Q1: The minimum water content at which the soil retains its liquid state and also possesses a small shearing strength against flowing, is known

ANS:A - liquid limit

Shrinkage limit =. It is the maximum water content (solid state and semi-solid state).
Semi-solid limit and solid limit).
Plastic limit = minimum water content at which the soil just begins to crumble when rolled into a 3mm diameter thread.
Liquid limit = minimum water content at which soil has less sharing resistance. The stage when the sample changes from possessing no shearing strength to having an infinitesimal shear strength and changes from the liquid to the plastic state. And the boundary water content between the liquid state and plastic state is called LIQUID LIMIT. The given answer is correct because all the soil at liquid limit has a negligible shear strength of 2.7 kN/m^2.