Q1. Which one of the following lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into desert?
(a) Lake Victoria
(b) Lake Faguibine
(c) Lake Oguta
(d) Lake Volta
Answer: (b)
Explanation: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/benefits-galore-if-malis-lake-faguibine-system-were-revived-0
Lake Faguibine in northern Mali is dry and has been since the 1970s.
The Lake Faguibine System, four interlinked lakes 80 km west of Timbuktu, was historically one of Mali’s
most fertile areas. But over the years and droughts in the 1970s dried up the lakes.
Then sand filled the channels connecting the lakes to the River Niger, with the result that when rain finally returned the water could no longer reach the lakes. The region’s prosperity evaporated along with the water.
Q2. Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?
(a) Cauvery
(b) Manjira
(c) Pennar
(d) Tungabhadra
Answer: (c)
Explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandikota
Gandikota canyon is in the Kadappa district of Andhra Pradesh. The gorge is a stunning maze of jagged rocks layered in shades of red. The stunning gorge has been created by the waters of the famous river Pennar that streams from the Erramala hills.
The area is now known as the Grand Canyon of India because of its resemblance to the famous US landmark. It’s also home to two ancient temples and a 12th Century fort that sits atop the hills surrounding the gorge.
Q3 . Consider the following pairs:
Peak : Mountains
1 . Namcha Barwa : Garhwal Himalaya
2 . Nanda Devi : Kumaon Himalaya
3 . Nokrek : Sikkim Himalaya
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Namcha Barwa is located near the easternmost Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh. It is around the Namcha Barwa that the mighty Brahmaputra River enters India. Hence , pair 1 is not correctly matched.
Between the Satluj and the Kali rivers there is the Kumaon Himalayas. Nanda Devi (7,817 m), Kamet (7,756 m), Trisul (7,140 m), Badrinath (7,138 m), Kedarnath (6,968 m), Gangotri (6,510 m) are important peaks here. Hence , pair 2 is correctly matched.
Nokrek is the highest peak in the Garo Hills range in Meghalaya. Hence , pair 3 is not correctly matched.
Q4. The term “Levant” often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions?
(a) Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores
(b) Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco
(c) Region along Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa
(d) The entire coastal areas of Mediterranean Sea
Answer: (a)
Explanation: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Levant
Levant, (from the French lever, “to rise,” as in sunrise, meaning the east), historically, the region along the eastern Mediterranean shores, roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and certain adjacent areas.
Q5. Consider the following countries:
1 . Azerbaijan
2 . Kyrgyzstan
3 . Tajikistan
4 . Turkmenistan
5 . Uzbekistan
Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?
(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: c
Explanation:
Afghanistan is bounded to the east and south by Pakistan to the west by Iran, and to the north by
the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
Q6. With reference to India, consider the following statements:
1 . Monazite is a source of rare earths.
2 . Monazite contains thorium.
3 . Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
4 . In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Monazite is one of the beach sand minerals that contains rare earths like, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium etc. Monazite in general, contains about 55 – 60% total Rare Earth Oxide. Thorium is also found in monazite. Hence , statement 1 and statement 2 are correct.
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constitute unit of
Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has estimated the presence of 11.93 million tonnes of
monazite resources in the beach sand mineral placer deposits along the coastal tracts of India.
The state-wise resources of in situ monazite is given here. Thus, it is not naturally found in the
entire Indian coastal sands. Hence , statement 3 is not correct.
State – Monazite(Million tonne)
Odisha – 2.41
Andhra Pradesh – 3.72
Tamil Nadu – 2.46
Kerala – 1.90
West Bengal – 1.22
Jharkhand – 0.22
Total – 11.93
A licence from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) under the Atomic Energy (Working of the Mines. Minerals and Handling of Prescribed Substances) Rules 1984 promulgated under the Atomic Energy Act 1962 is necessary for exporting monazite. DAE has not issued any licence to any private entity either for production of monazite, or for its downstream processing for extracting thorium, or the export of either monazite or thorium. Only state-run IREL in India has the licence to produce and export monazite. Hence , statement 4 is correct.
