UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz | Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on Seabuckthorn, NASA’s Ingenuity and more (Week 54)

1. Ballistic missiles fly at low heights.

2. Cruise missiles follow high parabolic trajectories.

3. Cruise missiles are easy to track as compared to ballistic missiles.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

Tungurahua Volcano was recently in news. It is located in:

(a) Italy

(b) Japan

(c) Iceland

(d) Ecuador

QUESTION 3

With reference to the food irradiation, consider the following statements:

1. It deteriorates the safety and lowers the shelf life of foods.

2. It activates organisms that cause spoilage.

3. It eliminates organisms that cause foodborne illness.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

Which of the following statements is not correct about seabuckthorn?

(a) It is a shrub which produces an orange-yellow coloured edible berry.

(b) It is responsible for soil erosion.

(c) It is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region.

(d) It is locally called chharma.

QUESTION 5

NASA’s Ingenuity was recently in news. It is:

(a) Space mission dedicated to studying Sun

(b) Moon lander

(c) Robotic chopper on Mars

(d) Intercontinental missile

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (d)

FYI:

— Israel’s multi-layered air defence system has defended the country from a major attack, with Iran launching over 300 armed drones and long-range missiles.

— The cruise missiles fly at a low distance from the ground while the ballistic missiles follow a parabolic trajectory. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are not correct.

— Ballistic missiles are easier to track since they have a standard parabolic trajectory, as compared to cruise missiles which can fox air defence systems due to their manoeuvrability. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Components of Israel’s defence system

The Arrow system

— It is a family of anti-ballistic missiles, capable of intercepting long-range missiles.

— Arrow-3 has the capability of intercepting missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere and it was employed to intercept long-range missiles launched by the Houthi militia in Yemen.

The David’s Sling (or Stunner)

— It is Israel’s medium-range air defence system, which can intercept cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and aircraft.

The Iron Dome

— It is Israel’s indigenous short-range air defence system which can intercept rockets, artillery shells, and mortar bombs.

Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3

— The US-made Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 are air defence systems that can intercept a range of missiles and target aircraft and drones.

F-16 and F-35 fighter jets

— They play a major role in air defence, being equipped with air-to-air missiles.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

2. (d)

FYI:

— Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, and among the world’s most active and iconic volcanoes, has been emitting rings of smoke into the air. The rings are a rare phenomenon that scientists refer to as volcanic vortex rings.

— Vortex rings are generated when gas, predominantly water vapour, is released rapidly through a vent in the crater.

— In more recent times, volcanic vortex rings have been observed at volcanoes such as Redoubt in Alaska, Tungurahua in Ecuador, Pacaya in Guatemala, Eyjafjallajökull and Hekla in Iceland, Stromboli in Italy, Aso and Sakurajima in Japan, Yasur in Vanuatu, Whakaari in New Zealand, and Momotombo in Nicaragua.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

3. (a)

FYI:

— Irradiation does not make foods radioactive, compromise nutritional quality, or noticeably change the taste, texture, or appearance of food. In fact, any changes made by irradiation are so minimal that it is not easy to tell if a food has been irradiated.

— Food irradiation (the application of ionizing radiation to food) is a technology that improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects. Like pasteurizing milk and canning fruits and vegetables, irradiation can make food safer for the consumer. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating the sources of radiation that are used to irradiate food.

— The FDA approves a source of radiation for use on foods only after it has determined that irradiating the food is safe.

Benefits of Irradiation

— Prevention of Foodborne Illness – to effectively eliminate organisms that cause foodborne illness, such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Preservation – to destroy or inactivate organisms that cause spoilage and decomposition and extend the shelf life of foods. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Control of Insects – to destroy insects in or on tropical fruits imported into the United States. Irradiation also decreases the need for other pest-control practices that may harm the fruit.

— Delay of Sprouting and Ripening – to inhibit sprouting (e.g., potatoes) and delay ripening of fruit to increase longevity.

— Sterilization – irradiation can be used to sterilize foods, which can then be stored for years without refrigeration. Sterilized foods are useful in hospitals for patients with severely impaired immune systems, such as patients with AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.fda.gov)

4. (b)

FYI:

— Seabuckthorn is a shrub which produces an orange-yellow coloured edible berry.

— In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti.

— In Himachal Pradesh, it is locally called chharma and grows in the wild in Lahaul and Spiti and parts of Kinnaur.

— According to the Seabuckthorn Association of India, around 15,000 hectares in Himachal, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are covered by this plant.

— Seabuckthorn has been widely used for treating stomach, heart and skin problems.

— Its fruit and leaves are rich in vitamins, carotenoids and omega fatty acids, among other substances, and it can help troops in acclimatising to high-altitude.

— Seabuckthorn is a soil-binding plant that prevents soil erosion, checks siltation in rivers, and aids in the preservation of floral biodiversity.

— Seabuckthorn also has commercial value, as it is used in making juices, jams, nutritional capsules etc.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

5. (c)

FYI:

— The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) regained contact with its Mars helicopter Ingenuity, after it was unable to communicate with it towards the end of its 72nd flight on the red planet.

— This small robotic chopper is the first aircraft in history to make a powered, controlled flight on another planet.

— On July 30, 2020, NASA launched a spacecraft towards Mars, carrying the Perseverance rover, which had Ingenuity attached to its belly. On February 18, 2021, Perseverance successfully landed on the red planet.

— According to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), “Flight at Mars is challenging because the Red Planet has a significantly lower gravity – one-third that of Earth’s – and an extremely thin atmosphere with only 1% the pressure at the surface compared to our planet.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 54)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 54)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 53)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 53)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 53)

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