Surveying and Levelling MCQs 2026

Surveying is defined as the art of

1. A only drawing maps without measurement ✓
2. B determining relative positions of points on or near the earth surface ✓
3. C only soil testing ✓
4. D only concrete batching ✓

Plane surveying assumes

1. A earth is always treated as sphere in all work ✓
2. B earth curvature is negligible for small areas ✓
3. C no instruments are used ✓
4. D only GPS is valid ✓

Geodetic surveying accounts for

1. A curvature of the earth and spheroidal shape ✓
2. B only room interiors ✓
3. C only laboratory specimens ✓
4. D zero angular measurement ✓

Horizontal angle measurement in theodolite surveying uses

1. A only tape length ✓
2. B only barometric pressure ✓
3. C vernier or optical/electronic readout on graduated circle ✓
4. D slump cone ✓

A chain 20 m long with 100 links has each link length of

1. A 2 m ✓
2. B 0.02 m ✓
3. C 1 m ✓
4. D 0.20 m (20 cm) ✓

Arbitrary correction for absolute length of chain is applied when

1. A only for compass bearings ✓
2. B only for contour labels ✓
3. C never in field work ✓
4. D actual chain length differs from nominal due to wear or temperature ✓

Bowditch rule distributes closing error in traverse proportional to

1. A only latitudes ✓
2. B only departures squared ✓
3. C lengths of traverse legs ✓
4. D random choice ✓

Transit rule is preferred when

1. A only for leveling loops ✓
2. B only for GPS baselines ✓
3. C angular errors are considered more significant than linear ✓
4. D chain is exact ✓

Latitude of a traverse line is

1. A projected north-south component of the line ✓
2. B east-west component ✓
3. C elevation difference ✓
4. D magnetic declination ✓

Departure of a traverse line is

1. A north-south component ✓
2. B vertical angle ✓
3. C chain correction ✓
4. D projected east-west component of the line ✓

Closing error in a traverse is obtained from

1. A vector sum of misclosure in latitude and departure ✓
2. B only first angle ✓
3. C only bench mark elevation ✓
4. D slump test ✓

Acceptable traverse accuracy for ordinary land survey may be about

1. A 1 in 3000 to 1 in 5000 depending on purpose ✓
2. B 1 in 10 ✓
3. C 1 in 1 million always ✓
4. D no limit ✓

Vertical angle in tacheometry is measured with

1. A vertical circle of theodolite or tacheometer ✓
2. B chain only ✓
3. C prism compass only ✓
4. D thermometer ✓

Electronic distance measurement (EDM) determines distance using

1. A only steel tape ✓
2. B only barometer ✓
3. C modulated electromagnetic waves and phase/time measurement ✓
4. D only compass ✓

Total station integrates

1. A only GPS receiver ✓
2. B angle measurement, EDM and microprocessor for coordinates ✓
3. C only dumpy level ✓
4. D only plane table alidade ✓

Trigonometric levelling computes elevation difference using

1. A only temperature of chain ✓
2. B slope distance and vertical angle ✓
3. C only magnetic declination ✓
4. D only slump ✓

Curvature correction in precise levelling is approximately

1. A negligible always in all work ✓
2. B equal to refraction only without sign ✓
3. C independent of distance ✓
4. D 0.0785 × D² km in metres (D in km) ✓

Refraction correction in levelling generally

1. A partially offsets curvature effect ✓
2. B doubles curvature error ✓
3. C eliminates need for instrument ✓
4. D applies only to compass ✓

Errors in chaining on slope require

1. A no correction if tape is steel ✓
2. B only temperature of staff ✓
3. C slope correction to obtain horizontal distance ✓
4. D magnetic bearing change ✓

Sag correction in tape measurement applies when

1. A tape is fully supported on ground ✓
2. B tape is supported only at ends and sags under own weight ✓
3. C using EDM ✓
4. D reading compass ✓

Temperature correction for steel tape is

1. A always negative ✓
2. B zero for invar always ✓
3. C same as sag ✓
4. D positive when temperature exceeds standard ✓

Invar tape is used for

1. A ordinary building offsets only ✓
2. B concrete slump ✓
3. C paint mixing ✓
4. D baseline measurement with low thermal expansion ✓

Triangulation in surveying establishes control using

1. A only level loops ✓
2. B only random offsets ✓
3. C only lab tests ✓
4. D measurement of angles in triangle network ✓

Trilateration measures

1. A only barometric heights ✓
2. B sides of triangles instead of angles primarily ✓
3. C only contours ✓
4. D only magnetic north ✓

GPS surveying provides

1. A only interior angles ✓
2. B 3D coordinates relative to WGS84 or local datum ✓
3. C only concrete strength ✓
4. D only soil Atterberg limits ✓

Differential GPS improves accuracy by

1. A ignoring all satellites ✓
2. B using corrections from base receiver at known point ✓
3. C using only compass ✓
4. D measuring chain sag ✓

RTK GPS can achieve

1. A only 1 km error ✓
2. B no need for satellites ✓
3. C centimetre-level horizontal accuracy in real time ✓
4. D only elevation without horizontal ✓

Scale of a map is the ratio of

1. A map distance to corresponding ground distance ✓
2. B elevation to horizontal distance ✓
3. C area on map to population ✓
4. D chain links to staff divisions ✓

Large scale map shows

1. A smaller detail for larger area ✓
2. B only contours without features ✓
3. C more detail for smaller ground area ✓
4. D only magnetic anomalies ✓

Offset surveying measures

1. A only vertical angles to stars ✓
2. B only laboratory proctor ✓
3. C lateral distances from survey line to features ✓
4. D only w/c ratio ✓

Check line in chain surveying verifies

1. A accuracy of plotted chain lines and offsets ✓
2. B only bench mark stability ✓
3. C only bitumen grade ✓
4. D only cement fineness ✓

Obstacle in chaining is overcome by

1. A ignoring distance ✓
2. B only compass at one end ✓
3. C canceling survey ✓
4. D ranging or offset methods ✓

Well-conditioned triangle has angles preferably

1. A all below 5° ✓
2. B between 30° and 120° ✓
3. C exactly 180° ✓
4. D all 90° only ✓

Station mark in survey should be

1. A erased after each day ✓
2. B only magnetic ✓
3. C stable, identifiable and described in field book ✓
4. D never referenced ✓

Field book records should be

1. A clear, dated and signed with no erasures ✓
2. B rewritten in office from memory ✓
3. C optional for levelling ✓
4. D only sketches without values ✓

Levelling staff is read at

1. A compass needle ✓
2. B theodolite vertical circle only ✓
3. C cross-hairs of level telescope at back and fore sights ✓
4. D chain handle ✓

Pegging out transfers

1. A only lab samples to site ✓
2. B design coordinates from plan to ground with stakes ✓
3. C only rainfall data ✓
4. D only paint colour ✓

Transit rule is preferred when

1. A only for leveling loops ✓
2. B only for GPS baselines ✓
3. C angular errors are considered more significant than linear ✓
4. D chain is exact ✓

Latitude of a traverse line is

1. A projected north-south component of the line ✓
2. B east-west component ✓
3. C elevation difference ✓
4. D magnetic declination ✓

Departure of a traverse line is

1. A north-south component ✓
2. B vertical angle ✓
3. C chain correction ✓
4. D projected east-west component of the line ✓

Closing error in a traverse is obtained from

1. A vector sum of misclosure in latitude and departure ✓
2. B only first angle ✓
3. C only bench mark elevation ✓
4. D slump test ✓

Acceptable traverse accuracy for ordinary land survey may be about

1. A 1 in 3000 to 1 in 5000 depending on purpose ✓
2. B 1 in 10 ✓
3. C 1 in 1 million always ✓
4. D no limit ✓

Vertical angle in tacheometry is measured with

1. A vertical circle of theodolite or tacheometer ✓
2. B chain only ✓
3. C prism compass only ✓
4. D thermometer ✓

Electronic distance measurement (EDM) determines distance using

1. A only steel tape ✓
2. B only barometer ✓
3. C modulated electromagnetic waves and phase/time measurement ✓
4. D only compass ✓

Total station integrates

1. A only GPS receiver ✓
2. B angle measurement, EDM and microprocessor for coordinates ✓
3. C only dumpy level ✓
4. D only plane table alidade ✓

Trigonometric levelling computes elevation difference using

1. A only temperature of chain ✓
2. B slope distance and vertical angle ✓
3. C only magnetic declination ✓
4. D only slump ✓

Curvature correction in precise levelling is approximately

1. A negligible always in all work ✓
2. B equal to refraction only without sign ✓
3. C independent of distance ✓
4. D 0.0785 × D² km in metres (D in km) ✓

Refraction correction in levelling generally

1. A partially offsets curvature effect ✓
2. B doubles curvature error ✓
3. C eliminates need for instrument ✓
4. D applies only to compass ✓

Errors in chaining on slope require

1. A no correction if tape is steel ✓
2. B only temperature of staff ✓
3. C slope correction to obtain horizontal distance ✓
4. D magnetic bearing change ✓

