BUILDING MATERIALS
Topic-Wise Practice Set – 100 MCQs
🔹 A. CEMENT, LIME & GYPSUM (1–20)
1. The raw mix in cement manufacture is heated in a
A. Ball mill
B. Rotary kiln
C. Crusher
D. Silo
Ans: B — Kiln converts raw mix into clinker.
2. Clinker mainly consists of
A. Lime and gypsum
B. Cement and sand
C. Silicates and aluminates of calcium
D. Calcium carbonate only
Ans: C
3. Excess lime in cement causes
A. Low strength
B. Expansion and unsoundness
C. Quick setting
D. Better durability
Ans: B
4. Which cement is preferred in mass concreting?
A. OPC
B. Rapid hardening cement
C. Low heat cement
D. High alumina cement
Ans: C
5. The main property checked by Vicat test is
A. Strength
B. Setting time
C. Soundness
D. Fineness
Ans: B
6. Which cement is used for sewage works?
A. OPC
B. PPC
C. SRC
D. White cement
Ans: C
7. Slaking of lime means
A. Burning of limestone
B. Mixing lime with water
C. Drying of lime
D. Grinding of lime
Ans: B
8. Fat lime sets
A. In water
B. In air
C. In damp soil
D. Under pressure
Ans: B
9. Which is NOT a type of lime?
A. Fat lime
B. Hydraulic lime
C. Lean lime
D. Portland lime
Ans: D
10. Setting of cement starts when
A. Cement is manufactured
B. Cement is ground
C. Water is added
D. Cement is stored
Ans: C
11. Cement that gains strength quickly is
A. Low heat cement
B. Rapid hardening cement
C. PPC
D. White cement
Ans: B
12. The fineness of cement mainly affects
A. Colour
B. Strength gain rate
C. Soundness
D. Durability only
Ans: B
13. Which cement is used for underwater construction?
A. OPC
B. Quick setting cement
C. White cement
D. PPC
Ans: B
14. Gypsum content in cement is about
A. 1–2%
B. 2–3%
C. 3–5%
D. 6–8%
Ans: C
15. Which cement is suitable for decorative finishes?
A. OPC
B. White cement
C. SRC
D. PPC
Ans: B
16. Initial setting time should not be more than
A. 30 min
B. 45 min
C. 60 min
D. 90 min
Ans: C
17. Final setting time of cement should not exceed
A. 4 hrs
B. 6 hrs
C. 8 hrs
D. 10 hrs
Ans: C
18. Pozzolanic material reacts with
A. Cement
B. Water
C. Lime
D. Gypsum
Ans: C
19. PPC improves
A. Early strength
B. Durability
C. Setting speed
D. Colour
Ans: B
20. Which cement is best for hot weather concreting?
A. Rapid hardening cement
B. Low heat cement
C. High alumina cement
D. White cement
Ans: B
🔹 B. AGGREGATES (21–35)
