‫نموذج اختبار ميكانيكا تربة ‪1‬‬

‫‪MCQs EXAM‬‬
‫مع الحل‬

‫د‪ /‬نبيل عبد الكريم الشرجبي‬

 MCQs EXAM – group 1
1- In a liquid limit test, the moisture content at 10 blows was 70% and that at
100 blows was 20%. The liquid limit of the soil, is
A. 35%
B. 50%
C. 65%
D. none of these.

Answer: Option C

2-The minimum water content at which the soil just begins to crumble when
rolled into threads 3 mm in diameter, is known
A. liquid limit
B. plastic limit
C. shrinkage limit
D. permeability limit.

Answer: Option B

3- Minimum size of the particles of silt soil, is

A. 0.002 mm
B. 0.04 mm
C. 0.06 mm.
D. 0.08 mm
E. 1 mm

Answer: Option A

4- The minimum water content at which the soil retains its liquid state and
also possesses a small shearing strength against flowing, is known
A. liquid limit
B. plastic limit
C. shrinkage limit
D. permeability limit.

Answer: Option A
 5- he quantity of seepage of water through soils is proportional to
A. coefficient of permeability of soil
B. total head loss through the soil
C. neither (a) nor (b)
D. both (a) and (b).

Answer: Option D

6- he internal molecular attraction of a soil, the cohesion

A. decreases as the moisture content increases
B. increases as the moisture content decreases
C. is more in well compacted clays
D. depends upon the external applied load.

Answer: Option C

7- The water content in a soil sample when it continues to loose weight without
loosing the volume, is called
A. Shrinkage limit
B. Plastic limit
C. liquid limit
D. semi-solid limit.

Answer: Option A

8- The change of moisture content of soils, changes the

A. value of the angle of repose
B. amount of compaction required
C. cohesive strength of soil
D. all the above.

Answer: Option D
 9- If there is no impervious boundary at the bottom of a hydraulic structure,
stream lines tend to follow:
A. a straight line
B. a parabola
C. a semi-ellipse
D. a semi-circle.

Answer: Option C

10- For general engineering purposes, soils are classified by

A. particle size classification system
B. textural classification system
C. High Way Research Board (HRB), classification system
D. unified soil classification system.

Answer: Option D

11- The seepage exit gradient in a soil is the ratio of

A. total head to the length of seepage
B. flow line to slope
C. head upstream to that at downstream
D. head loss to the length of the seepage
E. none of these.

Answer: Option D

12- Cohesion-less soil is

A. sand
B. silt
C. clay
D. clay and silt.

Answer: Option A
 13- Pick up the correct statement from the following:
A. A soil having pH value more than 7 is an acidic soil
B. A soil having pH value less than 7 is an acidic soil
C. A soil having pH value more than 7 is an alkaline soil
D. A soil containing chemicals for the manufacture of portland cement is preferred.

Answer: Option B

14- Loess' is silty clay formed by the action of

A. water
B. glacier
C. wind
D. gravitational force.

Answer: Option C

15- The specific yield of soil depends upon

A. compaction of stratum
B. distribution of pores
C. shape and size of particles
D. all the above.

Answer: Option D

16- The ratio of volume of air voids to the volume of total voids, is known as
A. air content
B. percentage air voids
C. percentage voids
D. porosity.

Answer: Option A
 17- If water content of a soil is 40%, G is 2.70 and void ratio is 1.35, the
degree of saturation is
A. 70%
B. 75%
C. 80%
D. 85%
E. 90%

Answer: Option C

18- If voids ratio is 0.67, water content is 0.188 and specific gravity is 2.68,
the degree of saturation of the soil, is
A. 25%
B. 40%
C. 60%
D. 75%

Answer: Option D

19- A flow net may be utilized for the determination of

A. exit gradient
B. seepage
C. hydrostatic pressure
D. seepage pressure
E. all the above.

Answer: Option E

20- The ratio of emax and emin of silty sand, is

A. 2.0
B. 5
C. 3.0
D. 3.5
E. 4.0

Answer: Option C
 21- The pressure that builds up in pore water due to load increment on the
soil, is termed
A. excess pore pressure
B. excess hydrostatic pressure
C. hydrodynamic pressure
D. all the above.

