Questions & Answers

1. Consider the following statements regarding Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV).

1)EEHVs is a type of herpesvirus that can cause a highly fatal haemorrhagic disease in young Asian elephants.
2)Recently for the first time the virus has claimed the lives of elephants in an Indian zoo.
3)When EEHV is triggered, the symptoms are hardly visible.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 1, 3
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

Solution: d)

• EEHVs is a type of herpesvirus that can cause a highly fatal haemorrhagic disease in young Asian elephants.
• In news: Four calves between the ages of six and 10 have died in Nandan Kanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar, followed by the fifth elephant that died in Chandaka forest.
• The disease is caused by a virus called EEHV, or elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.
• Most elephants carry just as most humans carry a cold virus. When EEHV is triggered, the elephant dies of massive internal bleeding and symptoms which are hardly visible.

2. Rhi-Tiddim Road Project, sometimes seen in news is developed by India in which country?

a) Bangladesh
b) Bhutan
c) Afghanistan
d) Myanmar

Solution: d)

3. Consider the following statements.

1)Generation Unlimited is the initiative of World Bank, that provides an agenda that all countries must do more to support the education, skills and empowerment of young people.
2)India launched a national initiative YuWaah which is linked to the ‘Generation Unlimited’ movement.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: b)

• India is one of the first countries in the world to launch a national initiative (YuWaah) which is linked to the global ‘Generation Unlimited’ movement, that started in New York last year.
• In 2018, Unicef initiated the ‘Generation Unlimited’ partnership at the global level. It provides an agenda that all countries can or must do more to support the education, skills and empowerment of young people.
• By 2030, YuWaah aims to work with private sector to create aspirational economic opportunities for 50 million young women and 50 million young men through a focus on job opportunities.

4. Consider the following statements regarding Swachh Iconic Places (SIP).

1)The Swachh Iconic Places is an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
2)It is a special clean-up initiative focused on all iconic heritage, spiritual and cultural places in the country.
3)The initiative is being coordinated by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the concerned State governments.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 1, 3
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

Solution: b)

• Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir has been named country’s ‘Best Swachh Iconic Place’.
• The Swachh Iconic Places is an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
• It is a special clean-up initiative focused on select iconic heritage, spiritual and cultural places in the country.
• The initiative is being coordinated by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the concerned State governments.

5. Consider the following statements about ‘Virtual ID’ for Aadhaar

1)The Virtual ID is a random 12-digit number.
2)The ID can be generated as many times as possible.
3)One’s Aadhaar number can be derived from the Virtual ID generated.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1, 2
b) 2 only
c) 1, 3
d) 2, 3

Solution: b)

The Virtual ID is a random 16-digit number.
*The ID can be generated as many times as possible.

*The older ID gets automatically cancelled once a fresh one is generated.

*The ID, along with the biometrics of the user, would give any authorised agency, like a mobile company, limited details like name, address and photograph, which are enough for any verification.

*Agencies that undertake authentication would not be allowed to generate the Virtual ID on behalf of the user.

*UIDAI also introduced the concept of ‘limited KYC’, which will provide need-based or limited details of a user to an authorised agency providing a particular service.

One’s Aadhaar number cannot be derived from the Virtual ID that is generated.

6. Consider the following statements about Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

1)The western Indian Ocean becomes alternately warmer and then colder than the eastern part of the ocean.
2)A study has demonstrated a significant correlation between the IOD and drought in the southern half of Australia.
3)IOD can either aggravate or weaken the impact of El Nino on Indian monsoon.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 2, 3
c) 1, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

Solution: d)

• The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), also known as the Indian Niño, is an irregular oscillation of sea-surface temperatures in which the western Indian Ocean becomes alternately warmer and then colder than the eastern part of the ocean.
• A 2009 study has demonstrated a significant correlation between the IOD and drought in the southern half of Australia, in particular the south-east.
• During the Positive IOD, the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean off Sumatra in Indonesia becomes colder than normal while the western tropical part of the Indian Ocean near the African coast becomes unusually warm. This is beneficial for the monsoon.
• During the Negative IOD the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean off Sumatra in Indonesia becomes abnormally warm while the western tropical part of the ocean near the African coast becomes colder.

7. Like tropical cyclones, Tornados also cause devastating effect on life and material property. How tornedos are different from tropical cyclones?

1)Tornadoes originate over land, while cyclone originate on water.
2)Tornadoes forms on relatively larger area than tropical cyclone.
3)Tornadoes mostly occur in middle latitude, while tropical cyclone occurs in 5 to 25 degree north south latitude.
Select the correct answer code:

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) 1, 3
d) None of the above

Solution: c)

• Tornadoes forms in relatively smaller area compare to tropical cyclones.
• All other statements are correct regarding tornadoes.

8. Consider the following statements about Damodar River

1)Damodar occupies the eastern margins of the Chotanagpur Plateau.
2)It flows through a rift valley
3)Barakar and Sharda are its main tributaries.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 1, 3
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

Solution: a)

• Damodar occupies the eastern margins of the Chotanagpur Plateau where it flows through a rift valley and finally joins the Hugli. Barakar is its main tributary.
• The Sharda River or Mahakali River is also called Kali Gad or Kali Ganga in Uttarakhand where the river demarcates Nepal’s western border with India.

9. Consider the following statements about anticyclone?

1)It is an area of high pressure.
2)The wind direction is Anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both
d) None

Solution: a)

Pattern of Wind Direction in Cyclones and Anticyclones

Pressure System -Pressure Condition at the Centre- Pattern of Wind Direction Northern Hemisphere- Pattern of Wind Direction Southern Hemisphere

• Cyclone -Low- Anticlockwise- Clockwise
• Anticyclone- High -Clockwise- Anticlockwise

10. Consider the following statements regarding Laterite Soil.

1)The laterite soils develop in areas with high temperature and low rainfall.
2)Humus content of the soil is removed fast by bacteria that thrives well in high temperature.
3)Since iron oxide and potash are in excess, laterites are suitable for cultivation.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 2, 3
c) 2 only
d) 1, 3

Solution: c)

• The laterite soils develop in areas with high temperature and high rainfall. These are the result of intense leaching due to tropical rains. With rain, lime and silica are leached away, and soils rich in iron oxide and aluminium compound are left behind.
• Humus content of the soil is removed fast by bacteria that thrives well in high temperature. These soils are poor in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate and calcium, while iron oxide and potash are in excess.
• Hence, laterites are not suitable for cultivation; however, application of manures and fertilisers are required for making the soils fertile for cultivation.

11. Consider the following statements regarding Red and Yellow Soil.

1)Red soil develops in areas of high rainfall in the eastern and southern part of the Deccan Plateau.
2)The soil looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
3)They are generally poor in Nitrogen and phosphorous and rich in humus.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

a) 1 only
b) 1, 2
c) 1, 3
d) 2, 3

Solution: c)

• Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern part of the Deccan Plateau.
• The soil develops a reddish colour due to a wide diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
• It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
• They are generally poor in nitrogen, phosphorous and humus.