AKI School of Engineering 6165-10-002 Basic Construction Skills

03 – TROWEL VOCATIONS
(Old Questions)

This paper contains 66 questions.

Answer them using the ‘boxes’ numbered 1 to 66 on the answer sheet.

1. A hand tool usually used to rake out joints for lead flashings and cutting small holes to receiver wood
plugs is called,
(a) cold chisel (b) pitching tool
(c) plugging chisel (d) blocking chisel

2. A hand tool usually used to consolidate the concretes after being placed in position is called
(a) a shovel (b) a rammer
(c) a float (d) hand board

3. A temporary boards which are placed along both sides of a surface and used to guide the ends of the
screed board is called,
(a) straight edge (b) screed board
(c) screed rail (d) hand board

4. The maximum and minimum size of sand is,

(a) 3.8 mm and 0.02 mm (b) 4.8 mm and 0.07 mm
(c) 5.8 mm and 0.06 mm (d) 6.8 mm and 0.05 mm

5. The maximum size of coarse aggregate for R.C. work is

(a) 22 mm (b) 28 mm
(c) 19 mm (d) 38 mm

6. (1:1:2) Black mortar mix ratio means 1 part cement,

(a) 1 part ash and 2 parts sand (b) 1 part lime, I part ash and 2 parts sand
(c) 1 part ash, I part time and 2 parts sand (d) 1 part lime, I part sand and 2 parts ashes

7. 100 to 450 mm long and 9 to 19 mm wide chisel usually used for cutting channels and holes in walls is
called,
(a) pitching tool (b) plugging chisel
(c) cold chisel (d) blocking chisel

8. The concrete after being placed in position is consolidated by

(a) straight edge (b) brick hammer
(c) rammer (d) steel float

9. A hand tool usually used by the brick layer to hold a small quantity of mortar while engaged in pointing
brick work is called
(a) trowel (b) jointer
(c) hawk (d) pointing tool
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10. Which one of the following is the brick layer’s hand tool NOT usually used for cutting bricks, channels
and holes in wall?
(a) cold chisel (b) plugging chisel
(c) pitching tool (d) jointer

11. A hand tool with either a flat, grooved concave or convex edge used for pointing brick works is called,
(a) pointing trowel (b) jointer
(c) laying trowel (d) scotch

12. For general walling work the usual mix of cement mortor is
(a) 1 part sand to 4 parts cement (b) 1 part cement to 6 parts sand
(c) 1 part cement to 4 parts sand (d) 1 part sand to 6 parts cement

13. Initial setting time of ordinary portland cement is

(a) not less than 1 hour (b) not more than 30 minutes
(c) not less than 30 minutes (d) not more than 20 minutes

14. Which one of the following hand tools, mainly used for checking the alignment of the brick faces?
(a) line and pins (b) plumb bob
(c) straight edge (d) spirit level

15. Which one of the following tools usually used for dressing cut surface of bricks after they have been
split with the bolster?
(a) pitching tool (b) scutch
(c) brick hammer (d) trowel

16. Hand tool usually used to scratch or comb the under coat of plaster to a depth of 3 mm to 5 mm, to form
for finishing coat is called.
(a) wooden float (b) laying trowel
(c) nail float (d) tamper

17. A mason’s hand tool usually used for cutting hard brick or stones is called.
(a) plugging chisel (b) bolster
(c) scutch (d) pitching tool

18. A brick layer’s hand tool usually used together with straight edge, for getting horizontal surface is called,
(a) spirit level (b) line and pins
(c) plumb bob (d) screed board

19. Plasticizers are used in mortar in order to,

(a) slow down setting time (b) speed up setting time
(c) increase strength (d) improve workability

20. The mix ratio suitable for a medium density concrete floors slab would be,
(a) 1 part cement : 2 parts fine a aggregates : 3 parts coarse aggregates
(b) 1 part cement : 2 parts fine a aggregates : 4 parts coarse aggregates
(c) 1 part cement : 4 parts fine aggregates : 8 parts coarse aggregates
(d) 1 part cement : 1 part fine aggregates : 6 parts coarse aggregates
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21. At the end of the working day, brick work and masonry trowels should be
(a) stored in a bucket of water over night
(b) put in the site store shed
(c) left in a bucket on the scaffolding
(d) washed thoroughly, dried and stored in a tool box or bag

22. At the end of the working day, an electric concrete mixer should be
(a) filled with water and left until required for mixing again
(b) covered with a tarpaulin weighted down with stones
(c) thoroughly washed, cable rolled up and dry stored
(d) wire brushes and oiled.

