250+ TOP MCQs on Soil – 1 and Answers

Highway Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on “Soil – 1”.

1. A good soil should have __________
a) Ease of compaction
b) Temporary strength
c) High sensitivity
d) High void ratio
Answer: a
Clarification: A good soil should have ease of compaction, permanent strength and less sensitivity.

2. The process by which the water voids are removed is called __________
a) Compaction
b) Consolidation
c) Permeability
d) Shear strength
Answer: b
Clarification: The water voids are mostly removed by consolidation; it is a long process so mostly compaction is used.

3. If the GWT rises to the ground level, then the bearing capacity reduces by __________
a) 1/2
b) 1/3
c) 1/4
d) 3/4
Answer: a
Clarification: The bearing capacity of the soil reduces by 50% if the ground water rises to the ground level.

4. What is the most common method used for the removal of voids in soil?
a) Compaction
b) Consolidation
c) Permeability
d) Shear strength
Answer: a
Clarification: Compaction is the most commonly used method for removal of voids; it is mostly done by modified proctor or standard proctor test.

5. What is the volume of voids in the 3 phase diagram of soil?
a) Volume of air
b) Volume of water
c) Volume of air and volume of water
d) Volume of solids
Answer: c
Clarification: Both the volume of air and volume of water contribute to the voids in the 3 phase diagram of soil.

6. What is the ratio of volume of voids and volume of soil solids?
a) Void ratio
b) Porosity
c) Saturation
d) Air content
Answer: a
Clarification: The ratio of volume of voids and volume of soil solids is called as void ratio, porosity is the ratio of voids and total volume, saturation is volume of voids in volume of water, air content is air voids in volume.

7. Montimorrite is a type of mineral which causes expansive behaviour is found in __________
a) Black cotton soil
b) Laterite soil
c) River soil
d) Glacial soil
Answer: a
Clarification: Montimorolite is a type of mineral which is of expansive nature, it is found in mostly black cotton soil.

8. The soil that is formed by the action of wind is called __________
a) Lacustrine soil
b) Alluvial soil
c) Aeolian soil
d) Glacial soil
Answer: c
Clarification: The soil that is formed by the action of wind is called as Aeolian soil, lacustrine by lakes, alluvial by River and glacial by glacier.

9. The maximum density which is desirable in highway embankments is __________
a) Dry density
b) Saturated density
c) M.D.D
d) O.M.C
Answer: c
Clarification: The maximum density which is desirable in highway embankments is M.D.D, if it is greater than MDD then it’s density decreases.

10. The void ratio can never be __________
a) Less than 1
b) Greater than 1
c) Less than zero
d) Equal to 1
Answer: c
Clarification: The void ratio can never be less than zero, as it is a positive quantity, but it can be greater than 1 or equal to 1.

11. In Indian system the soil is classified as per __________
a) USCS
b) ISCS
c) BIS
d) ASTM
Answer: b
Clarification: In Indian system the soil is classified as per ISCS. In international as per USCS, BIS regards the standard in India and ASTM in USA.

12. The theoretical void ratio of sand is taken as __________
a) 0.87
b) 0.91
c) 1.01
d) 1.03
Answer: b
Clarification: The theoretical void ratio of sand is taken as 0.91.

13. If the water content of a soil sample is 25%, and dry density is 15KN/m³ then its dry density in KN/m³ is?
a) 18.75
b) 19
c) 20
d) 21
Answer: a
Clarification: Ὑ_d=Ὓ/1+w
Ὓ=15*1.25
=18.75KN/m³.

14. If the permeability is high then its void ratio is __________
a) High
b) Low
c) Medium
d) Depends on soil
Answer: a
Clarification: If the void ratio is high then, the permeability of the soil will be very high, for example gravel in which there is a lot of void ratio so the permeability is very high.

15. The property of soil by which its state and size changes are called __________
a) Activity
b) Sensitivity
c) Thixotropy
d) Shear strength
Answer: c
Clarification: Thixotropy means changing in touch; it is used for very sensitive soils.