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1. In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material?
1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio-asphalt is not based on fossil fuels
(a) 1,2 and 3 only
Ans: b
Exp: Bioasphalt is an asphalt alternative made from non-petroleum based renewable resources.
2. Consider the following:-
1. Carbon dioxide
(a) 1 only
Ans:d
Emissions from coal usage:
3. Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when:
1. The orbit is geosynchronous
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Exp: A geostationary orbit (or Geostationary Earth Orbit - GEO) is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator (0° latitude), with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers. Communications satellites and weather satellites are often given geostationary orbits, so that the satellite antennas that communicate with them do not have to move to track them, but can be pointed permanently at the position in the sky where they stay. Due to the constant 0° latitude and circularity of geostationary orbits, satellites in GEO differ in location by longitude only. 4. India has experienced persistent,and high food inflation in the recent past,what could be the reasons?
1.Due to a gradual switchover to the cultivation of commercial crops, the area under the cultivation of food grains has steadily decreased in the last five years by about 30%
(a) 1 and 2 only
Ans: b
Exp: Agriculture Sector – Decadal Performance
The growth rates in the production of key food-grains in India have declined with each passing
decade. Average growth in foodgrain production was highest in 1950s and declined in subsequent
decades. It briefly improved in the 1990s and reached its lowest in the subsequent decade, (Figure 1),
when the growth rate in incomes was at its highest pace. Within foodgrains, rice and wheat both
recorded average growth rates lower than 1%. Growth rate in pulses was higher in the 2000s decade
but has not been enough to keep pace with the changing demand pattern of the Indian population.
Another significant feature is the volatility in growth rates which has increased in 1990s and 2000s. The trend is no different when we look at growth rates in key commercial crops (Figure 2) with
sugarcane and coffee hardly registering any growth in the last decade. However the growth rate of
oilseeds and cotton was higher in the 2000s which is a positive sign. 5. At present, scientists can determine the arrangement or relative positions of genes or DNA sequences on a chromosome.How does this knowledge benefit us?
1. It is possible to know the pedigree of livestock
(a) 1 and 2 only
Ans: c
Exp: Gene Targeting: Gene targeting strategies have been expanded to all kinds of modifications, including point mutations, isoform deletions, mutant allele correction, large pieces of chromosomal DNA insertion and deletion, tissue specific disruption combined with spatial and temporal regulation and so on. It is predicted that the ability to generate mouse models with predictable phenotypes will have a major impact on studies of all phases of development, immunology, neurobiology, oncology, physiology, metabolism, and human diseases. Gene targeting is also in theory applicable to species from which totipotent embryonic stem cells can be established, and therefore may offer a potential to the improvement of domestic animals and plants.
6. In terms of economy, the visit by foreign nationals to witness the XIX Common Wealth Games in India amounted to
(a) Exports
Ans: a
Exp: The itmes purchased or consumed by the foreign nationals can be related to sale/export of such materials out of the country.
7. Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy.Why ?
1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates
(a) 1 only
Ans: c
Exp: Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) - a novel source of energy for new
millennium: 8. Which one of the following statements appropriately describes the "fiscal stimulus"?
(a) It is a massive investment by the Government in manufacturing sector to ensure the supply of goods to meet the demand surge caused by rapid economic growth<
Ans: b
Fiscal stimulus: 9. The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for the formation of this hole?
(a) Presence of prominent tropo-spheric turbulence; and inflow of chlorofluorocarbons
Exp: As mid-May brings on the onset of winter, the Antarctic stratosphere cools and descends closer to the surface. The Coriolis effect (caused by the earths rotation) sets up a strong westerly circulation around the south pole, forming an oblong vortex which varies in size from year to year.
As temperatures in the lower stratosphere cools below -80'C, Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC's) start to form.
In the area over Antarctica, there are stratospheric cloud ice particles that are not present at warmer latitudes. Reactions occur on the surface of the ice particles that accelerate the ozone destruction caused by stratospheric chlorine.
10. Consider the following actions which the Governnient can take:
1. Devaluing the domestic currency
(a) 1 and 2
Ans: b
Exp: In economics, the current account is one of the two primary components of the balance of payments, the other being the capital account. The current account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid).
