QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1.‘2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry’ was awarded

a) for mechanistic studies of DNA repair
b) for the development of lithium-ion batteries
c) for the phage display of peptides and antibodies
d)for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution

Solution (b)

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to John B Goodenough, M Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino for the development of lithium-ion batteries. These three scientists created the right conditions for a wireless and fossil fuel-free society.

2. Which of the following countries is referred to as ‘Vanilla Islands’

1)Seychelles
2)Madagascar
3)Mauritius
4)Comoros
Select the correct code:

a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 1, 3 and 4
d) All of the above

Solution (d)

Vanilla Islands is an affiliation of the island nations Seychelles, Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, Comoros, Mayotte in the Indian Ocean to form a new travel destination brand.

3. Consider the following statements

1)‘Geotail’ provides information about the way the magnetic envelope surrounding Earth.
2)The geotail region exists as a result of the interactions between the Sun and Earth.
Select the correct statement

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

Solution (c)

• The geotail is a region in space that allows the best observations. The region exists as a result of the interactions between the Sun and Earth.
• Geotail provides information about the way the magnetic envelope surrounding Earth, called the magnetosphere, responds to incoming material and energy from the Sun.

4. Governor cannot promulgate an ordinance

1)If the ordinance has the provisions which of embodied in a bill would require president’s sanction.
2)If the ordinance has the provisions which the governor would reserve as a bill containing them for the president’s sanction.
Select the appropriate code:

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

Solution (c)

Power of Governor to promulgate Ordinances during recess of Legislature

Provided that the Governor shall not, without instructions from the President, promulgate any such Ordinance if

(a) a Bill containing the same provisions would under this Constitution have required the previous sanction of the President for the introduction thereof into the Legislature; or

(b) he would have deemed it necessary to reserve a Bill containing the same provisions for the consideration of the President; or

(c) an Act of the Legislature of the State containing the same provisions would under this Constitution have been invalid unless, having been reserved for the consideration of the President, it had received the assent of the President

5. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Batten disease’

1)It is a fatal disease of the nervous system.
2)It usually starts in childhood, between the ages of 5 and 10.
Select the correct statements

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

Solution (c)

It is a rare group of nervous system disorders called neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCLs) that get worse over time. It usually starts in childhood, between the ages of 5 and 10. There are different forms of the disease but all are fatal, usually by the late teens or twenties. The damage is caused by the buildup of fatty substances, called lipopigments, in the cells of the brain, central nervous system, and retina in the eye.

6. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Satnami Rebellion’

1)It occurred in the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
2)The rebellion took form and shape under the leadership of Baxi Jagandhu Bidyadhara.
Select the correct statements

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

Solution (a)

In 1672, the Satnamis — a sect comprising peasants, artisans and untouchables — rebelled against the mighty Mughal Empire. It all began with a small quarrel. A Satnami youth, cultivating his field, got into a fight with a party of Mughal nobles, which resulted in his slaying by a Mughal pyada or a foot soldier. In retaliation, the foot soldier was killed by the Satnami community. This happened in what is today’s Mahendragarh district in Haryana. Following the two murders, the local Mughal official sent a troop of soldiers to arrest those who had killed the foot soldier. But the community drove them away. Emboldened, the Satnamis attacked Narnaul, the main township in the area and destroyed the Mughal garrison. They even set up their own administration.

Historians have called the Satnamis a monotheistic sect who followed neither Hinduism nor Islam and whose scriptures emphasised leading a life based on good conduct rather than on rituals and dogma. Many may find this hard to believe but the Mughals were actually protective of the caste system. As a result, the high castes continued to inflict the worst atrocities on the peasants, artisans, untouchables and tribals.

7. ‘Bathukamma Festival’ is a floral festival celebrated for nine days during ‘Durga Navratri’. It is predominantly celebrated in which of the following states?

a) Gujarat
b) Telangana
c) West Bengal
d) Madhya Pradesh

Solution (b)

Bathukamma Festival

1)It is floral festival celebrated predominantly by the Hindu women of Telangana.
2)It is celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri.
Bathukamma is a stack of flowers arranged in the shape of Gopuram of a Hindu Temple.
3)This festival has been declared as Telangana’s State Festival along with Bonalu because of the significance of these festivals which reflect the culture of Telangana.
4)Bathukamma is followed by Boddemma, which is a 7-day festival.
5)Boddemma festival that marks the ending of Varsha Ruthu whereas Bathukamma festival indicates the beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu.