CXC CSEC Building Technology — Paper 1 (Multiple Choice)

Total marks: 60 · Duration: 75 minutes

Instructions to candidates

• This paper consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. Answer ALL questions.
• Each question has four options, (A), (B), (C) and (D). Choose the one correct answer.
• This paper covers the Core and the Building Technology options (construction materials, processes, drawing, services and safety).

Paper (sample of 20 representative questions)

1. Hardwood is obtained from (1 mark) (A) coniferous trees (B) broad-leaved (deciduous) trees (C) recycled paper (D) bamboo

2. Drying timber to reduce its moisture content is called (1 mark) (A) seasoning (B) sanding (C) jointing (D) preservation

3. Clay bricks are hardened by (1 mark) (A) freezing (B) firing in a kiln (C) painting (D) soaking in water

4. Bricks and blocks are bonded together using (1 mark) (A) mortar (B) paint (C) glue (D) tar

5. Concrete is (1 mark) (A) strong in tension, weak in compression (B) strong in compression, weak in tension (C) strong in both (D) weak in both

6. Steel is added to concrete because steel is strong in (1 mark) (A) tension (B) compression (C) colour (D) weight

7. Keeping concrete moist after pouring so it gains strength is called (1 mark) (A) curing (B) setting (C) painting (D) freezing

8. Coating steel roofing sheets with zinc to prevent rust is called (1 mark) (A) galvanising (B) seasoning (C) curing (D) bonding

9. A single horizontal layer of bricks is called a (1 mark) (A) bond (B) course (C) joint (D) frog

10. The strong interlocking joint used at the corners of drawers is the (1 mark) (A) butt joint (B) halving joint (C) dovetail joint (D) mitre joint

11. A 45° corner joint used in picture frames is the (1 mark) (A) mitre joint (B) dovetail (C) mortise and tenon (D) halving

12. The U-bend that holds water to stop drain gases entering a building is the (1 mark) (A) valve (B) trap (C) gutter (D) ridge

13. In wiring, the earth (safety) conductor is coloured (1 mark) (A) brown (B) blue (C) green and yellow (D) black

14. A device that breaks a circuit if too much current flows is a (1 mark) (A) switch (B) fuse or circuit breaker (C) plug (D) socket

15. A continuous foundation under a load-bearing wall is a (1 mark) (A) pad foundation (B) strip foundation (C) raft only (D) pile only

16. The horizontal part of a step that you stand on is the (1 mark) (A) riser (B) tread (C) landing (D) string

17. PPE stands for (1 mark) (A) Personal Protective Equipment (B) Public Project Estimate (C) Plant and Power Engine (D) Permanent Project Element

18. On a floor plan, a door is shown by (1 mark) (A) a solid black block (B) a gap in the wall with a swing arc (C) a circle (D) hatching

19. A scale of 1:100 on a house plan means 1 unit on the drawing represents (1 mark) (A) 1 unit (B) 10 units (C) 100 units (D) 1000 units

20. A sustainable (green) building practice is (1 mark) (A) using more energy (B) rainwater harvesting and solar energy (C) wasting materials (D) blocking ventilation

(Questions 21–60 continue across the Core and option content at a similar spread.)