1.To avoid unfavourable conditions, which of the following enter into diapause, a stage of suspended development.

a) Zooplankton
b) Bears
c) Snails
d) Fish

2. Consider the following statements about the application of algae.

1) Used to make Biodiesel and Bioethanol.
2)It is a complete protein with essential amino acids.
3) Used as fertilizers and soil conditioners.
4) Used in Wastewater Treatment.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

3. With reference to ‘decomposition’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1) Humus is highly susceptible to microbial action and undergo decomposition at fast rate.
2) Decomposition is slower if detritus is rich in nitrogen.
3) Low temperature and lack of oxygen supply inhibit the decomposition.

Select the correct answer code:

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

4. Consider the following statements:

1)Garo and Khasi hills are extensions of Purvanchals in Meghalaya forming water divide between Brahmaputra and Barak River.
2) Rajmahal Hills are formed from rocks dating from the Jurassic Period and named after the town of Rajmahal which lies to the east in the state of Jharkhand.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

5. Which of the following are not correctly matched?

  Local winds     :        Origin

a) Zonda                        Alps
b) Loo                            Aravallis
c) Chinook                    Rockies
d) Bora                          Adriatic Sea

6. Which of the following statements about Monetary Policy Framework Agreement is correct?

a) It is an agreement between Government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the maximum tolerable inflation rate that RBI should target to achieve price stability.
b) It is an agreement between Government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the minimum inflation rate that RBI should target to achieve growth.
c) It is an agreement between Banks and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure that the changes in the Interest rates are passed on to the customers.
d) Both b and c

7. In India, Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) include:

1) Mutual funds
2) Venture Capital Fund
3) Private equity funds
4)Infrastructure funds

Select the correct code:

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

8. Match the following pairs

Term                  :         Definitions

1)Deflation                      A. Reduction in the rate of inflation
2)Disinflation                B. General fall in the level of prices
3)Stagflation                  C. Combination of inflation and rising unemployment due to recession
4)Reflation                     D. Attempt to raise the prices to counteract the deflationary prices.
Select the correct answer code:

a) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D
b) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D
c) 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C
d) 1-A, 2-B, 3-D, 4-C

9. Consider the following statements.

1.The painting is practiced by the tribal people of Jharkhand.
2.The common theme of the paintings is ‘What happens to human life post death’.
3.It is on the verge of extinction given the rate of its decline.
The above statements refer to

a) Patua Art
b) Phad Painting
c) Paitkar Painting
d) Pithora Painting

10. Consider the following statements.

1)It is one of the oldest and grandest forms of Hindustani classical music.
2)It reached its zenith in the court of Emperor Akbar.
3)It includes use of sanskrit syllables and is of temple origin.
The above statements refer to:

a) Khyal
b) Thumri
c) Ghazal
d) Dhrupad

Answers:

1. a) In animals, the organism, if unable to migrate, might avoid the stress by escaping in time. The familiar case of bears going into hibernation during winter is an example of escape in time. Some snails and fish go into aestivation to avoid summer–related problems-heat and dessication. Under unfavourable conditions many zooplankton species in lakes and ponds are known to enter diapause, a stage of suspended development.

2. d) Algae can be used to make Biodiesel and Bioethanol.

• It is a complete protein with essential amino acids (unlike most plant foods) that are involved in major metabolic processes such as energy and enzyme production.
• They are used as fertilizers, soil conditioners and are a source of livestock feed.
• Algae are used in Wastewater Treatment facilities, reducing the need for greater amounts of toxic chemicals than are already used.
• Algae can be used to capture fertilizers in runoff from farms.

3. b) Humus is less susceptible to microbial action and act as a reservoir of nutrients. Humus is highly resistant to microbial action and undergoes decomposition at an extremely slow rate.
Decomposition is largely an oxygen-requiring process. The rate of decomposition is controlled by chemical composition of detritus and climatic factors.

In a particular climatic condition, decomposition rate is slower if detritus is rich in lignin and chitin, and quicker, if detritus is rich in nitrogen and water-soluble substances like sugars.

4. b) Garo and Khasi hills are the extensions of peninsular part of the subcontinent. Along with the Karbi Anglong plateau , the Meghalaya plateau (comprising Garo ,Khasi and Jaintia hills ) is separated from the Chotanagpur plateau (part of peninsular india) by Malda fault (in Bengal).
Volcanic activity during the Jurassic resulted in the formation of the Rajmahal Traps. The Rajmahal hills are named after the town of Rajmahal which lies in the eastern Jharkhand. The River Ganges wanders around the hills changing the direction of flow from east to south.

5. a) Zonda is a local wind blows in Andes Mountain range.

6. a) Monetary Policy Framework Agreement is an agreement reached between Government and the central bank in India – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – on the maximum tolerable inflation rate that RBI should target to achieve price stability.

7. b) Anything alternate to traditional form of investments gets categorized as alternative investments. In India, alternative investment funds (AIFs) are defined in Regulation 2(1) (b) of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.
The definition of AIFs includes venture Capital Fund, hedge funds, private equity funds, commodity funds, Debt Funds, infrastructure funds, etc, while, it excludes Mutual funds or collective investment Schemes, family trusts, Employee Stock Option / purchase Schemes, employee welfare trusts or gratuity trusts, ‘holding companies’ within the meaning of Section 4 of the Companies Act, 1956, securitization trusts regulated under a specific regulatory framework, and funds managed by securitization company or reconstruction company
Investors in these funds are largely institutional, high net worth individuals and corporates.

8. b)

9. c) Paitkar Painting
Practiced by the tribal people of Jharkhand, Paitkar paintings or scroll paintings are considered one of the ancient schools of painting in the country.These paintings are linked to the social and religious customs including giving alms and holding yajnas. The common theme of Paitkar paintings is ‘What happens to human life post death’.Although an ancient art, it is on the verge of extinction given the rate of its decline.

10. d) Dhrupad: It is one of the oldest and grandest forms of Hindustani classical music and finds its mention even in Natyashastra (200 BC–200 AD). Although Dhrupad consolidated its position as a classical form of music in the 13th century, it reached its zenith in the court of Emperor Akbar. Dhrupad includes use of sanskrit syllables and is of temple origin.