Q7. In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:
(a) First half of the month of June
(b) Second half of the month of June
(c) First half of the month of July
(d) Second half of the month of July
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
The longest day of year for those living north of the Equator is June 21. In technical terms, this day is referred to as the summer solstice, the longest day of the summer season. It occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, or more specifically right over 23.5-degree north latitude.
During the solstice, the Earth’s axis — around which the planet spins, completing one turn each day — is tilted in a way that the North Pole is tipped towards the sun and the South Pole is away from it.
Q8. Consider the following States:
Andhra Pradesh
Kerala
Himachal Pradesh
Tripura
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?
(a) Only one State
(b) Only two States
(c) Only three States
(d) All four States
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Tripura are generally known as tea-producing states.
The Anamallais between Tamil Nadu and Kerala occupies an important place in the tea planting map of South India. Wayanad-Nilgiris range in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Munnar region of Kerala are also well known for their tea production.
In Himachal Pradesh, tea is grown in the Mandi and Kangra distncts .
Tripura along with Assam is also one of the leading tea producers in India.
Andhra Pradesh is known for its coffee production and is not generally known as a tea producing
state.
Q9. Consider the following pairs:
Reservoirs : States
Ghataprabha : Telangana
Gandhi Sagar : Madhya Pradesh
Indira Sagar : Andhra Pradesh
Maithon : Chhattisgarh
How many pairs given above are not correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Ghataprabha reservoir is located across Ghataprabha river near Ghataprabha village in Gokak taluk of Belgaum district of Karnataka. Hence , pair 1 is not correctly matched.
Gandhi Sagar reservoir is located in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the five water reservoirs of
national importance. Gandhi Sagar Dam was constructed in 1960 to provide drinking water to
several districts of Rajasthan and generate 115 megawatts of electricity. Hence , pair 2 is correctly
matched.
Indira Sagar Dam is a multipurpose dam project in Madhya Pradesh . It was built on Narmada River . Hence , pair 3 is not correctly matched.
Maithon is located on the banks of river Barakar. The Maithon Dam is located about 48 kms
from the Coal City of Dhanbad in Jharkhand. Hence , pair 4 is not correctly matched.
Q10. Consider the following statements:
1 . High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.
2 . Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth’s surface and thus cause warming effect.
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
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Clouds high up in the atmosphere tend to warm Earth more than they cool. High, thin clouds
trap some of the Sun’s heat. This warms Earth’s surface. Hence , statement 1 is not correct.
Low clouds within a mile or so of Earth’s surface tend to cool more than they warm. These low, thicker clouds mostly reflect the Sun’s heat. This cools Earth’s surface. Hence , statement 2 is not correct.
Q11. Consider the following statements:
1 . Gujarat has the largest solar park in India.
2 . Kerala has a fully solar powered International Airport.
3 . Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
India’s Bhadla Solar Park is the largest solar power park in the world. Bhadla Solar Park is located in Bhadla, a dry and sandy region in Rajasthan, and spans 14,000 acres. Hence , statement 1 is not correct.
Cochin International Airport, India’s first airport built under a public-private-partnership (PPP) model, has scripted another chapter in aviation history by becoming the first airport in the world that operates completely on solar power. Hence , statement 2 is correct.
NTPC’s floating solar installation spans over 75 acres of the Simhadri reservoir’s area in Andhra Pradesh. It will generate enough electricity to power 7,000 homes using more than a lakh solar PV module. Hence , statement 3 is not correct.
Q12. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?
(a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.
(b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.
(c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.
(d) Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
The Senkaku/Diaoyu islands were formally claimed by Japan in 1895 and have been privately owned by a series of Japanese citizens for most of the past 120 years.
China began to reassert claims over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the 1970s, citing historic rights to the area.
Tensions between China and Japan over the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu islands continue to increase .
Q13. Consider the following pairs:
Region often mentioned in the news : Country
Anatolia : Turkey
Amhara : Ethiopia
Cabo Delgado : Spain
Catalonia : Italy
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Anatolia: Turkey , Hence , pair 1 is correctly matched.
Amhara: Ethiopia , Hence , pair 2 is correctly matched.
Cabo Delgado: Mozambique , Hence , pair 3 is not correctly matched.
Catalonia: Spain , Hence , pair 4 is not correctly matched.