21. Aggregates should be free from
A. Dust
B. Silt
C. Organic matter
D. All of these
Ans: D
22. Sieve size separating fine and coarse aggregate is
A. 2.36 mm
B. 4.75 mm
C. 10 mm
D. 1.18 mm
Ans: B
23. Bulking of sand is maximum when sand is
A. Dry
B. Fully saturated
C. Partially wet
D. Completely dry
Ans: C
24. The test used to determine toughness of aggregate is
A. Abrasion test
B. Crushing test
C. Impact test
D. Soundness test
Ans: C
25. The flakiness index should not exceed
A. 15%
B. 20%
C. 25%
D. 30%
Ans: C
26. Which aggregate gives maximum strength?
A. Rounded
B. Irregular
C. Angular
D. Flaky
Ans: C
27. Which test determines resistance to weathering?
A. Impact test
B. Abrasion test
C. Soundness test
D. Crushing test
Ans: C
28. Lightweight aggregate concrete is used to
A. Increase strength
B. Reduce dead load
C. Increase durability
D. Increase cost
Ans: B
29. The fineness modulus indicates
A. Size distribution
B. Shape
C. Strength
D. Hardness
Ans: A
30. Which is an artificial aggregate?
A. Sand
B. Gravel
C. Cinder
D. Stone chips
Ans: C
31. Presence of mica in sand causes
A. Increase strength
B. Decrease workability
C. Loss of strength
D. No effect
Ans: C
32. Well graded aggregate means
A. All particles same size
B. Only fine particles
C. Proper mix of all sizes
D. Only coarse particles
Ans: C
33. Specific gravity of aggregates affects
A. Weight of concrete
B. Strength only
C. Setting time
D. Durability only
Ans: A
34. Which aggregate is best for RCC?
A. Soft stone
B. Porous stone
C. Hard crushed stone
D. Brick bats
Ans: C
35. The organic impurities test is done using
A. HCl
B. NaOH
C. KOH
D. Alcohol
Ans: B
🔹 C. CONCRETE (36–55)
36. Concrete is a mixture of
A. Cement + sand
B. Cement + aggregate
C. Cement + sand + aggregate + water
D. Cement + water
Ans: C
37. Excess water in concrete leads to
A. Higher strength
B. Lower strength
C. Faster curing
D. Better finish
Ans: B
38. Slump value indicates
A. Strength
B. Durability
C. Workability
D. Setting time
Ans: C
39. High slump means
A. Dry mix
B. Stiff mix
C. Wet mix
D. Harsh mix
Ans: C
40. Curing should start
A. After 7 days
B. Immediately after placing
C. After final setting
D. After hardening
Ans: C
41. Curing prevents
A. Shrinkage cracks
B. Segregation
C. Bleeding
D. Laitance
Ans: A
42. The main cause of segregation is
A. Proper mixing
B. Excess water
C. Fine sand
D. More cement
Ans: B
43. Bleeding is
A. Loss of cement
B. Rise of water to surface
C. Loss of aggregate
D. Cracking
Ans: B
44. Air-entrained concrete contains
A. Cement particles
B. Entrapped air bubbles
C. Extra water
D. Extra sand
Ans: B
45. The compressive strength test is done on
A. Cylinder
B. Cube
C. Prism
D. Beam
Ans: B
46. Standard age of testing concrete strength is
A. 3 days
B. 7 days
C. 14 days
D. 28 days
Ans: D
47. Which admixture increases workability?
A. Retarder
B. Accelerator
C. Plasticizer
D. Air entrainer
Ans: C
48. Which admixture delays setting?
A. Accelerator
B. Retarder
C. Plasticizer
D. Air entrainer
Ans: B
49. High early strength is required in
A. Pavements
B. Bridges
C. Precast concrete
D. Dams
Ans: C
50. Concrete creep increases with
A. Decrease in load
B. Increase in load duration
C. Increase in curing
D. Decrease in water
Ans: B
51. Shrinkage cracks occur due to
A. Expansion
B. Loss of moisture
C. Excess cement
D. High temperature
Ans: B
52. Which concrete resists sulphate attack?
A. OPC
B. SRC concrete
C. Lime concrete
D. Fly ash concrete
Ans: B
53. Ready mix concrete improves
A. Labour cost
B. Quality control
C. Time of setting
D. Colour
Ans: B
54. Shotcrete is applied by
A. Pouring
B. Pumping
C. Spraying
D. Casting
Ans: C
55. Which concrete is best for complex formwork?
A. Normal concrete
B. Lean concrete
C. SCC
D. Lime concrete
Ans: C
🔹 D. BRICKS, STONES & TIMBER (56–75)
