelier method
c) Vicat's apparatus
d) all of these

Answer : A

Question. The liquid medium used in oil paints is ?
a) thinner
b) alcohol
c) linseed oil
d) turpentine

Answer : C

Question. The dry process of mixing is usually employed in the manufacture of Portland cement when the raw material is ?
a) blast furnace slag
b) chalk
c) clay
d) all of these

Answer : A

Question. The rapid hardening Portland cement is obtained by ?
a) grinding the clinker to a high degree of fineness
b) adding calcium sulphate to the mixture
c) adding gypsum after grinding
d) burning the mixture at a lower temperature

Answer : A

Question. The rapid hardening Portland cement has a ?
a) lower heat of hydration
b) higher heat of hydration
c) lower shrinkage coefficient
d) higher shrinkage coefficient and higher heat of hydration

Answer : D

Question. The attrition test on stones is performed ?
a) to determine the crushing strength of the stone
b) for assessing the resistance of stone to the sun, rain, wind etc
c) to ascertain the stability of the stone when exposed to acid fumes
d) for determining the rate of wear of stone due to grinding action under traffic

Answer : D

Question. Poor or lean lime ?
a) slakes rapidly with considerable evolution of heat
b) takes very long time to develop adequate strength
c) has high plasticity
d) none of the above

Answer : D

Question. Marble is an example of ?
a) aqueous rock
b) metamorphic rock
c) sedimentary rock
d) igneous rock

Answer : B

Question. The advantage of adding pozzolana (or surkhi) to lime is to ?
a) reduce shrinkage
b) increase resistance to cracking
c) increase resistance to chemical attack
d) all of these

Answer : D

Question. The workability of cement concrete can be improved by ?
a) increasing the quantity of cement
b) increasing the proportion of coarse aggregate
c) increasing the quantity of sand
d) all of the above

Answer : A

Question. The solvent used in cement paints ?
a) thinner
b) turpentine
c) water
d) spirit

Answer : C

Question. The percentage of silica in a good brick clay should vary from ?
a) 20 to 30%
b) 30 to 40%
c) 40 to 50%
d) 50 to 60%

Answer : D

Question. The constituent in lime which retard the slaking action and increase the rapidity of setting, ?
a) silica
b) sulphate
c) alumina
d) alkalies

Answer : B

Question. A good building stone is one which does not absorb more than .................of its weight of later after one day's immersion ?
a) 25%
b) 15%
c) 5%
d) 10%

Answer : C

Question. The average out-turn of first class bricks in kiln burning is ?
a) 80 to 90%
b) 50 to 60%
c) 70 to 80%
d) 60 to 70%

Answer : A

Question. Enamel paint is made by adding ?
a) white lead in lacquer
b) white lead in varnish
c) bitumen in varnish
d) zinc white in spirit A

Answer : B

Question. For R.C.C. construction, the maximum size of coarse aggregate is limited to ?
a) 25 mm
b) 20 mm
c) 10 mm
d) 15 mm

Answer : A

Question. The pigment in paints is mixed to give desired ?
a) durability
b) appearance
c) colour
d) smoothness

Answer : A

Question. The time required for air seasoning of soft wood is ?
a) 60 to 90 days
b) 15 to 30 days
c) 90 to 120 days
d) 30 to 60 days

Answer : A

Question. The liquid medium used in enamel paints is ?
a) varnish
b) thinner
c) alcohol
d) turpentine

Answer : A

Question. The thinner used for oil paints is ?
a) carbon tetrachloride
b) water
c) any one of these
d) turpentine

Answer : D

Question. Consolidation of concrete should proceed ?
a) immediately after mixing
b) immediately after placing
c) before placing
d) before mixing

Answer : B

Question. The moisture content in timber for framework should not exceed ?
a) 15%
b) 5%
c) 20%
d) 10%

Answer : A

Question. The metallic oxide used in the form of powder in a paint is called ?
a) extender
b) base
c) vehicle
d) drier

Answer : B

Question. Rich or fat lime ?
a) slakes rapidly with considerable evolution of heat
b) takes very long time to develop adequate strength
c) has high plasticity
d) all of these

