GATE Exam Practice Set 2

GATE — Architecture & Planning: 50 Practice Questions

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1. The concept of 'open plan' in modern architecture primarily refers to:

A. Strict compartmentalisation of spaces B. Flexible, flowing interior spaces with fewer partitions C. Use of ornate internal partitions D. Mandatory central courtyard

2. In planning, the 'Green Belt' policy is intended to:

A. Increase urban density without open spaces B. Provide land for commercial expansion C. Restrict urban sprawl and protect open land around a city D. Zone areas for heavy industry

3. Which architect is associated with the phrase 'form follows function'?

A. Louis Sullivan B. Frank Gehry C. Christopher Wren D. Zaha Hadid

4. 'Climatic design' in architecture primarily addresses:

A. Acoustic performance only B. Fire safety measures only C. Structural load paths only D. Passive strategies responding to local climate to reduce energy use

5. The 'charter of Athens' (CIAM) promoted which urban principle?

A. Organic, medieval street patterns B. Functional zoning separating living, work and leisure areas C. Low-density rural settlements D. Integration of heavy industry into residential cores

6. Which material is most suitable for long-span lightweight structures?

A. Solid brick B. Stone masonry C. Steel (structural steel) D. Rammed earth

7. 'Passive solar design' uses building orientation mainly to:

A. Maximise useful solar gains in winter and minimise overheating in summer B. Improve indoor acoustics C. Reduce wind loads only D. Increase foundation depth

8. In urban design, 'permeability' typically refers to:

A. The porosity of the soil B. The number of buildings per hectare C. The strength of building materials D. Ease of movement and connectivity through an area for pedestrians and vehicles

9. 'Net zero energy building' means:

A. Building with no electricity use at all B. Annual on-site renewable energy equals the building's energy consumption C. Building has zero construction cost D. Building that is entirely off-grid without any utilities

10. In drawing conventions, a 'section' shows:

A. A cut through a building to show internal arrangements B. The site boundary only C. Aerial view of city layout D. A photograph of the building

11. The planning concept 'mixed land use' primarily supports:

A. Single-use zoning to separate functions B. Increased vehicular travel distances C. Closer integration of residential, commercial and institutional uses D. Only industrial uses in city cores

12. 'Thermal mass' in buildings is beneficial because it:

A. Increases roof height B. Stores and slowly releases heat to moderate indoor temperatures C. Reduces structural loads D. Improves acoustic insulation only

13. 'Wayfinding' in public buildings refers to:

A. Landscaping design only B. Structural detailing only C. HVAC strategies only D. Helping users navigate through a building using signs, cues and layout

14. 'Biophilic design' aims to:

A. Increase connection to nature within the built environment B. Maximise paved surfaces C. Exclude natural light D. Prioritise automobiles in urban cores

15. Which is an example of a low-impact development technique for stormwater?

A. Increasing impermeable roof area B. Sealing gutters to prevent infiltration C. Bioswales and rain gardens to infiltrate runoff D. Removing street trees

16. 'Axonometric projection' is used in architectural drawings to:

A. Show elevations only B. Represent a 3D object without perspective foreshortening C. Replace site plans entirely D. Provide structural load calculations

17. The primary function of a 'brise-soleil' is to:

A. Reduce direct solar heat gain on facades B. Provide structural support to foundations C. Collect rainwater for reuse D. Increase acoustic reverberation

18. In sustainable design, 'life cycle assessment' (LCA) analyses:

A. Only the construction cost B. Only the operating energy use C. Only demolition impacts D. Environmental impacts throughout a product or building's life span

19. 'Floor Area Ratio (FAR)' determines:

A. The percentage of site covered by vegetation B. The total permitted built floor area divided by plot area C. The number of parking bays required only D. The minimum setback from road

20. Which is a primary goal of 'universal design'?

A. Design only for able-bodied users B. Design that requires specialised adaptations for each user C. Create environments usable by all people without adaptation D. Maximise exclusive areas within buildings

21. 'Adaptive reuse' of a building typically involves:

A. Converting an existing building for a new purpose B. Demolishing and rebuilding identical structure C. Leaving a building unused indefinitely D. Only restoring facades without interior work

22. Which code in India gives guidelines for structural design with respect to seismic loads?

A. IS 456 only B. NBC (US) only C. Eurocode only D. IS 1893 (Indian Standard for earthquake loads)

23. 'Transit-Oriented Development' (TOD) emphasizes:

A. Car-oriented suburban sprawl B. High-density, mixed-use development near transit stations C. Exclusively industrial zoning near transit D. Reducing public transport services

24. Which glazing strategy helps reduce heat gain while allowing daylight?

A. Large single-pane clear glazing without shading B. Opaque walls only C. Shading devices with high-performance glazing D. Permanent external boarding of windows

25. 'Sustainable urban drainage systems' aim to:

A. Reduce runoff and improve water quality using natural processes B. Increase sealed surfaces to speed runoff C. Divert all stormwater to combined sewers D. Remove vegetation from catchments

26. 'Curtain wall' system in façades means:

A. Load-bearing wall made of brick B. Non-load-bearing façade hung from structural frame C. Traditional lime plaster wall D. Earth bermed wall system

27. In acoustics for auditoria, 'reverberation time' should generally be:

A. As long as possible for speech intelligibility B. Eliminated completely C. Matched to the function (shorter for speech, longer for music) D. Fixed at 10 seconds for all halls

28. 'Heat island effect' in cities is caused mainly by:

A. Excessive vegetation cover B. Underground water bodies C. High albedo surfaces everywhere D. Extensive dark, impervious surfaces and reduced vegetation

29. 'Night ventilation' as a passive cooling strategy relies on:

A. Cooling building mass at night to reduce daytime temperatures B. Daytime mechanical cooling only C. Increasing solar gain at night D. Using insulation only

30. 'Sightlines' in theatre design are important because they:

A. Increase HVAC loads B. Provide structural support to fly tower C. Ensure unobstructed view of stage for audience members D. Determine acoustic absorption only

31. 'Setback' regulation affects:

A. Roof material selection B. Distance between building and site boundary C. Type of structural foundation only D. Internal furniture layout

32. 'Universal accessibility' requires consideration of:

A. Ramps, tactile indicators, accessible toilets and clear circulation B. Only decorative finishes C. Reducing doorway widths to save space D. Excluding elevators in multistorey buildings

33. 'Landscape urbanism' primarily emphasises:

A. Vehicle-oriented highways through the city B. High-rise homogeneous towers only C. Integration of landscape, ecology and urban design D. Eliminating public open spaces

34. 'Blind spot' in vehicular design refers to:

A. The area under car chassis B. Glare from headlights only C. Pavement failure zone D. Areas not visible to the driver without mirrors or sensors

35. 'Green building rating systems' (like LEED) primarily assess:

A. Only aesthetic qualities B. Environmental performance including energy, water and materials C. Only structural safety D. Only historic authenticity

36. 'Wayleave' in site planning usually refers to:

A. Decorative boundary fencing only B. Garden layout plan only C. Legal right to run services (like cables, pipes) across a property D. Temporary scaffolding plan only

37. 'Cross-ventilation' is effective when:

A. There are openings on opposite sides of a space to allow airflow B. All openings face the same direction only C. Windows are fully sealed D. Using only mechanical fans

38. 'Plinth' of a building refers to:

A. The roof finish B. Interior flooring only C. Window frame detail only D. The base of a building between ground level and floor level

39. 'Setback' requirements influence which of the following most directly?

A. Internal wall finishes B. Available open space around a building C. Material thickness of slabs D. Number of sanitary fixtures only

40. 'Spot elevations' on a topographic survey indicate:

A. Soil types at locations B. Vegetation types at points C. Exact ground elevation at specific points D. Historical building ages only

41. 'Load-bearing wall' construction differs from framed construction because:

A. Walls carry structural loads in load-bearing method B. It always uses steel frames only C. It does not require foundations D. It is only used for skyscrapers

42. 'Focal point' in urban design is used to:

A. Hide all pedestrian routes B. Increase traffic congestion C. Reduce public open space D. Draw visual attention and organise spatial hierarchy

43. 'Daylight factor' is a measure of:

A. Ratio of window area to floor area only B. Indoor illuminance as a percentage of outdoor illuminance under overcast sky C. Solar heat gain only D. Number of windows in a facade

44. 'Edge city' refers to:

A. Medieval walled towns only B. Rural market towns primarily C. Suburban concentration of business, shopping and entertainment outside traditional downtown D. Coastal fishing villages only

45. 'Setback' and 'height controls' together influence:

A. Urban form, daylight and street enclosure B. Only internal finishes C. Only the cost of materials D. Soil composition exclusively

46. 'Floor finish' selection must consider which of the following least?

A. Durability and maintenance B. Slip resistance for users C. Thermal comfort for occupants D. Colour of structural steel members (least relevant)

47. In heritage conservation, 'minimal intervention' means:

A. Complete replacement of historic fabric B. Only do what is necessary to conserve and stabilise without altering authenticity C. Add modern elements extensively D. Demolish and build replicas

48. 'Retrofitting' existing buildings for energy efficiency typically involves:

A. Adding insulation, upgrading glazing and improving services B. Increasing thermal leaks intentionally C. Removing all ventilation D. Demolition only

49. 'Tactile paving' is primarily used to:

A. Increase waterproofing of pavements B. Reduce paving durability C. Assist visually impaired pedestrians by providing surface cues D. Decorative, non-functional surface only

50. 'Urban regeneration' projects most often aim to:

A. Permanently prevent any land-use change B. Revitalise declining areas by improving housing, public spaces and services C. Increase landfill sites in urban centres D. Exclude local communities from planning processes

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