Questions & Answers

1. Consider the following statements regarding Nagara School of Architecture.

1)The temples generally followed the Panchayatan style of temple making.
2)Generally there were water tanks or reservoirs present in the temple premises.
3)The temples were generally built on upraised platforms.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Solution: b)

Some of the features of Nagara style are:

• The temples generally followed the Panchayatan style of temple making, which consisted of subsidiary shrines laid out in a crucified ground plan with respect to the principal shrine.
• There were no water tanks or reservoirs present in the temple premises.
• The temples were generally built on upraised platforms.

2. Sun Temple at Konark and Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar are the examples of

a) Solanki school of architecture
b) Odisha school of architecture
c) Nayaka school of architecture
d) Pala school of architecture

Solution: b)

Odisha School of architecture examples: Sun Temple at Konark (also known as Black Pagoda as the first rays of the Sun entered the garbhagriha through the sea-facing pagoda), Jagannath temple at Puri, Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar.

3. Which of the following introduced silver tanka on which modern rupee is based

a) Illtumish
b) Balban
c) Raziya Sultana
d) Alauddin Khilji

Solution: a)

Iltutmish introduced the Arabic coinage into India and the silver tanka weighing 175 grams became a standard coin in medieval India. The silver tanka remained the basis of the modern rupee.

4. Consider the following pairs regarding the sources of the Indian constitution.

1 )USConstitution: Rule of Law
2)British Constitution: Single Citizenship
3)Irish Constitution: Directive Principles of State Policy
4)French Constitution: Procedure established by law
Which of the above are correctly matched?

a) 1, 2, 3
b) 1, 3, 4
c) 2, 3
d) 2, 3, 4

Solution: c)

• British Constitution – Parliamentary government, Rule of Law, legislative procedure, single citizenship, cabinet system, prerogative writs, parliamentary privileges and bicameralism.
• US Constitution – Fundamental rights, independence of judiciary, judicial review, impeachment of the president, removal of Supreme Court and high court judges and post of vicepresident.
• Irish Constitution – Directive Principles of State Policy, nomination of members to Rajya Sabha and method of election of president.
• Japanese Constitution– Procedure established by Law.

5. Consider the following statements regarding Lok Sabha

1 )Lok Sabha  has a normal term of 5 years, after which it automatically dissolves.
2 ) Revocation of National Emergency is the exclusive power of Lok Sabha.
3)Dissolution of Lok Sabha by the president is subjected to judicial review.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Solution: a)

• Dissolution of Lok Sabha by the president is not subjected to judicial review.
• Even President of India can revoke the national emergency

6. Which of the following is/are the effects of temperature inversion?

1)Good air quality
2)Cloud formations
3)Thunderstorm Prevention                      4) Trapping of smog

Select the correct code:

a) 2, 3, 4
b) 1, 2, 4
c) 1, 2, 3
d) 1, 3, 4

Solution: a)

• Temperature inversion is a phenomenon where a layer of warm air is formed on top of a layer of cold air, unlike in normal atmospheric conditions.
• One of the most noticeable effects of a temperature inversion is on air quality. During the winter, temperature inversions are stronger and more common. This is generally when air quality suffers most as a result of temperature inversions. The warm air on top of the cool air acts as a lid, trapping pollution such as car emissions and smoke from fireplaces close to the ground. This results in hazy skies and poor air quality.
• Temperature inversions are also responsible for certain cloud formations. When clouds form just below the inversion in the sky, they spread out and have a very flat smooth appearance. These clouds are often seen over cool ocean waters where temperature inversions are common.
• Temperature inversions can keep thunderstorms from forming. Most thunderstorms happen during hot and humid weather at the surface.

7. Westerlies in southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent than in northern hemisphere. Why?

1 )Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to northern hemisphere.
2) Coriolis force is higher in southern hemisphere as compared to northern hemisphere.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Solution: a)

• Land mass influence/obstructs the flow of winds. Northern hemisphere has larger landmass than southern hemisphere.
• Coriolis force remains constant in both the hemisphere.