PCS2 Pre- Midterm Exam (Part 1)Online version
This examination consists of scenario-based multiple-choice questions covering the core principles, standards, and practices of road construction, building construction design, highway survey and investigation, and detailed engineering surveys as discussed in the course material. Read each scenario carefully before selecting the most appropriate answer from the given options. Each question is worth one point; there is only one correct answer for every item. This assessment evaluates your ability to apply relevant codes, standards, and technical knowledge to realistic construction and engineering situations. Good luck, God bless and enjoy!
1
An emergency structural failure occurs at an active construction site, requiring immediate evacuation and quick repairs to prevent accidents. Which leadership style is MOST appropriate for the project manager to use in this situation?
a
Democratic: Ask all team members for suggestions before deciding
b
Laissez-faire: Let workers decide how to fix the issue on their own
c
Autocratic: Give clear, direct instructions without delay
d
Humanistic: Hold a long meeting to discuss everyone’s concerns first
2
A project manager notices that material costs are rising faster than planned. Instead of jumping straight to cutting worker wages, they follow the 7-step decision process: first confirm the exact cause of the cost increase, set targets for acceptable spending, list possible solutions, analyze each option, pick the best one, apply it, and check results over time. At which step does the manager first define what they need to achieve?
a
Identify the problem
b
Set objectives
c
Develop alternatives
d
Select the best solution
3
You are managing a government-funded road project under RA 9184. A dispute arises between your technical team and the finance team over budget allocations. You gather input from both sides, ensure all instructions are written clearly, and make sure the final decision balances cost limits and safety standards. Which combination of management approaches are you applying?
a
Strict Scientific Management only
b
Humanistic Management + clear functional alignment
c
Autocratic leadership + informal decision making
d
Centralized authority without delegation
4
You need to shorten your project’s total duration by 3 days to meet a government deadline. According to the material, what is the correct approach for project crashing?
a
Shorten any tasks that are easy to speed up
b
Add extra resources to non-critical tasks to save time
c
Shorten critical path activities at the lowest possible extra cost
d
Skip dummy activities and milestones to cut time
5
Your team proposes two changes to speed up the project:
1. Shorten the roofing task, which has 6 days of float
2. Shorten the foundation pouring task, which is on the critical path
You follow the 7-step decision process to analyze both options, then select only the second option. Which two concepts guided your choice?
a
Overconfidence bias + Gantt chart limitations
b
Functional alignment + dummy activity rules
c
Systematic decision process + critical path principle
d
Humanistic management + probabilistic time estimates
6
Your project has a total duration of 40 days. Task X is on the critical path; Task Y has 7 days of free float. Which action follows proper management and scheduling rules?
a
Delay Task X by 3 days, since total duration is flexible
b
Reassign staff from Task Y to Task X, without delaying the project
c
Report Task Y as critical, since it has available float
d
Shorten Task Y to reduce total project duration
7
A sudden supply delay puts your project 5 days behind schedule, and you need to meet the government deadline. You call the team, explain the situation clearly, listen to their suggestions for adjustments, then decide to add overtime to the critical path task with the lowest extra cost. Which combination of actions does this demonstrate?
a
Autocratic leadership + random task shortening
b
Democratic leadership + proper project crashing
c
Laissez-faire management + use of float
d
Scientific management + dummy activity adjustment
8
Your team proposes a plan to speed up building works, claiming it is "100% risk-free" based only on past similar projects, and refuses to consider alternative approaches. What common decision-making pitfall is this team showing?
a
Refusal to admit mistakes
b
Poor process
c
Overconfidence and bias
d
Lack of monitoring
9
Scenario: An existing concrete road has widespread potholes, uneven settling, and water seeping up through joints when heavy trucks pass. What does this condition indicate?
a
Poor-quality surface concrete only
b
Inadequate subgrade strength or drainage failure
c
Normal wear after 5 years of use
d
Excessive superelevation on curves
10
Scenario: An architect submits final drawings for a 4-story commercial building. The project manager brings in foremen, surveyors, and supply supervisors early to review the plans, splits the work into phases (site prep, foundation, framing, finishing), and assigns clear responsibilities for each phase.