Answer : D

Question. The base material for distemper is ?
a) chalk
b) lime
c) clay
d) lime putty

Answer : A

Question.The paint which has high reflective property is ?
a) cellulose paint
b) casein paint
c) bronze paint
d) enamel paint

Answer : C

Question. Which of the following statement is correct ?
a) The fat lime swells two to three times of its original volume during slaking
b) The poor lime is of pure white colour
c) The feebly hydraulic lime slakes sluggishly
d) all of the above

Answer : A

Question. The vehicle used in bronze paints is usually ?
a) linseed oil
b) naptha
c) water
d) nitro-cellulose lacquer

Answer : D

Question. The expansion of Portland cement is caused by ?
a) free lime
b) magnesia
c) silica
d) both (b) and (c)

Answer : D

Question. Spirit varnish consists of ?
a) spirit and wax
b) spirit and shellac
c) turpentine, spirit and wax
d) turpentine, spirit and shellac

Answer : B

Question. The fuel generally used for burning limestone is ?
a) coal
b) charcoal
c) firewood
d) any one of these

Answer : D

Question. Gypsum is added in the manufacture of Portland cement in order to ?
a) shorten the setting time of cement
b) length setting time of cement
c) decrease the burning temperature
d) decrease the grinding time

Answer : C

Question. The commonly used extender in a paint is ?
a) barium sulphate
b) gypsum
c) alcohol
d) any one of these

Answer : D

Question. Laterite is chemically classified as ?
a) calcareous rock
b) argillaceous rock
c) silicious rock
d) metamorphic rock

Answer : B

Question. Le-chatelier method is used to determine ?
a) initial setting of cement
b) fineness of cement
c) soundness of cement
d) normal consistency of cement

Answer : C

Question. For railway ballast, the stone should be ?
a) soft with a uniform texture
b) hard, heavy, strong and durable
c) hard, tough, resistant to abrasion and durable
d) hard, dense, durable, tough and easily workable

Answer : D

Question. Gneiss is chemically classified as ?
a) calcareous rock
b) silicious rock
c) argillaceous rock
d) none of these

Answer : B

Question. The rate of hydration and hydrolysis of cement depends upon its ?
a) tensile strength
b) soundness
c) setting time
d) fineness

Answer : D

Question. A first class brick should not absorb water more than................. of its own dry weight after 24 hours immersion in cold water ?
a) 5%
b) 10%
c) 15%
d) 20%

Answer : D

Question. The compressive strength of felspar is .......... quartz ?
a) less than
b) equal to
c) more than
d) any one of these

Answer : A

Question. The specific gravity of stone should not, in any case, be less than ?
a) 2.5
b) 1
c) 1.5
d) 2

Answer : A

Question. Eminently hydraulic lime is one in which the percentage of silica, alumina and iron oxide is ?
a) 25 to 30%
b) 5 to 10%
c) 30 to 40%
d) 10 to 25%

Answer : A

Question. The thickness of laminate boards vary from ?
a) 12 to 15 mm
b) 25 to 30 mm
c) 5 to 12 mm
d) 12 to 25 mm

Answer : D

Question. The drier in an oil paint should not be more than ............ (by volume) ?
a) 20%
b) 15%
c) 10%
d) 5%

Answer : C

Question. The sand is mixed with lime mortar to ?
a) reduce cost
b) reduce setting time
c) improve strength
d) prevent shrinkage and cracking

Answer : D

Question. The amount of gypsum, usually, added in the manufacture of cement is ?
a) 0.1 to 0.5%
b) 0.5 to 1%
c) 1 to 3%
d) 3 to 5%

Answer : C

Question.The time required for seasoning of timber in kiln seasoning is ?
a) 2 to 5 days
b) 5 to 10 days
c) 10 to 20 days
d) 20 to 40 days

Answer : C

Question. The dolomite bricks are ?
a) ordinary bricks
b) acid refractory bricks
c) basic refractory bricks
d) neutral refractory bricks

