IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan- Prelims Test 2018 ENVIRONMENT & CURRENT AFFAIRS [Day 2]

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Hello Friends, 

Welcome to Day-2.

Importance of Self – Tracking: Learning from Last Year

Last year, aspirants used to comment their answers in the comment box on daily basis. There were huge participation in discussion. Putting answers in comment box has been very effective to self-track yourself after updating the score. In the end, you can cross check your performance through Disqus profile.

It was highly effective in the last edition of 60 Days that propelled aspirants to monitor their performance and learn through discussion. Let you solve these questions with full honesty and write your result in the comment box. Interact with peers to know your mistakes.

The importance of this initiative stands time-bound and aggressive reverse engineering to learn the concepts. Many of you must be busy with your own strategy but let us tell you honestly that in the last two months, it is very important to revise and consolidate your learning. Just reading won’t suffice.

So, take out few hours from your schedule and make it a revision exercise.

How can you make the best use of it?

Be honest to your effort and do not start competing with XYZ aspirants here just for the sake of marks. It is more important for you to introspect and check your learning than focusing on others. Try to answer the questions in 20 minutes only. 

Do not get into negative feeling that I don’t have enough knowledge to answer these questions. Feel like you are taking the real exam. What would be your response then?

The same will be replicated in UPSC exam. Here, you get marks only and nothing else matters. So, make effort to know the answers to all questions. Do not cheat 😛

DETAILED MICRO ANALYSIS MATRIX SAMPLE– is given here. You can download this and do an assessment for yourself.  DOWNLOAD

• You can copy paste the same format/modify as per your need in Google Spreadsheet and update it on daily basis.
• Feedback talks about daily test results.
• Follow-up talks about daily target achieved from sources and the number of revisions to do/done and dates. Sources column is to ensure that aspirants do not run behind various sources and follow the same throughout.

Are you ready? Let’s start!

[Day 2]: ENVIRONMENT AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

Topic: Environment /Ecology –

• Contemporary environmental issues- Climate change,
• Global Warming,
• Disasters, Pollution etc

Q.1) According to a recent study, India’s Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission is among the highest in the world. Which of the following are initiatives taken by the government to reduce the emission of Sulphur dioxide?

1. It is one of the pollutants being measured in Air Quality Index.
2. Increasing cess on coal production to Rs 400 per tonnes.
3. Implementation of Bharat Stage Norms.
4. Including Sulphur dioxide in the hazardous gas list.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1. 2 and 3 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3 only
4. All the above

Q.2) Negative Emission Technologies refer to a number of technologies, the objective of which is the large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Consider the following technologies

1. Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).
2. Biochar
3. Carbon capture and storage
4. Ocean fertilization

Which of the above is/are Negative Emission Technologies?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1, 3 and 4 only
4. All the above

Q.3) Recently the Pet Coke or Petroleum coke was in news. Consider the following statements about it.

1. Pet coke is a solid carbon-rich material derived from oil refining.
2. It is cleaner alternative to coal and emits 11% less greenhouse gas.
3. India is the world’s largest producer of pet coke.
4. It has the least sulfur content among fossil fuels.

Select the incorrect statements using the codes given below.

1. 2 and 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 3 only
3. 2, 3 and 4 only
4. None

Q.4) Which of the following best defines the permaculture?

1. Permaculture is a system of agriculture and aquaculture within the ecological carrying capacity of the region.
2. Permaculture is a system of agricultural and social design principles centered on simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems.
3. Permaculture is a system of agriculture and agro-based industry developing side by side.
4. None.

Q.5) Consider the following statements.

1. An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets, in the air or another gas.
2. Examples of anthropogenic aerosols are fog, dust, forest exudates and geyser steam.
3. Examples of natural aerosols are haze, particulate air pollutants and smoke.
4. Aerosol contributes to global warming.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 4 only
4. All the above

Q.6) Any practice that affects the equilibrium of an aquatic environment may alter the temperature of that environment and subsequently cause thermal pollution. Consider the following statements regarding thermal pollution:

1. Thermal pollution comes in the form of dumping warm waters not cold waters into lake, river, or ocean.
2. Volcanic eruption is one source of thermal pollution.
3. Due to thermal pollution dissolved oxygen content in water increases.

Choose the correct answer using the codes given below.

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. None.

Q.7) “Methanol has been promoted as an alternative transportation fuel from time to time over the past forty years”. Which of the following statements regarding Methanol is not correct?

1. It can be produced from natural gas.
2. It is a biodegradable fuel.
3. Similar to hydrocarbon fuels, it is not soluble in water.
4. It can be blended with ethanol and gasoline.

Q.8) Consider the statements with regard to Energy Conservation and Building Code (ECBC), 2017.

1. It prescribes the energy performance standards for all new and old commercial buildings of India.
2. To be considered ECBC-compliant building needs to demonstrate minimum energy savings of 25%.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.9) Which of the following is commonly known as “Terror of Bengal’?

1. Norway Maple
2. Water Hyacinth
3. Common Ivy
4. Honeysuckle

Q.10) The ‘Kubuqi Model’ has been praised by the UN Environment Programme for desertification control and being an “eco-pioneer” in greening the world. Which of the following statements regarding Kubuqi model are correct?

