Materials: Concrete, Timber, Metals & Synthetics is one of 9 topics in the Grade 10 Civil Technology CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Which FOUR ingredients are combined to make concrete?
Cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (stone) and water
Cement, lime, paint and water
Sand, gravel, timber and water
Cement, water, steel and glass
Answer: Cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (stone) and water — Concrete is made by combining cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (stone), and water in the correct proportions.
Easy
2. What is the main difference between mortar and concrete?
Mortar contains no coarse aggregate (stone), while concrete does
Mortar contains coarse aggregate but concrete does not
Mortar never contains cement
Concrete is only used for bonding bricks, never mortar
Answer: Mortar contains no coarse aggregate (stone), while concrete does — Unlike concrete, mortar contains no coarse aggregate (stone), since it needs to be workable enough to spread in thin, even joints between bricks.
Medium
3. Name the chemical process by which cement and water react to bind aggregate together into hardened concrete.
Answer: hydration — Hydration is the chemical reaction between cement and water that binds the aggregate together into hard, strong concrete.