Answer : C

Question. Quick lime is a ?
a) carbonate of lime
b) oxide of calcium
c) product left immediately after the calcination of pure limestone
d) lime quickly treated with water

Answer : C

Question. An assembled product made up of veneers and adhesives is called ?
a) board
b) plank
c) plywood
d) batten

Answer : C

Question. The silicious sandstone which has been subjected to metamorphic action, is called ?
a) moorum
b) laterite
c) quartzite
d) dolomite

Answer : C

Question. The silica in Portland cement should be ?
a) 10 to 20%
b) 20 to 25%
c) 25 to 40%
d) 40 to 60%

Answer : B

Question. The compound responsible for the initial setting of cement, is ?
a) tri-calcium aluminate
b) tetra-calcium alumino ferrite
c) both (a) and (b)
d) none of these

Answer : C

Question. The wood generally used for railway sleepers is ?
a) mango
b) kail
c) babul
d) deodar

Answer : B

Question. The burning of bricks ?
a) 12
b) 24
c) 48
d) 96

Answer : B

Question. The sedimentary rocks are formed due to ?
a) solidification of molten mass lying below or above the earth surface
b) gradual deposition of materials like sand, clay, etc., generally by setting water
c) alteration of original structure under heat and excessive pressure
d) none of the above

Answer : B

Question. Which of the following paint is highly resistant to fire ?
a) enamel pain
b) Aluminium paint
c) Asbestos paint
d) Cement paint

Answer : C

Question. The strength of white cement is ....... that of ordinary cement. ?
a) greater than
b) equal to
c) less than
d) anywhere

Answer : C

Question. In order to dry the quarry sap of a freshly quarried stone, it should be exposed to open air for period of ?
a) four months
b) one month
c) two years
d) six to twelve months

Answer : D

Question. The commonly used solvent in oil paints is ?
a) naptha
b) turpentine
c) either (a) or (b)
d) none of these

Answer : C

Question. The liquid part of the paint is called ?
a) vehicle
b) solvent
c) drier
d) pigment

Answer : A

Question. The compressive strength of paving bricks should not be less than ?
a) 50 MN/m²
b) 40 MN/m²
c) 30 MN/m²
d) 20 MN/m²

Answer : B

Question. Bituminous paint consists of bitumen dissolved in ?
a) spirit
b) naptha
c) linseed oil
d) either (a) or (b)

Answer : D

Question. For the construction of retaining walls, a ........... stone must be used ?
a) heavy
b) hard
c) soft
d) any

Answer : A

Question. The type of brick suitable for panal walls for multi-storeyed buildings is ?
a) hollow bricks
b) perforated bricks
c) either (a) or (b)
d) none of these

Answer : C

Question. The purpose of seasoning of timber is to ?
a) change the direction of grains
b) remove voids
c) reduce moisture content
d) all of these

Answer : C

Question. The commonly used lime for works under water or in damp situations is ?
a) fat lime
b) lean lime
c) feebly hydraulic lime
d) eminently hydraulic lime

Answer : D

Question. The durability of cement concrete is usually improved by ?
a) increasing the quantity of coarse sand
b) increasing the quantity of cement
c) decreasing the water-cement ratio
d) decreasing the proportion of fine aggregate

Answer : B

Question. The length of a curved tile varies from ?
a) 10 to 12 cm
b) 12 to 15 cm
c) 15 to 20 cm
d) 20 to 22.5 cm

Answer : C

Question. The bricks after moulding should be dried in ?
a) open air
b) sun for 3 to 8 days
c) air for 3 to 8 days but not in sun
d) hot air for 3 days

Answer : C

Question. The alkaline salt present in the bricks, absorbs moisture from the air which on drying ?
a) leaves pores and makes the bricks porous
b) leaves high powder deposit on the brick
c) makes the bricks brittle and weak
d) all of these

Answer : B

Question. The base in a paint is added to ?
a) improve the quality of paint
b) make smooth surface
c) hide the surface to be painted
d) all of these

Answer : C

Question. The soundness of cement is tested by ?
a) Le-chatelier method
b) air-permeability method
c) all of these
d) Vicat's apparatus

Answer : A