23. At the end of the working period, a petrol engine rotary mortar should be
(a) covered with a protective sheet
(b) washed out thoroughly
(c) filled with sand ready for the following
(d) filled with water

24. A small rotary mixer will be stored in

(a) rain (b) enclosure
(c) hut (d) safety room

25. One bag of cement weighs

(a) 15 kilograms (b) 25 kilograms
(c) 50 kilograms (d) 60 kilograms

26. A (1:2:4) cement concrete mix ratio means

(a)one part lime, two parts sand, four parts gravel
(b) one part cement, six parts all in gravel (ungrade)
(c) one part cement, two parts water, four parts crushed rock
(d) one part cement two parts fine aggregates, four parts coarse aggregates

27. A (1:3) cement mortar mix ratio means

(a) one part lime, three parts cement (b) one part water, three parts cements
(c) one part cement, three parts sand (d) one part sand, three parts cements

28. A (1:1:1:6) composite concrete mix ratio means

(a) one part lime, one part cement, one part coarse aggregate, six parts sand
(b) one part cement, one part lime, one part sand, six parts coarse aggregates
(c) one part coarse aggregates, one part lime, one part sand, six parts cement
(d) one part water, one part cement, one part lime, six parts sand

29. A mixture mainly used for bedding and jointing of brick work is called
(a) concrete (b) mortar
(c) plaster (d) putty

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30. A hand tool used for moving stones, concrete etc is called,
(a) Float (b)Trowel
(c) Shovel (d) Hawk

31. The brick layer ensures the work is plumb by

(a) sighting down the walking from above
(b) checking regularly with a spirit plumb or plumb bob
(c) checking with a straight edge
(d) standing back from the wall and sighting from one end

32. After use wood working tools should be

(a) washed and dried (b) free of any resin build-up and store safely
(c) kept in water tight container (d) wrapped in oily rags

33. A volume mix ratio for a medium strength concrete floor slab would be,
(a) 1 part lime : 2 parts fine aggregate : 4 parts coarse aggregate
(b) 1 part cement : 6 parts coarse aggregate
(c) 1 part cement : 1 part coarse aggregate : 1 part fine aggregate
(d) 1 part cement : 2 parts fine aggregate : 4 parts coarse aggregate

34. Ordinary portland cement has an initial setting time of

(a) not less than 45 minutes (b) not more then 45 minutes
(c) not less than 24 hours (d) not more than 24 hours

35. When mixing has finished, a rotary concrete mixer drum should be
(a) filled with gravel ready for the next day
(b) filled with large stones until next mixing required
(c) filled with sand and water
(d) washed out with water and a brush

36. The brick layers trowel is used to

(a) cut light weight blocks
(b) mix batches of mortar
(c) smooth the surface of rendering
(d) pick up and spread mortar

37. After use, a steel plastering trowel should be

(a) left in a bucket of water
(b) washed, dried, lightly oiled, stored in a tool box
(c) washed, left on the scaffold
(d) rubbed with a stone

38. A scratcher or comb is used to

(a) form grooves in blockwork before plastering
(b) form a pattern on the surface of a concrete path
(c) form a key in the surface of the first coat of rendering
(d) mix adhesive for fixing floor tiles
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39. When rendering the face of a block wall a straightedge or rule is used to
(a) mark out the joint lines of the blocks on the rendering
(b) check the block work for plumb
(c) place at the base of the wall to catch mortar droppings
(d) produce a plumb and true plane surface finish

Figure (1)
40. The figure (1) shown is
(a) bolster chisel
(b) floor scraper
(c) jointer
(d) stonemasonry trowel

41. Which one of the following shows the section of a mortar joint finished with a pointing trowel?

(a) (b) (c) (d)

42. Coarse aggregates for concrete consists of:

(a) mineral materials over 5mm
(b) ungraded crushed material
(c) large stones mixed in the concrete
(d) mineral materials less than 5mm

43. The most suitable mortar mix ratio for medium strength facing brick of block walling in a low rain
exposure area is
(a) 1 part cement : 1 part lime : 3 parts sand
(b) 1 part cement : 1 part lime : 1 part sand
(c) 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 1 part plasticiser
(d) 1 part cement : 1 part lime : 6 parts sand

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Figure (2)
44. The figure (2) shows a plasterer’s tool which is usually termed a
(a) screeding board (b) hand hawk
(c) tamping board (d) joint finisher