Answer: Option D

22-The density of soil can be increased

A. by reducing the space occupied by air
B. by elastic compression of soil grains
C. by expelling water from pores
D. All the above.

Answer: Option D

23- The property of a soil which permits water to percolate through it, is
called
A. moisture content
B. permeability
C. capillarity
D. none of these.

Answer: Option B

24- Pick up the correct statement from the following:

A. The void ratio in soils is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume
of solids
B. The porosity of a soil is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the gross
volume of the soil
C. The bulk density of a soil is defined as the unit weight of the soil
D. The dry density of a soil is defined as weight of solids to the total volume of the
soil
E. All the above.

Answer: Option E
 25- The critical exist gradient of seepage water in soils, increases with
A. an increase in specific gravity
B. a decrease in specific gravity
C. a decrease in void ratio
D. both (a) and (c)
E. none of these.

Answer: Option D

26- A saturated soil sample has water content of 40% and specific gravity of
soil particles 2.7. The void ratio of the soil, is
A. 0.4
B. 0.52
C. 1.08
D. none of these.

Answer: Option C

27- Seepage velocity is inversely proportional to hydraulic gradient.

A. True
B. False

Answer: Option B

28- If the discharge velocity is 4*10-7cm/s and the porosity is 33%, then the
seepage velocity will be
a) 18*10-7cm/s
b) 12*10-7cm/s
c) 6*10-7cm/s
d) 3*10-7cm/s

Answer: Option B
 29- Transporting and re-depositing soils, is done by
A. water
B. glacier
C. gravity
D. all the above.

Answer: Option D

30- Water formed transported soil is

A. Alluvial
B. Marine
C. Lacustrine
D. Loess.

Answer: Option A

31- . 'Talus' is the soil transported by

A. wind
B. water
C. glacier
D. gravitational force.

Answer: Option D

32- Pick up the correct statement from the following:

A. The void space between the soil grains, is filled partly with air and partly with
water
B. In perfectly saturated soil, the voids are completely filled ivith water
C. In dry soil, the voids are completely filled with air
D. All the above.

Answer: Option D
 33- Maximum size of clay particles, is :
A. 0.002 mm
B. 0.04 mm
C. 0.06 mm
D. 0.08 mm

Answer: Option A

34- Buoyant unit weight equals the saturated density

A. multiplied by unit weight of water
B. divided by unit weight of)water
C. plus unit weight of water
D. minus unit weight of water.

Answer: Option D

35- The ratio of the difference between the void ratio of the soil in its loosest
state and its natural void ratio (e) to the difference between the void ratios in the
loosest and fully dense state, is generally termed as
A. degree of density
B. relativity
C. density index
D. all the above.

Answer: Option D

36- A soil has bulk density 2.30 g/cm3 and water content 15 per cent, the dry
density of the sample, is
A. 1.0 Wcm2
B. 1.5 g/cm3
C. 2.0 g/cm3
D. 2.5 g/cm3.

Answer: Option C
 37- Accurate determination of water content is made by
A. calcium carbide method
B. sand bath method
C. alcohol method
D. oven-drying method.

Answer: Option D

38- A pycnometer is used to determine

A. voids ratio.
B. dry density
C. water content
D. density index.

Answer: Option C

39- Pick up the correct statement from the following:

A. The void ratio in soils is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the volume
of solids
B. The porosity of a soil is defined as the ratio of the volume of voids to the gross
volume of the soil
C. The bulk density of a soil is defined as the unit weight of the soil
D. All the above.

Answer: Option D

40- The specific gravity of sands is approximately

A. 1.6
B. 2.8
C. 2.2
D. 2.6.

Answer: Option D
 41- The liquid limit and plastic limit exist in
A. sandy soils
B. silty soils
C. gravel soils
D. clay soils.

Answer: Option D

42- You are given a sample of soil containing coarse grains to determine its water
content; you will use
A. Pycnometer
B. oven-drying method
C. calcium carbide method
D. alcohol method.

Answer: Option A

43- The total weight of a pycnometer with water and oven dried soil 20 (g) is
1600 g. The pycnometer filled with water alone weighs 1500 g. The specific
gravity of the soil, is
A. 1
B. 1.5
C. 2
D. 2.5

Answer: Option C

44- Stoke's law does not hold good if the size of particle is smaller than
A. 0.0002 mm
B. 0.002 mm
C. 0.02 mm
D. 0.2 mm.

