Q 1 . If National Water Mission is properly and completely implemented, how will it impact the country?
1 . Part of the water needs of urban areas will be met through recycling of wastewater.
2 . The water requirements of coastal cities with inadequate alternative sources of water will be met by
adopting appropriate technologies that allow for the use of ocean water.
3 . All the rivers of Himalayan origin will be linked to the rivers of peninsular India.
4 . The expenses incurred by farmers for digging borewells and for installing motors and pump-sets to draw groundwater will be completely reimbursed by the Government.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) EXPLANATION : If National Water Mission is properly and completely implemented, then the part of the water needs of urban areas will be met through recycling of waste water and the water requirements of coastal cities with inadequate alternative sources of water will be met by adopting appropriate technologies that allow for the use of ocean water.
Q 2 . Biomass gasification is considered to be one of the sustainable solutions to the power crisis in India. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1 . Coconut shells, groundnut shells and rice husk can be used in biomass gasification.
2 . The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification consist of hydrogen and carbon dioxide only.
3 . The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification can be used for direct heat generation but
not in internal combustion engines.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(c) EXPLANATION : The combustible gas produced during gasification process includes carbon monoxide hydrogen, carbon dioxide and possibly hydrocarbons like methane (CH4).
Q 3 . The acidification of oceans is increasing. Why is this phenomenon a cause of concern?
1 . The growth and survival of calcareous phytoplankton will be adversely affected.
2 . The growth and survival of coral reefs will be adversely affected.
3 . The survival of some animals that have phytoplanktonic larvae will be adversely affected.
4 . The cloud seeding and formation of clouds will be adversely affected.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) EXPLANATION : Marine organisms like coral and phytoplankton are affected by ocean acidification. It decrease growth, reproduction and survival of these species. The acidification of ocean may lead to less cloud formation . Sulfuric acid seeds the cloud formation which is emitted from ocean in the form of dimethylsulfide (DMS) produced by phytoplankton. These phytoplanktons produce less DMS when ocean water is acidified and result in less cloud formation.
Q 4 . The increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature of the atmosphere, because it absorbs
(a) the water vapour of the air and retains its heat
(b) the ultraviolet part of the solar radiation
(c) all the solar radiations
(d) the infrared part of the solar radiation
(d) EXPLANATION : Carbon dioxide absorbs the Infrared part of Solar Radiation
Q 5 . Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
(a) Saltwater crocodile
(b) Olive ridley turtle
(c) Gangetic dolphin
(d) Gharial
(c) EXPLANATION : The Gangetic dolphins have been declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India . The Ministry of Environment and Forests notified the Ganges River Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal on 18th May 2010.
Q 6 . Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?
(a) Bretton Woods Conference
(b) Montreal Protocol
(c) Kyoto Protocol
(d) Nagoya Protocol
(b) EXPLANATION : The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion.
Q 7 . What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
(a) It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
(b) It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization
(c) It is a Conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change
(d) It is a Conference of the Member Countries of theConvention on Biological Diversity
(a) EXPLANATION : The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) is also known as the Rio Summit or Earth Summit. It was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was also held in Rio, and is also commonly called Rio+20 or Rio Earth Summit 2012.
Q 8 . Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?
1 . It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
2 . It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) EXPLANATION : The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCCC founded as a mechanism to redistribute money from the developed to the developing world, in order to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. The Fund is governed by the GCF Board.
Q 9 . With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements:
1 . The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum.
2 . Ammonia and water vapour are the only end products in this decomposition which are released into the atmosphere.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(d) EXPLANATION : The bio-toilets are fitted underneath the lavatories and the human waste discharged into them is acted upon by a particular kind of bacteria that converts it into CO2, CH4 and non-corrosive neutral water. The new-age green toilets have been designed by Railways along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) .
Q 10 . Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora ?
(a) Biosphere Reserve
(b) Botanical Garden
(c) National Park
(d) Wildlife Sanctuary
(b) EXPLANATION : Zoo and botanical gardens are the most conventional methods of ex-situ conservation .