45. After pouring concrete between forms for a floor, the next operation should be to
(a) compact with a hammer
(b) level off using a brush
(c) compact with a tamping beam
(d) rub over with a wood float

46. Fine aggregate particles have a maximum size of

(a) 3 mm (b) 5 mm
(c) 7 mm (d) 10 mm

477. Which one of the following is a suitable coarse aggregate for medium strength concrete?
(a) Expanded polystyrene pellets
(b) Burnt lime stone
(c) Crushed rock chippings
(d) Seashore sand

48. The correct use of a bolster chisel is to

(a) remove large nails
(b) cut bricks and blocks with a lump hammer
(c) split slates with a wooden mallet
(d) cut reinforced steel with a lump hammer

49. A 1:3:6 concrete mix ratio means

(a) one part lime, 3 parts fine sand, 6 parts coarse sand
(b) one part cement, 3 parts coarse sand, 6 parts all-in gravel
(c) one part cement,3 parts coarse sand, 6 parts courage aggregate
(d) one part lime, 3 parts crushed sand stone, 6 parts crushed gypsum

50. A wood or plastic float is used to

(a) smooth out small imperfections in the final finish of cement rendering
(b) compact the sand bedding for paving stabs
(c) apply the first coat of plaster on block walling
(d) smooth and polish the final skim coat on gypsum plastering

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Figure (3)
51. The illustration figure (3) shows a
(a) plastering trowel for vertical rendering
(b) hand tamper for compacting concrete
(c) wood or plastic finishing float
(d) gauge to determine the thickness of rendering coat.

52. An ordinary cement concrete (mass concrete) is very weak in tension. Thus it is strengthened by adding
steel rods. Such concrete abbreviated as,
(a) vacuum (b) light weight concrete
(c) foamed (d) reinforced concrete

53. After use, a steel plastering trowel MUST be

(a) wiped with an oily cloth (b) left to soaker in water
(c) brushed and wax polished (d) washed and dried with a cloth

Figure (4)

54. The bonding of blockwork shown in figure (4) is known as

(a) English bond (b) Block bond
(c) Stack Bond (d) Stretcher bond

55. The most suitable mortar mix ratio for medium strength facing brick or block walling in a low rain
exposure area is
(a) 1 part cement : 1 part lime : 3 part sand
(b) 1 part cement : 1 part lime : 1 part sand
(c) 1 part cement : 1 part sand : 1 part plasticiser
(d) 1 part cement : 1 part lime : 6 parts sand.

56. Wide surface of brick wall plastering by

(a) Float (b) Straight edge
(b) Jointer (d) comb

57. Plastering means

(a) closing the brick joints (b) smoothing the brick surface
(c) leveling (d) bedding
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58. After placing concrete next step is:

(a) curing (b) watering
(c) compacting (d) leveling

59. In the figure below, the label A is

(a)Stretcher (b) Header
(c) Queen Closer (d) Frog

A
C

B
Figure (5)

60. The figure shown is

(a) flush pointing (b) weatherstruck pointing
(c) recessed pointing (d) beaded pointing

Figure (6)

61. Cement mortar ratio for plastering concrete work is

(a) 1:3 (b) 1:4
(c) 1:5 (d) 1:6

62. Cement concrete ratio for piers, abutments, concrete walls, sill of windows, floors construction is
(a) 1:2:4 (b) 1:3:6
(c) 1:4:8 (d) 1:1:2

63. Covering with thin sheet of plastic or jute or with wet gunny bags or straw is the process of
(a) mixing (b) placing
(c) compacting (d) curing

64. The purpose of “slump test” is

(a) to determine the compressive strength of concrete
(b) to determine the tensile strength of steel
(c) to determine the workability of concrete
(d) to determine the plasticity index (PI) of mortar

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65. Grinder is used for

(a) mixing concrete
(b) compacting concrete
(c) making the construction joints
(d) hole in concrete walls or concrete floors

66. Using the extract from a supplies catalog figure attached, a two side opening, or fixed pane window to
fit an opening 1350 mm x 1205 mm high is
(a) JC3N12CV (b) JC2N12CC
(c) JC2N12V (d) JC3N12CC

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…..………………………………End Of Questions………………..…………..

Issued By; Sir Min Htet Myint [B.Tech (Civil)]

Level-5 Advanced Diploma in Construction
Level-3 Applied Diploma in Construction
Level-3 Applied Diploma in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Level-3 Applied Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (City & Guilds, UK)

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