EARTHMOVING MECHANIC PRE-INTERVIEW TEST

NAME: ____________________________________

IDENTITY. NO.: ________________________ Sign: ______________

DATE: ____________________________________

FACILITATOR: ________________ SIGN: _________ Marks obtained: ______

Pass mark: 80% Total Marks: 106 Time Allowed: 1 hr 30min

SECTION 1: Safety

1.1What is an accident? (2)

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1.2 Mention 5 requirements for good housekeeping in the workplace. (5)

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1.3 Give the importance of wearing the following when you are in the workshop.
(3)
Goggles: _____________________________________

Hand gloves: _____________________________________

Safety shoes: _____________________________________

1.4 PPE stands for? (1)

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1.5 When are you expected to report a minor accident that occurred in the
workplace? (1)
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SECTION 2: Engineering Science [ Scientific calculator is required]

2.1 State Newton’s First Law. (3)

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2.2 A motor car travelling at 90km/h on a straight road, then accelerates at 2,7 m⁄s 2 .
Calculate the time it will take to reach a speed of 125km/h. (3)

Formulas: v 2 = U 2 + 2aS ; s = at; v = u + at

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2.3 Assume that the mass of a steel ball is 5 kg and is falling from a height of 8m.
(4)
Calculate:
2.3.1 The energy at the highest point.
2.3.2 The energy when the ball hits the ground.
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Formulas: Ep= m g h ; v 2 = u2 + 2gs ; Ek = mv 2
2

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2.4 On the given electrical circuit below calculate the following: (6)
2.4.1 Voltage drop across R1, R2 & R3
2.4.2 Total resistance
2.4.3 Total current.

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2.5 State Pascal’s Law. (3)

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2.6 An effort of 134 N is applied to the end of the lever of the hydraulic press. The
mechanical advantage is 12. The diameter of the plunger is 25 mm and that of the ram is 203
mm. The efficiency of the press is 80 %. Calculate the force exerted by the ram.
(5)

w D2 F
= Effort =
F d2 M⋅A
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SECTION 3: MATHEMATICS

3.1 Solve for x: x 2 − 1 = 0 (2)

1 1
3.2 Prove that: + =1 (2)
2 2

3.3 Solve for x: x 2 = 4 (2)

3.4 solve for x. (2)

2x = 4

3.5 Calculate the surface area of the circle if the diameter is 1meter. (2)

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3.6 Calculate the circumference of the pulley on the engine with the diameter of 200mm.
(2)

Convert the following:

3.6.1 20cm = ………mm (1)

3.6.2 1Litre = ……..ml (1)

3.6.3 1 cubic meter = ………Litres (1)

3.6.4 1km =………….meters (1)

3.6.5 1Kpa=…………Pascals (1

Section 4: DIESEL TRADE THEORY

4.1 Mention the 4 strokes of a four stroke cycle engine in sequence and state the position of
the valves and the piston during each stroke (12)

STROKE PISTON POSITION VALVE POSITION

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4.2 Give 4 causes of overheating on the engine. (4)
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4.3 What is the difference between a diesel and a petrol engine? Give one.
(1)
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4.4 Name the parts of the engine as per numbering

1. 2.
3. 4.
5. 6.
7. 8.
9. 10.
11. 12.
13. 14.
15.

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Section 5

Read the text below. Answer the questions that follow.

The encouragement of a friendly relative to an enterprising nephew to register on the KwaZulu-

Natal Department of Transport’s database has a decade later seen a new contracting company
add value to the construction scene in this coastal province.

Rob Mngoma was working in retail when an uncle sensed his growing frustration and
suggested he register with the provincial government’s database for emerging contractors. “This
was back in 1999 and had it not been for another Good Samaritan, a very kind man I simply knew
as Graham, I would never have learnt to read or complete tender documents as well,” he says
from his office in Durban. “Five months after registering and completing my first ever tender
document, I received a call from the Department of Transport requesting me to come and sign a
contract which would see my new and very green enterprise, installing gabions and doing
maintenance on a district road linking Dududu with Umzinto, south of Durban.”

To say Rob Mngoma was surprised would be an understatement as he was still gainfully
employed in the retail sector. But being thrown into the deep end of a new industry, he swam for
all he was worth and soon he, five employees and an old pre-owned pick-up were working away at
a R200 000,00 contract.

“Soon after completing our first contracts, work of this nature seemed to dry up and we went
through a very worrying lean period from 2000 to 2002, including an eight-month period of no
work at all,” he continues. “A road contract in the Loteni area during 2002 also taught invaluable
lessons about hiring in earthmoving equipment, a fact which seemed to swallow most of our hard-
earned money.”
The lessons about road construction methods and the equipment needed to execute and complete
these projects, have not gone unlearnt and Rob soon realised that he needed to own his own
earthmoving equipment to successfully concentrate on building roads and related infrastructure
projects.

“I hail from Mbumbulu which is near Eston, and each piece of earthmoving equipment I own, first
goes there to be blessed,” he explains.

And there have been plenty of blessings for this relatively young but growing construction
company as well. Now employing 65 fulltime personnel, which includes administrative,
maintenance and technical staff, as well as a civil engineer, Rob Business Enterprises also
contracts local labour in the areas where they work.

Extract: Adaped from eBulletin Magazine April 2010

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Answer the questions on the passage.

1. A Good Samaritan is someone who:

a) performs selfish deeds

b) does not provide help and assistance

c) performs unselfish deeds [1]

2. To go through a lean period means to

a) have sufficient funds

b) face financial difficulties

c) have a surplus of funds [1]

3. If a person is gainfully employed, it means that he or she is

a) currently employed and receiving a good salary

b) is about to hand in his/her resignation

c) is employed on a part-time basis [1]

4. A decade is a period of

a) twenty years
b) ten years
c) one hundred years [1]

5. What does it mean to be thrown in at the deep end?

a) to be insufficiently prepared when faced with a difficult task

b) to decide whether to support a project
c) to be unable to complete tasks [1]

6. Where was Rob born? [1]

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7. How did Graham assist Rob in completing tender documents? [2]

8. Rob’s first contract was worth R200 000, 00

a) Write the amount in words. [2]
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b) Including Rob, how many employees were involved with Rob’s first
contract? [1]

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c) Dududu and Umzinto are places situated in Kwa-Zulu Natal. [1]

True □ False □

9. Rob has employed 65 fulltime personnel. List four different types of personnel
employed by his company. [4]

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10. Write two or three paragraphs on the following topic: [5]

It is important to make every effort to improve your skills if you want to get ahead in life.
Write the paragraphs in your own words. You can use the reading text to support your points but
do not copy directly from the text. Try to give examples from your own life experience. Your own
thoughts and opinions on this topic are valued!

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