The current account balance is one of two major measures of the nature of a country's foreign trade (the other being the net capital outflow). A current account surplus increases a country's net foreign assets by the corresponding amount, and a current account deficit does the reverse. Both government and private payments are included in the calculation. It is called the current account because goods and services are generally consumed in the current period.
The balance of trade is the difference between a nation's exports of goods and services and its imports of goods and services, if all financial transfers, investments and other components are ignored. A Nation is said to have a trade deficit if it is importing more than it exports.
2. Bioasphalt can be made from non- renewable resources
3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials
4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(b) 1,3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1,2,3 and 4
These sources includes sugar, molasses and rice, corn and potato starches, natural tree and gum resins, natural latex rubber and vegetable oils, lignin, cellulose, palm oil waste, coconut waste, peanut oil waste, canola oil waste, potato starch, dried sewerage effluent and so on. Bitumen can also be made from waste vacuum tower bottoms produced in the process of cleaning used motor oils, which are normally burned or dumped into land fills.
Non-petroleum based bitumen binders can be colored, which can reduce the temperatures of road surfaces and reduce the Urban heat islands.
2. Oxides of Nitrogen
3. Oxides of Sulphur
Which of the above is/are the emission/emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants?
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
The main emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants are Carbon dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Sulfur oxides (SOx), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbonaceous material (soot), and air-borne inorganic particles such as fly ash, also known as suspended particulate matter (SPM) and other trace gas species. Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons are greenhouse gases. Evidence accumulated by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that emissions of these greenhouse gases might be responsible for climate change, a global concern. Possible consequences projected by IPCC include:
- a rise in sea levels
- a more vigorous hydrological cycle that may increase the severity of floods and droughts and may cause more extreme climatic events; and
- ecological change that could threaten agricultural productivity
2. The orbit is circular
3. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth's equator
4. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 Only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: a
A geostationary orbit can only be achieved at an altitude very close to 35,786 km (22,236 mi), and directly above the equator.
2. As a consequnce of increasing incomes,the consumption patterns of the people have undergone a significant change
3. The food supply chain has structural constraints
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
As average growth rates may not provide the right picture given the volatility, we also need to look at
overall production levels (Figure 3). If we see the production numbers from 1990 onwards, we can
see the sharp volatility as explained above. Barring a rise in last few years, overall production has
stagnated and remains at production levels seen in 1990s. Consequently, with a growing economy and population, supply of foodgrains emerged as a constraint.
2. It is possible to understand the causes of all human diseases
3. It is possible to develop disease-resistant animal breeds
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(b) 2 Only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(b) Imports
(c) Production
(d) Consumption
2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates
3. They can be installed in waste water treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity
Which of the Statements given above is/are correct?
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Continued use of petroleum fuels is now widely recognized as unsustainable because of their depleting supplies and the
contribution of these fuels to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the environment. Renewable, carbon neutral, transport
fuels are necessary for environmental and economic sustainability. A microbial fuel cell (MFC), a novel form of microbial
respiration has recently been discovered, it is a bioreactor that converts chemical energy present in the organic compounds
(in the form of chemical bonds) to electrical energy through catalytic reactions of microorganisms under anaerobic
conditions. These organisms, termed electricigens, Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide new opportunities for the
sustainable production of energy from biodegradable compounds. MFCs function on different carbohydrates and also on
complex substrates present in wastewaters and renewable biomass. Biomass, especially organic waste, is being considered
as a valuable candidate. The use of biomass, in the case of waste organics, is environment friendly and regarded as a
renewable energy source.
(b) It is an intense affirmati ve action of the Government to boost economic activity in the country
(c) It is Government's intensive action on financial institutions to ensure disbursement of loans to agriculture and allied sectors to promote greater food production and contain food inflation
(d) It is an extreme affirmative action by the Government to pursue its policy of financial inclusion
Government measures, normally involving increased public spending and lower taxation, aimed at giving a positive jolt to economic activity.
(b) Presence of .prominent polar front and stratospheric': Clouds; and inflow of chlorofluorocarbons
(c) Absence of polar front and stratospheric clouds; and inflow of methane and chlorofluorocarbons
(d) Increased temperature at polar region due to golbal warming
Ans: b
2. Reduction in the export subsidy
3. Adopting suitable policies which attract greater FDI and more funds from FIIs
Which of the above action/actions can help in reducing the current account deficit?
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 only
(d) 1 and 3
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