1. It was developed by Private firms with the help of local people.
2. It is implemented in Egypt to promote livelihood and small industries in the region.
3. The UNEP calls it Kubuqi Ecological restoration project.

Select the code from following:

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 and 3
3. 1 and 3
4. All of the above

Q.11) Which statements are correct regarding ‘Ganga Gram’ project?

1. It aims for holistic sanitation development in villages on banks of river Ganga
2. It was launched under Namami Ganga Programme
3. It is initiative of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Select the code from below:

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2  
3. 2 and 3
4. All of the above

Q.12) consider the following statement regarding Rhizofiltration:

1. Rhizofiltration refers to the approach of using hydroponically cultivated plant roots to remediate contaminated water.
2. Rhizofiltration is used for treatment in soil remediation.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.13) Consider the following statements regarding Ozone hole

1. It is a region in the stratosphere where no ozone gas is present.  
2. It is caused by CFCs and bromine only
3. Montreal protocol is related to substances that deplete ozone layer

Which of the above statements are incorrect?

1. 1 and 3
2. 2 and 3
3. 1 and 2
4. None of the above

Q.14) Which of the following statements about ocean acidification are incorrect?

1. Ocean acidification is the ongoing increase in the pH of the Earth’s oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
2. It increases the concentration of hydrogen ions and decreases the concentration of carbonate ions.
3. Ocean acidification leads to seawater pH go below 7

Select the code from following:

1. 1 and 2
2. Only 2
3. 1 and 3
4. Only 3

Q.15) Consider the following in regard to Fly ash, a by-product of the thermal power plants:

1. They often contain pollutants such as heavy metals and organic compounds.
2. They are used to produce high-quality walling material and construct eco-friendly and cost-effective houses.
3. They have potential to improve survival, growth and quality of plantation taken up in wasteland and hence transform barren wasteland into lush green forests.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.16) Identify the incorrect statement about Bomb cyclone or bombogenesis, which was in news recently:

1. It is a rapidly deepening tropical cyclonic low-pressure area, predominantly found in continental settings.
2. It is a storm caused by a collision of warm air and cold air which develop into rotating storm-like pattern and lead to an explosive deepening of pressure.
3. A storm is considered a ‘bomb’ when the pressure drops rapidly — at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
4. None of the above.

Q.17) Consider the below statements with respect to World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS):

1. The 2018 WSDS Summit was organized by The Energy and Resources Institute.
2. It is annual flagship event of UN.
3. The theme of the 2018 Summit is ‘Partnerships for a Resilient Planet’.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.18) Which among the following statements is/are true about Talanoa Dialogue?

1. It is an important international conversation in which countries will check progress and seek to increase global ambition to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
2. The Dialogue was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference COP23 in Bonn.

Choose the correct answer:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.19) Identify the incorrect pair from the below:

(Financial Mechanism) : :  (Associated Convention)

1. Green Climate Fund (GCF) : : COP 16 held in Cancun
2. Global Environment Facility (GEF) Fund : : eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit
3. Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) : : Kyoto Protocol in 2001
4. Adaptation Fund (AF) : : Paris Convention 2015

Q.20) Consider the following statements and select the correct one:

1. Decreasing levels of ozone in the stratosphere will lead to reduction in the levels of smog in major cities.
2. Decreasing levels of ozone in the stratosphere will lead to increase in the occurrence of skin cancer in humans.
3. Decreasing levels of ozone in the stratosphere will lead to reduction in the rate of global warming.
4. Decreasing levels of ozone in the stratosphere will lead to increase in photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton.

Q.21) Global Environment Facility provides grants for projects related to:

1. Climate change
2. Ozone layer
3. International waters
4. Land degradation
5. Persistent Organic Pollutants

Choose the correct answer from the code given below:

1. 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
2. 1, 4 and 5 only
3. 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Q.22) Recently, Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) was abolished. Consider the following statements about FDI approving authorities after abolition of FIPB

1. FDI from Pakistan and Bangladesh has to be approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs
2. Foreign investments by non-resident Indians have to be approved by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)

Select the correct statements

1. 1 Only
2. 2 Only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.23) Consider the following statements about ‘INS Khanderi’

1. It is an Indian Navy’s torpedo launch and recovery vessel
2. It is designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS and built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL)

Select the correct statements

1. 1 Only
2. 2 Only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.24) SEBI has formed a Committee on Corporate Governance. It is under the chairmanship of

1. TSR Subramanian
2. N Chandrasekaran
3. Anand Mahindra
4. Uday Kotak

Q.25) Consider the following statements about ‘MERIT Portal’

1. It is launched by the Department of Financial Services under the guidance of Department of Higher Education.
2. It provides a single window electronic platform for Scholarships and Educational Loans.

Select the correct statements

1. 1 Only
2. 2 Only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.26) Consider the following statements about ‘Kanyashree Prakalpa’

1. It aims to improve the status of adolescent girls from disadvantaged families through small cash transfers
2. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)

Select the correct statements

1. 1 Only
2. 2 Only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

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