Answer: Option A
 45- Hydrometer readings are corrected for:
A. temperature correction
B. meniscus correction
C. dispersing agent correction
D. temperature, meniscus and dispersing agent corrections.

Answer: Option D

46- The coefficient of curvature for a well graded soil, must be between
A. 0.5 to 1.0
B. 1.0 to 3.0
C. 3.0 to 4.0
D. 4.0 to 5.0.

Answer: Option B

47- The minimum water content at which the soil just begins to crumble when
rolled into threads 3 mm in diameter, is known
A. liquid limit
B. plastic limit
C. shrinkage limit
D. permeability limit.

Answer: Option B

48- The minimum water content at which the soil retains its liquid state and
also possesses a small shearing strength anginst flowing, is known
A. liquid limit
B. plastic limit
C. shrinkage limit
D. permeability limit.

Answer: Option A
 49- The maximum water content at which a reduction in water content does
not cause a decrease in volume of a soil mass, is known
A. liquid limit
B. plastic limit
C. shrinkage limit
D. permeability limit.

Answer: Option C

50- The consistency index of a soil is defined as the ratio of

A. liquid limit plus the natural water content to the plasticity index of the soil
B. liquid limit minus the natural water content to the plasticity index of the soil
C. natural water content of a soil minus plastic limit to the plasticity index of the soil
D. natural water content of a soil plus its plastic limit to the plasticity index of the soil.

Answer: Option B

51- The liquidity index is defined as a ratib expressed as percentage of

A. plastic limit minus the natural water content, to its plasticity index
B. natural water content minus its plastic limit to its plasticity index
C. natural water content plus its plastic limit to its plasticity index
D. liquid limit minus the natural water content to the plasticity index.

Answer: Option B

52- The soil moisture driven off by heat, is called

A. free water
B. hydroscopic water
C. gravity water
D. none of these.

Answer: Option B
 53- The property of a soil which permits water to percolate through it, is
called
A. moisture content
B. permeability
C. capillarity
D. none of these.

Answer: Option B

54- The capillary rise of water

A. depends upon the force responsible
B. increases as the size of the soil particles increases
C. decreases as the size of the soil particles decreases
D. is less in wet soil than in dry soil.

Answer: Option A

55- When the seepage pressure becomes equal to the pressure due to
submerged weight of a soil, the effective pressure is reduced to zero and the soil
particles have a tendency to move up in the direction of flow. This phenomenon is
generally known
A. quick condition
B. boiling condition
C. quick sand
D. all the above.

Answer: Option D

56- Pick up the correct statement from the following:

A. The object of classifying soils is to arrange them into groups according to their
properties and behavior
B. A soil classification system is meant to provide an accepted and systematic method
of describing the various types of soils eliminating personal factors
C. The first category of soil classification is based on grain size of the soil.
D. All the above.

Answer: Option D
 57- For general engineering purposes, soils are classified by
A. particle size classification system
B. textural classification system
C. High Way Research Board (HRB), classification system
D. unified soil classification system.

Answer: Option D

58- Soils containing organic matters

A. are of spongy nature
B. swell with decrease of moisture
C. shrink with increase of moisture content
D. none of these.

Answer: Option A

59- Pick up the correct statement from the following:

A. A soil having pH value more than 7 is an acidic soil
B. A soil having pH value less than 7 is an acidic soil
C. A soil having PI value more than 7 is an alkaline soil
D. A soil containing chemicals for the manufacture of porfland cement is preferred.

Answer: Option B

60- Which one of the following statements is true?

A. Clays are more porous than sands
B. Pressure of organic matter in a soil decreases the bearing capacity of the soil
C. Aluminous cement is used for foundations in soils with chemical deposits
D. All the above.

