250+ TOP MCQs on Portland Cement and Cement Concrete and Answers

Highway Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Portland Cement and Cement Concrete”.

1. What is the minimum grade of concrete in CC pavement?
a) M20
b) M30
c) M40
d) M50
Answer: c
Clarification: The minimum grade of concrete required for pavement is M40, as it should withstand temperature and wheel stresses.

2. The cement used in water logged areas is __________
a) Portland cement
b) Hydrophobic cement
c) Quick setting cement
d) Reediest cement
Answer: b
Clarification: The cement mostly used in water logged areas is hydrophobic cement as it will resist the water from clogging.

3. The waste material mostly used in pavement is __________
a) Fly ash
b) GGBS
c) Rice husk
d) Soil
Answer: a
Clarification: The waste material mostly used in pavement is fly ash which is mostly obtained from thermal power plants.

4. The cement on touching should give __________
a) Cool feeling
b) Hot feeling
c) neutral
d) Very cool feeling
Answer: a
Clarification: The cement on touching with hand should give a cool feeling and not break; it should be free from lumps.

5. Cement specific gravity is measured by __________
a) Water
b) Kerosene
c) Oil
d) Petrol
Answer: b
Clarification: The specific gravity of cement is measured by kerosene, because if it is measured with water then it forms heat of hydration.

6. The specific gravity of cement is __________
a) 2.5
b) 1.44
c) 3.15
d) 30
Answer: d
Clarification: The specific gravity of cement is 3.15, it is not like the density which is 1440 kg/m³ because here kerosene is used for density test and in 1 metre cube of volume 30 bags may be filled.

7. One meter cube of cement consists of how many bags of cement?
a) 30
b) 50
c) 15
d) 10
Answer: a
Clarification: One meter cube of volume contains 30 bags of cement or 1500kg of cement, it is actually an assumption that one kg of bag consists of 50 kg cement, but density is 1440kg/m3, so approximately value is 30, but the actual value is more.

8. The density of cement in Kg/m³ is __________
a) 1440
b) 1240
c) 1340
d) 1540
Answer: a
Clarification: The density of cement in Kg/m³ is 1440; it is not 3150 because its specific gravity is measured with kerosene.

9. The initial setting time of cement is not less than __________
a) 30 seconds
b) 300 seconds
c) 30 minutes
d) 300 minutes
Answer: c
Clarification: The initial setting time of cement is not less than 30 minutes for ordinary Portland cement and it may vary for various grades of cement.

10. What is the first test to be done for determining any property of cement?
a) Consistency
b) Setting time
c) Soundness
d) Fineness
Answer: a
Clarification: The first test to be done for determining any property of cement is a consistency test which lies between 27 and 29.

11. The volume of water in setting time test is?
a) 0.78p
b) 0.75p
c) 0.85p
d) 0.95p
Answer: c
Clarification: The volume of water in the setting time test is 0.85p where p is the consistency of the cement sample.

12. The volume of water in soundness test is?
a) 0.6p
b) 0.7p
c) 0.78p
d) 0.8p
Answer: c
Clarification: The volume of water in soundness test is 0.78p, where p is the consistency of the cement sample.

13. The property of cement by which it doesn’t expand is called __________
a) Fineness
b) Soundness
c) Setting time
d) Consistency
Answer: b
Clarification: The property of cement by which it doesn’t expand on contact with water is called as soundness.

14. What is the most commonly used grade of cement?
a) 33
b) 43
c) 53
d) 63
Answer: c
Clarification: The most commonly used grade of cement is OPC 53 grade cement for most of the purposes, fly ash is also mixed in some cement.

15. What is the total grades of cement specified by IRC?
a) 3
b) 6
c) 9
d) 12
Answer: c
Clarification: IS has classified the grades of cement depending upon the requirement into 9 categories of various classes and materials.