Sag correction in tape measurement applies when

1. A tape is fully supported on ground ✓
2. B tape is supported only at ends and sags under own weight ✓
3. C using EDM ✓
4. D reading compass ✓

Temperature correction for steel tape is

1. A always negative ✓
2. B zero for invar always ✓
3. C same as sag ✓
4. D positive when temperature exceeds standard ✓

Invar tape is used for

1. A ordinary building offsets only ✓
2. B concrete slump ✓
3. C paint mixing ✓
4. D baseline measurement with low thermal expansion ✓

Triangulation in surveying establishes control using

1. A only level loops ✓
2. B only random offsets ✓
3. C only lab tests ✓
4. D measurement of angles in triangle network ✓

Trilateration measures

1. A only barometric heights ✓
2. B sides of triangles instead of angles primarily ✓
3. C only contours ✓
4. D only magnetic north ✓

GPS surveying provides

1. A only interior angles ✓
2. B 3D coordinates relative to WGS84 or local datum ✓
3. C only concrete strength ✓
4. D only soil Atterberg limits ✓

Differential GPS improves accuracy by

1. A ignoring all satellites ✓
2. B using corrections from base receiver at known point ✓
3. C using only compass ✓
4. D measuring chain sag ✓

RTK GPS can achieve

1. A only 1 km error ✓
2. B no need for satellites ✓
3. C centimetre-level horizontal accuracy in real time ✓
4. D only elevation without horizontal ✓

Scale of a map is the ratio of

1. A map distance to corresponding ground distance ✓
2. B elevation to horizontal distance ✓
3. C area on map to population ✓
4. D chain links to staff divisions ✓

Large scale map shows

1. A smaller detail for larger area ✓
2. B only contours without features ✓
3. C more detail for smaller ground area ✓
4. D only magnetic anomalies ✓

Offset surveying measures

1. A only vertical angles to stars ✓
2. B only laboratory proctor ✓
3. C lateral distances from survey line to features ✓
4. D only w/c ratio ✓

Check line in chain surveying verifies

1. A accuracy of plotted chain lines and offsets ✓
2. B only bench mark stability ✓
3. C only bitumen grade ✓
4. D only cement fineness ✓

Obstacle in chaining is overcome by

1. A ignoring distance ✓
2. B only compass at one end ✓
3. C canceling survey ✓
4. D ranging or offset methods ✓

Well-conditioned triangle has angles preferably

1. A all below 5° ✓
2. B between 30° and 120° ✓
3. C exactly 180° ✓
4. D all 90° only ✓

Station mark in survey should be

1. A erased after each day ✓
2. B only magnetic ✓
3. C stable, identifiable and described in field book ✓
4. D never referenced ✓

Field book records should be

1. A clear, dated and signed with no erasures ✓
2. B rewritten in office from memory ✓
3. C optional for levelling ✓
4. D only sketches without values ✓

Levelling staff is read at

1. A compass needle ✓
2. B theodolite vertical circle only ✓
3. C cross-hairs of level telescope at back and fore sights ✓
4. D chain handle ✓

Pegging out transfers

1. A only lab samples to site ✓
2. B design coordinates from plan to ground with stakes ✓
3. C only rainfall data ✓
4. D only paint colour ✓

Setting out right angle on ground can use

1. A only random walk ✓
2. B only slump test ✓
3. C only fly ash content ✓
4. D 3-4-5 triangle method or theodolite ✓

Autolevel differs from dumpy level by having

1. A no telescope ✓
2. B compensator that automatically maintains horizontal line of sight ✓
3. C only GPS chip ✓
4. D fixed vertical collimation ✓

Digital level reads

1. A bar-coded staff automatically reducing reading errors ✓
2. B only magnetic bearings ✓
3. C only chain length by heat ✓
4. D only concrete cubes ✓

Profile levelling along a route gives

1. A longitudinal ground section for road or pipeline design ✓
2. B only property boundaries ✓
3. C only building floor levels indoors ✓
4. D only star altitudes ✓

Cross-section levelling measures

1. A only magnetic declination history ✓
2. B only cement hydration heat ✓
3. C only timber moisture ✓
4. D ground profile perpendicular to centre line ✓

Volume of earthwork between contours can be estimated by

1. A only compass rule ✓
2. B only slump cone ✓
3. C prismoidal or trapezoidal formula between cross-sections ✓
4. D only Vicat test ✓

Survey datum for a project may be

1. A mean sea level, arbitrary benchmark or national datum ✓
2. B only magnetic north ✓
3. C only concrete 28-day strength ✓
4. D only slump mm ✓