Answer: Option D
 61- Seepage force is the energy transfer between
A. air and water
B. water and soil
C. air and soil
D. earth and air

Answer: Option B

62- The first rational approach to the problem of seepage through soils was
A. Archimedes
B. Poiseuille
C. Darcy
D. Terzaghi

Answer: Option D

63- The relationship between seepage force F and seepage pressure ps is given by
A. F = ps /A
B. F = ps +A
C. F = ps –A
D. F = ps A

Answer: Option D

64-The effective pressure subjected to seepage pressure is given by

A. σ’= zγsat* izγw
B. σ’= zγ’*izγw
C. σ’= zγ’± izγw
D. σ’= zγ’/izγw

Answer: Option C
 65- In ______ direction of flow, the effective pressure is increased.
A. Perpendicular
B. tangential
C. upward
D. downward

Answer: Option D

66- The critical hydraulic gradient is given by

A. ic = γ’/ γw
B. ic = γ’+ γw
C. ic = γ’-γw
D. ic = γ’

Answer: Option A

67- The critical hydraulic gradient ic in terms of specific gravity G and voids
ratio e is given by
A. GS .e
B. GS /e
C. (GS -1) / (1+e)
D. (GS +1) / (1+e)

Answer: Option C

68- The critical hydraulic gradient ic is unity when the specific gravity G=2.67
and voids ratio e is
A. 0.67
B. 0.33
C. 0.43
D. 0.80

Answer: Option A
 69- A coarse-grained soil has a voids ratio of 0.66 and specific gravity GS of
2.65. What will be its critical hydraulic gradient?
A. 0.99
B. 0.88
C. 0.77
D. 0.66

Answer: Option A

70- If a soil has a saturated unit weight of 18.84 kN/m3, what will be its critical
hydraulic gradient?
A. 0.92
B. 0.88
C. 1.77
D. 1.66

Answer: Option A

71- Calculate the height of water table rise in soil mass from a sand stratum of
12m deep from ground level, at which the effective pressure is zero. The water
percolates through a soil mass of thickness 5m. The γsat=18.6 kN/m3 and γw=9.81
kN/m3.
A. 7.68m
B. 9.48m
C. 5.24m
D. 10m

Answer: Option B

72- Water is flowing at a rate of 0.04 m3/s in a soil sample of 12m thick and
cross section of 50m2. The coefficient of permeability is 1.6*10-3m/s. What will be
the seepage force?
A. 2943kN
B. 3453kN
C. 2454kN
D. 2443Kn
Answer: Option A
 73- Water is flowing at a rate of 0.04 m3/s in a soil sample of 12m thick and
cross section of 50m2. The coefficient of permeability is 1.6*10-3m/s. What will be
the seepage force per unit volume?
A. 4.9 kN/m3
B. 3.9 kN/m3
C. 4.1 kN/m3
D. 3.2 kN/m3

Answer: Option A

74- Water is flowing at a rate of 0.04 m3/s in a soil sample of 12m thick and
cross section of 50m2. The coefficient of permeability is 1.6*10-3m/s. The
submerged unit weight γ’=9.59 kN/m3. Calculate the effective pressure if flow is
in upward direction.
A. 50.76 kN/m2
B. 52.34 kN/m2
C. 55.34 kN/m2
D. 56.22 kN/m2

Answer: Option D

75- A soil has voids ratio of 0.78 and critical gradient at which quick sand
condition occurs is 0.94. Calculate the specific gravity.
A. 2
B. 2.5
C. 2.67
D. 2.71

Answer: Option C

76 - If a soil has a voids ratio of 0.68 and water percolating through it has a
discharge velocity of 1.35*10-2cm/s. Calculate its seepage velocity.
A. 1.35*10-2cm/s
B. 2.35*10-2cm/s
C. 3.34*10-2cm/s
D. 1.05*10-2cm/s

Answer: Option C
 77- Darcy’s law describes the state of flow within individual pores.
A. True
B. False

Answer: Option B

78- The relation between discharge velocity and seepage velocity is

A. Vs = V e
B. Vs = V n
C. Vs = V/e
D. Vs = V/n

Answer: Option D

79- The inventor of the term soil mechanics was

A. Kray
B. Dr. Karl Terzaghi
C. Leygue
D. Fellenius.

Answer: Option B

80- Pick up the correct statement from the following :

A. To an agriculturist, soil is the_substance existing on the earth's surface, which
grows and develops plants
B. To a geologist, soils the material in a relatively thin surface zone within which
roots oceur, and rest of the crust is termed as rock irrespective of hardness,
C. To an engineer, soil is the unaggregated and uncemented deposits of minerals and
organic particles covering the earth's crust
D. All the above.

