UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on permafrost, nitric oxide and more (Week 88)

1. The Union government prepares the list of notifiable diseases.

2. Snakebites is a notifiable disease.

3. The infections that are likely to cause an outbreak, and lead to deaths are declared as notifiable diseases.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The Union Health Ministry has urged states to declare snakebites a notifiable disease, meaning they must be reported to the government by both private and public hospitals. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Snakebites pose a significant public health concern in the country. According to the 2020 Indian Million mortality Study, a large-scale study that investigated the causes of premature mortality in India, approximately three to four million occurrences of snakebites are reported each year, and an estimated 58,000 people die as a result.

— Notifiable diseases are typically defined as infections that are likely to generate an outbreak, result in deaths, or require immediate investigation to implement necessary public health measures. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— While the list of notifiable diseases varies by state – state governments are responsible for issuing notifications — most consider tuberculosis, HIV, cholera, malaria, dengue, and hepatitis to be notifiable. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements about Permafrost:

1. The soil and ice in permafrost remain frozen all year.

2. The soil in these regions does not contain organic carbon.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Permafrost is any ground that has been frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two years. These continuously frozen fields are especially abundant in mountainous places and at higher latitudes, particularly around the North and South Poles.

— Permafrost covers a wide area of the Earth. Permafrost covers over 25% of the Northern Hemisphere’s geographical area. Although the earth is frozen, permafrost zones do not always have snow.

— Permafrost is composed of soil, rocks, and sand kept together by ice. The soil and ice in permafrost remain frozen all year. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Near the surface, permafrost soils contain high quantities of organic carbon—a material remaining from dead plants that couldn’t breakdown, or rot away, due to the cold. Lower permafrost layers contain soils made mostly of minerals. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: climatekids.nasa.gov)

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Nitric oxide, consider the following statements:

1. It helps relax and dilate blood vessels, improving circulation.

2. Beetroots are rich in nitrates, which can be converted into nitric oxide in the body.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Blood circulation is essential for the body because it allows the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to cells.

— Diet plays a vital role in blood flow because certain food items can promote healthy blood flow in your body and help provide protection against blocked arteries.

— Pomegranates are particularly high in polyphenol antioxidants and nitrates, which are potent vasodilators. Consuming pomegranate — as a juice, raw fruit, or supplement may improve blood flow.

— Beetroots are rich in nitrates, which can be converted into nitric oxide in the body. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Nitric oxide helps relax and dilate blood vessels, leading to improved circulation. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the following species can hear sounds emitted by plants and rely on them to choose which plant to lay their eggs?

(a) Moths

(b) Alligators

(c) Turtle

(d) Lizard

Explanation

— According to a new study, moths can hear plant sounds and use them to determine where to lay their eggs.

— The study, titled ‘Female Moths Incorporate Plant Acoustic Emissions Into Their Oviposition Decision-Making Process’, was published online last month. It was carried out by a team of 17 researchers from Israel.

— Rya Seltzer, an entomologist from Tel Aviv University in Israel and one of the authors of the study, told The New York Times, “It’s new…”Plants produce sounds, which insects actively listen to. They are attuned to that precise sound, understand its meaning, and take it into consideration.”

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Vanuatu, a small country, was recently in the news. It is located in:

(a) Southern Indian Ocean

(b) Atlantic Ocean

(c) North Sea

(d) Pacific Ocean

Explanation

— The recently finished annual climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan, proved disappointing for developing countries. The key accord reached at this conference offered to mobilise only $300 billion per year in climate finance for developing nations, significantly less than the $1.3 trillion per year they had demanded in line with their requirements as determined by many studies.

— The dispute stems from a resolution voted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in March of last year, at the initiative of Vanuatu, a small Pacific Ocean island roughly 2,000 kilometres northeast of Australia. Vanuatu, like numerous other small island governments, is one of the most vulnerable, with rising sea levels threatening its very survival.

— In September 2021, Vanuatu submitted a proposal to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on climate change. It attracted widespread support, and in March of last year, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution, which was co-sponsored by 132 countries.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 88)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 88)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 88)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 87)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 87)

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