Geo-technical Engineering PYQs, GPSC Civil Engineering

1. The adsorbed film of water

A) affects the physical properties of fine grained soils
B) allows the clay particles to deform plasticity
C) has little effect on the properties of coarse grained soils
D) all of the above

Check Answer

D) all of the above

2. In the classification of fine grained soils, ‘ML’ means

A) inorganic silts of high plasticity
B) inorganic silts of low plasticity
C) inorganic clays of high plasticity
D) inorganic clays of low plasticity

Check Answer

B) inorganic silts of low plasticity

3. To separate out the fines (silt and clay) fraction from the sand fraction the IS sieve used

A) 125 µ
B) 99 µ
C) 75 µ
D) 45 µ

Check Answer

C) 75 µ

4. Fine grained soil are sub divided into

A) Silt and clay
B) Sand and clay
C) Organic and silt
D) Gravel and peat

Check Answer

A) Silt and clay

5. Sieve analysis test of sand is carried out to find its

A) Specific gravity
B) Silt content
C) Fineness modulus
D) None of A), B) and C)

Check Answer

C) Fineness modulus

6. The critical hydraulic gradient i_c of a soil mass of specific gravity G and void ratio e is given by

A) i_c = (G + 1)/(1 – e)
B) i_c = (G – 1)/(1 – e)
C) i_c = (G + 1)/(1 + e)
D) i_c = (G – 1)/(1 + e)

Check Answer

D) i_c = (G – 1)/(1 + e)

7. The pressure which is exerted by water on the soil through which it percolates, is called :

A) Seepage pressure
B) Active earth pressure
C) Passive earth Pressure
D) Surface tension

Check Answer

A) Seepage pressure

8. The discharge velocity through a soil sample was found out to be 2.4 × 10^-4 m/s and the porosity was 40%. The seepage velocity through the sample will be

A) 0.96 × 10^-4 m/s
B) 6 × 10^-4 m/s
C) 3.78 × 10^-4 m/s
D) 2.02 × 10^-4 m/s

Check Answer

B) 6 × 10^-4 m/s

9. A critical hydraulic gradient may occur when

A) there is no flow through the soil
B) flow takes place through the soil in the direction of gravity
C) flow takes place through the soil in the direction opposite to gravity
D) all of the above

Check Answer

C) flow takes place through the soil in the direction opposite to gravity

10. Proctor test of soil is carried out to find its :

A) shrinkage limit
B) shear capacity
C) max. dry density
D) liquid limit

Check Answer

C) max. dry density

11. Root time method is used to determine

A) T, time factor
B) C_v, coefficient of consolidation
C) a_v, coefficient of compressibility
D) m_v, coefficient of volume compressibility

Check Answer

B) C_v, coefficient of consolidation

12. When consolidation of saturated soil sample occurs, the degree of saturation

A) increases
B) decreases
C) remain constant
D) may increase or decrease

Check Answer

C) remain constant

13. The compression index of a soil

A) decreases with an increase in the liquid limit
B) increases with an increase in the liquid limit
C) decreases with an increase in the plastic limit
D) is not at all related to the liquid limit

Check Answer

B) increases with an increase in the liquid limit

14. Coulomb’s equation for shear strength can be represented by (symbols have their usual meanings)

A) C = S + σtanφ
B) S = C – σtanφ
C) C = σ + Ctanφ
D) S = C + σtanφ

Check Answer

D) S = C + σtanφ

15. If correct value of cohesion of highly soft clay is to be determines, choose the correct type of test that should be carried out _______

A) Field vane shear test
B) Triaxial test
C) Direct shear test
D) Laboratory unconfined compression test

Check Answer

A) Field vane shear test