Answer: Option D
 81- In the definition of the seepage velocity, the cross-sectional area of the
voids is taken as _______ to the direction of flow.
A. parallel
B. Opposite
C. perpendicular
D. tangential

Answer: Option C

82- The coefficient of permeability is equal to velocity of flow when

A. hydraulic gradient is equal to one
B. hydraulic gradient is less than one
C. hydraulic gradient is greater than one
D. hydraulic gradient is equal to zero

Answer: Option A

83- Darcy’s law in some cases is not valid in

A. clay
B. silt
C. fine sand
D. coarse-gravel

Answer: Option D

84- The drainage property of silty clay is

A. very good
B. good
C. fair
D. very poor

Answer: Option D
 85- What will be the porosity of a soil sample whose void ratio is 0.35?
A. 19.5%
B. 40.65%
C. 25.9%
D. 30%

Answer: Option C

86- ______ is independent of the total volume of the soil mass.

A. Bulk unit weight
B. Dry unit weight
C. Submerged unit weight
D. Unit weight of solids

Answer: Option D

87- For a soil sample, the ratio of saturated unit weight to dry unit weight is equal
to 1.2 and specific gravity of solids GS is 2.65, and then its void ratio will be
A. 0.58
B. 0.66
C. 0.53
D. 0.94

Answer: Option B

88- The air content ratio is defined as the ratio of _____

a) volume of air voids to total volume of the soil mass
b) volume of air voids to volume of total voids
c) volume of air voids to volume of water
d) volume of voids to total volume of the soil mass

Answer: Option B
 89- The relationship between porosity n and void ratio e is given by
A. 1+ n = 1/(1+e)
B. 1- n= 1/(1+e)
C. n= 1/e
D. n= 1/(1+e)

Answer: Option B

90- The density index ID does not express the relative compactness of a natural
cohesion-less soil.
A. True
B. False

Answer: Option B

91- The term density index ID is used for cohesion-less soil only.
A. True
B. False

Answer: Option A

92- The formula for density index ID is

A. ( e max – e )
B. (e max – e ) / ( e min – e )
C. (e max – e min ) / ( e max – e )
D. ( e max – e ) / (e max – e min )

Answer: Option D

93- When the natural state of cohesion-less soil is in its loosest form, its density
index ID is equal to
A. 0
B. 0.5
C. 1
D. 1.5

Answer: Option A
 94- The density index of natural deposit in its densest state is
A. 0
B. 0.5
C. 1
D. 1.5

Answer: Option C

95- The density index ID in terms of densities is given by

A. ( (γd max − γd min) / (γd max − γd) ) . ( γd max / γd )
B. ( (γd − γd min) / (γd max − γd min) ) . ( γd max / γd )
C. ( (γd max − γd) / (γd − γd min) ) . ( γd / γd min )
D. ( (γd − γd min) / (γd − γd max ) ) . ( γd max / γd min )

Answer: Option B

96- The relative compaction Rc is given by

A. γd max field /γd
B. γd field /γd min
C. γd max field /γd max lab
D. γd min field /γd

Answer: Option C

97- The relationship between e, S and na is

A. na = e∗ (1+S) / (1+e)

B. na = e∗ (1−S) / (1−e)
C. na = (1−S) / (1+e)

D. na = e∗ (1−S) / (1+e)

Answer: Option D
 98- A soil deposit has three layers of soil. The permeability of the second layer
is twice that of the first layer and the permeability of the third layer is thrice that
of the first layer. The thickness of each layer is 5m. What will be its average
permeability parallel to the bedding plane?
A. k
B. 2k
C. 3k
D. 4k

Answer: Option B

99- A soil deposit has three layers of soil. The permeability of the second layer
is 1/2 that of the first layer and the permeability of the third layer is 1/3 that of
the first layer. The thickness of each layer is equal. What will be its average
permeability parallel to the bedding plane?
A. 11k
B. 18k
C. 1118k
D. 1811k

Answer: Option C

100- The coefficient of permeability of the two soil layers 1 and 2 in soil
deposit is 9*10-7 cm/s and 4*10-7 cm/s respectively. The thickness of the layers is
equal. The value of average permeability parallel to bedding planes is
A. 4.5*10-7 cm/s
B. 5.5*10-7 cm/s
C. 6.5*10-7 cm/s
D. 7.5*10-7 cm/s

Answer: Option C