← Back to III Grade Overseer (Civil)

Free III Grade Overseer (Civil) Practice

Question 1 of 15

Compare the porosity of sandstone and shale and explain how this difference affects their use in construction and water filtration.

You're trying 15 free practice questions. Sign up to unlock the full question bank with detailed rationales and progress tracking.

Free III Grade Overseer (Civil) Practice Questions

Special RecruitmentThe III Grade Overseer (Civil) exam is conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates of Kerala. This exam offers a government job in the Public Works Department with a pay scale of ₹26,500-60,700. The selection is through direct recruitment, focusing on candidates with SSLC or equivalent qualifications and relevant civil engineering certificates. The exam is online application-based with no fee, and candidates must register via the official Kerala PSC portal.2 VacanciesAge Limit: 18-41 yearsProbation: 2 yearsKerala PSCScheduled Caste/ST OnlyApply online before 03.09.2025

Try 15 free syllabus-aligned practice questions for the III Grade Overseer (Civil) exam. Each question includes instant feedback so you can learn as you go. No sign-up required.

📋 Preview All 15 Practice Questions

Q1. Compare the porosity of sandstone and shale and explain how this difference affects their use in construction and water filtration.

  1. Sandstone has higher porosity than shale, making it better for water filtration but less stable for construction.
  2. Shale has higher porosity than sandstone, making it better for construction and water filtration.
  3. Both have similar porosity, so their uses in construction and filtration are identical.
  4. Sandstone has lower porosity than shale, making it less suitable for water filtration.

Q2. A construction engineer needs a stone that has undergone intense heat and pressure but was originally sedimentary. Which classification of stone should he select?

  1. Igneous stone
  2. Metamorphic stone
  3. Sedimentary stone
  4. Artificial stone

Q3. A construction project requires a rock that is resistant to weathering and has a coarse-grained texture. Which igneous rock type should be recommended?

  1. Granite
  2. Rhyolite
  3. Basalt
  4. Scoria

Q4. Compare the density of basalt and granite and identify which rock would generally be heavier for the same volume.

  1. Basalt is denser and heavier than granite.
  2. Granite is denser and heavier than basalt.
  3. Both have the same density and weight.
  4. Density varies too much to generalize between basalt and granite.

Q5. Compare the uses of marble and quartzite in civil engineering. Which statement correctly distinguishes their typical applications?

  1. Marble is preferred for structural foundations, quartzite for decorative flooring.
  2. Quartzite is used for heavy-duty paving, marble mainly for ornamental purposes.
  3. Both marble and quartzite are equally used for roofing tiles.
  4. Marble is more resistant to acids than quartzite, making it better for industrial floors.

Q6. What is the primary difference between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks in terms of their formation?

  1. Intrusive rocks cool quickly on the Earth's surface, extrusive rocks cool slowly underground.
  2. Intrusive rocks cool slowly underground, extrusive rocks cool quickly on the Earth's surface.
  3. Both intrusive and extrusive rocks cool at the same rate but differ in mineral composition.
  4. Intrusive rocks are formed from sedimentation, extrusive rocks from lava flow.

Q7. Identify the type of rock formed by the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

  1. Sedimentary rock
  2. Metamorphic rock
  3. Igneous rock
  4. Fossiliferous rock

Q8. A sample of a metamorphic rock weighs 2500 kg and has a volume of 1.25 m³. Calculate its density and identify which common metamorphic rock it most likely represents, given typical densities: Slate (2700 kg/m³), Marble (2800 kg/m³), Quartzite (2650 kg/m³), Schist (2600 kg/m³).

  1. 2000 kg/m³, likely Schist
  2. 2500 kg/m³, likely Slate
  3. 2000 kg/m³, likely Marble
  4. 2000 kg/m³, likely none of the above

Q9. Which of the following is the primary basis for the classification of rocks?

  1. Color of the rock
  2. Origin and formation process
  3. Size of the rock fragments
  4. Location where the rock is found

Q10. Compare the characteristics of sedimentary and igneous rocks and select the correct statement.

  1. Sedimentary rocks are formed by cooling of magma; igneous rocks by deposition of sediments.
  2. Igneous rocks often contain fossils; sedimentary rocks do not.
  3. Sedimentary rocks are typically layered; igneous rocks are usually crystalline and non-layered.
  4. Both sedimentary and igneous rocks form under high pressure and temperature conditions.

Q11. A construction project requires a stone that is resistant to weathering and has a fine-grained texture. Which metamorphic rock would be most suitable?

  1. Slate
  2. Quartzite
  3. Marble
  4. Schist

Q12. Identify the type of stone formed by the cooling and solidification of molten magma.

  1. Sedimentary stone
  2. Metamorphic stone
  3. Igneous stone
  4. Limestone

Q13. A rock sample weighs 2500 grams and has a volume of 1000 cm³. If this rock is classified as igneous, what is its density in g/cm³?

  1. 0.4 g/cm³
  2. 2.5 g/cm³
  3. 25 g/cm³
  4. 250 g/cm³

Q14. A construction project requires a sedimentary rock that is highly resistant to weathering and has a fine-grained texture. Which rock type should be recommended?

  1. Shale
  2. Limestone
  3. Conglomerate
  4. Sandstone

Q15. A construction site requires a rock type that has undergone transformation due to heat and pressure but was not melted. Which rock classification fits this requirement?

  1. Igneous rock
  2. Sedimentary rock
  3. Metamorphic rock
  4. Volcanic rock
Free III Grade Overseer (Civil) Practice Questions | Kerala PSC Prep