56. Bricks are generally burnt in
A. Kiln
B. Furnace
C. Oven
D. Dryer
Ans: A
57. Frog in brick is provided to
A. Reduce weight
B. Improve bond
C. Save cement
D. Increase strength
Ans: B
58. Over burnt bricks are
A. Soft
B. Under-strength
C. Brittle and dark
D. Light in weight
Ans: C
59. Best bond for load bearing wall is
A. Stretcher
B. English
C. Flemish
D. Stack
Ans: B
60. Sandstone belongs to
A. Igneous rocks
B. Sedimentary rocks
C. Metamorphic rocks
D. Artificial stones
Ans: B
61. Slate is used mainly for
A. Flooring
B. Roofing
C. Cladding
D. Masonry
Ans: B
62. Marble is mainly used for
A. Structural work
B. Decorative work
C. Foundations
D. Road works
Ans: B
63. Timber defect caused by fungi is
A. Knot
B. Shake
C. Rot
D. Warp
Ans: C
64. Defect due to shrinkage of wood is
A. Knot
B. Warp
C. Rot
D. Insect attack
Ans: B
65. Best timber for beams is
A. Pine
B. Sal
C. Teak
D. Deodar
Ans: B
66. Seasoning reduces
A. Strength
B. Moisture content
C. Weight only
D. Durability
Ans: B
67. Artificial seasoning includes
A. Air seasoning
B. Water seasoning
C. Kiln seasoning
D. Natural drying
Ans: C
68. Plywood resists
A. Fire
B. Water
C. Cracking
D. Termites
Ans: C
69. Hardboard is made from
A. Timber logs
B. Wood fibers
C. Wood chips
D. Sawdust only
Ans: B
70. Fire bricks are used in
A. Walls
B. Chimneys
C. Floors
D. Columns
Ans: B
71. Best stone for heavy engineering works is
A. Limestone
B. Sandstone
C. Granite
D. Marble
Ans: C
72. Porosity of stone should be
A. High
B. Moderate
C. Low
D. Very high
Ans: C
73. Timber attacked by termites shows
A. Holes and powder
B. Cracks
C. Fungal growth
D. Colour change
Ans: A
74. Veneer thickness is generally
A. 1–2 mm
B. 3–5 mm
C. 6–10 mm
D. 10–15 mm
Ans: A
75. Which brick is strongest?
A. Common brick
B. Facing brick
C. Engineering brick
D. Fly ash brick
Ans: C
🔹 E. STEEL, BITUMEN, PAINTS & MODERN MATERIALS (76–100)
76. Mild steel is mainly used because of its
A. Brittleness
B. Ductility
C. Hardness
D. Corrosion resistance
Ans: B
77. Corrosion of steel is faster in
A. Dry air
B. Moist air
C. Vacuum
D. Oil
Ans: B
78. Painting steel prevents corrosion by
A. Increasing thickness
B. Providing barrier
C. Chemical reaction
D. Hardening steel
Ans: B
79. Tinning is coating of steel with
A. Zinc
B. Tin
C. Chromium
D. Lead
Ans: B
80. The main use of stainless steel is due to its
A. Low cost
B. High strength
C. Corrosion resistance
D. Easy casting
Ans: C
81. Bitumen is mainly used in
A. Flooring
B. Roofing
C. Road construction
D. Masonry
Ans: C
82. The ductility of bitumen is tested to know
A. Strength
B. Stretching capacity
C. Hardness
D. Softness
Ans: B
83. Flash point of bitumen indicates
A. Viscosity
B. Fire hazard
C. Hardness
D. Softening
Ans: B
84. Emulsion bitumen consists of
A. Bitumen + water
B. Bitumen + cement
C. Bitumen + lime
D. Bitumen + sand
Ans: A
85. Which paint is used on steel structures?
A. Distemper
B. Cement paint
C. Anti-corrosive paint
D. Plastic paint
Ans: C
86. Enamel paint gives
A. Matte finish
B. Glossy finish
C. Rough finish
D. Porous finish
Ans: B
87. The drier in paint helps in
A. Colouring
B. Hardening
C. Faster drying
D. Thinning
Ans: C
88. Glass is mainly composed of
A. Lime
B. Silica
C. Alumina
D. Magnesia
Ans: B
89. Laminated glass is used for
A. Floors
B. Safety purposes
C. Decoration
D. Insulation
Ans: B
90. Which glass is heat resistant?
A. Soda glass
B. Lead glass
C. Borosilicate glass
D. Sheet glass
Ans: C
91. Bakelite is used in switches because it is
A. Conductive
B. Heat resistant
C. Flexible
D. Transparent
Ans: B
92. Polythene is a
A. Thermosetting plastic
B. Thermoplastic
C. Elastomer
D. Fiber
Ans: B
93. FRP is used because it has
A. High weight
B. Low strength
C. High strength-to-weight ratio
D. Low durability
Ans: C
94. Fly ash bricks are
A. Heavy
B. Weak
C. Eco-friendly
D. Costly
Ans: C
95. AAC blocks reduce
A. Cement consumption
B. Dead load
C. Construction time
D. All of these
Ans: D
96. GGBS improves
A. Setting speed
B. Durability
C. Colour
D. Weight
Ans: B
97. Geopolymer concrete is
A. Cement based
B. Lime based
C. Alkali activated
D. Gypsum based
Ans: C
98. Self-compacting concrete reduces
A. Strength
B. Labour
C. Cost of cement
D. Durability
Ans: B
99. Polymer concrete uses
A. Cement
B. Lime
C. Resin
D. Gypsum
Ans: C
100. Main advantage of modern materials is
A. High cost
B. Low durability
C. Better performance
D. Difficult handling
Ans: C