Which key pre-planning practice does this action reflect?
a
Relying only on upper management for planning
b
Involving key field staff and breaking work into manageable components
c
Using Gantt charts to show activity dependencies
d
Deferring manpower estimates until construction starts
11
Scenario: A rural road PM: 1) sets clear team roles; 2) checks design feasibility; 3) resolves design conflicts step-by-step; 4) uses bar charts for timelines.
Which sequence matches?
a
Organization, pre-planning, decision making, scheduling
b
Pre-planning, procurement, decision making, monitoring
c
Management, contracting, scheduling, risk assessment
d
Delegation, budgeting, planning, maintenance
12
Scenario: After failed concrete tests, the contractor follows a full step-by-step process and invites feedback to avoid bias.
Which practice are they using?
a
Skipping analysis to speed up work
b
7-step systematic process + bias prevention
c
Prioritizing speed over facts
d
Ignoring differing opinions
13
Scenario: A leader chooses a subcontractor based on first impression, dismisses safety concerns, and refuses to review the choice.
This is an example of:
a
Effective discipline
b
Proper priority setting
c
Common decision-making pitfalls
d
Transparent analysis
14
Scenario: For a new public school project, the PM balances structured rules with team input. An engineer proposes a safety upgrade with minor extra cost; the manager calls a team meeting instead of deciding alone.
Which principle and approach is demonstrated?
a
Narrow span of control + Scientific Management
b
Clear authority-responsibility + Autocratic Management
c
Functional alignment + Humanistic Management
d
Simplification + Strict hierarchical control
15
Scenario: A new public market design does not include ramps, handrails, or accessible toilet facilities. Which law is being violated?
a
Fire Code of the Philippines
b
National Building Code IRR
c
Batas Pambansa 344 (Accessibility Law)
d
Philippine Green Building Code
16
Scenario: A truss collapsed during strong winds because individual members separated at joints. Which critical detail was missing?
a
Insufficient concrete cover
b
No gusset plates at truss connections
c
Too many J-bolts installed
d
Missing lintel beams
17
Scenario: CHB walls in a new building collapsed during minor earthquake shaking. What is the most common cause?
a
Use of high-quality cement
b
Inadequate dowels/anchorage rebars connecting walls to columns and beams
c
Walls thicker than required
d
Too many window openings
18
Scenario: The project team is preparing to design a new provincial road. What is the primary goal of conducting survey and mapping activities before design begins?
a
To calculate total construction cost only
b
To accurately record existing ground conditions, boundaries, and features for safe, feasible design
c
To select construction equipment in advance
d
To confirm the contractor’s bid requirements
19
Scenario: The alignment passes through soft, low-lying ground. Which survey/investigation provides data for foundation and pavement design?
a
Traffic volume count
b
Subsurface soil exploration and sampling
c
Aerial photography only
d
Historical land use review
20
Scenario: You are upgrading an existing barangay road. Which survey evaluates surface condition, distress, and remaining structural life?
a
Pavement condition survey
b
Property boundary survey
c
Weather pattern survey
d
Population survey
21
Scenario: The design team needs to mark the exact start, curves, and end points of the road, plus distances along the route. What survey element is used?
a
Benchmark list
b
Stationing/alignment layout
c
Soil profile
d
Drainage inventory
22
Scenario: The route is near an active fault and steep slopes. Which additional survey/investigation is most critical?
a
Geological hazard and slope stability survey
b
Shop drawing review
c
Concrete strength testing
d
Construction schedule planning
23
Scenario: The design team needs precise, site-specific data to finalize horizontal/vertical alignment, drainage, and structural dimensions. What is the main objective of a Detailed Engineering Survey?
a
Approximate site layout for budget estimates
b
Provide accurate, high-precision data for final design and construction plans
c
Only mark property boundaries for land acquisition
d
Replace geotechnical soil testing
24
Scenario: To ensure consistent grade levels and proper drainage flow, all elevations must be referenced to a fixed national benchmark. This is part of:
a
Horizontal control survey
b
Vertical leveling and benchmark survey
c
Slope stability assessment
d
Pavement roughness test
25
Scenario: The team marks the exact centerline, curves, and chainage (e.g., Sta. 1+200) along the route. This process is called:
a
Preliminary route sketching
b
Detailed alignment survey and stationing
c
ROW acquisition survey
d
Construction progress monitoring
Tissues - Practice Quiz