UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on Shinku-La tunnel, goldene, peptides and more (Week 64)

1. They are building blocks of collagen and elastin fibres.

2. They are not found in the human body naturally.

3. They are unsafe to use during pregnancies as they get absorbed in the bloodstream.

4. They have anti-ageing properties.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only

(b) 1 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3 only

QUESTION 2

The term ‘goldene’ was recently in news. It refers to:

(a) Solution of gold which can dissolve metals

(b) One-atom thick sheet of gold

(c) Isotope of gold

(d) Mixture of gold and graphene having thermal applications

QUESTION 3

Shinku-La tunnel was in the news. It connects:

(a) Zanskar Valley and Lahaul

(b) Pir Panjal range and Shivalik range

(c) Zanskar Valley and Karakoram range

(d) Guwahati and Tawang

QUESTION 4

Which of the following are the mangrove sites located in India?

1. Pichavaram

2. Bhitarkanika

3. Sundarbans

4. Godavari-Krishna delta

5. North Andamans

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 2, 3 and 5 only

(b) 1, 3, and 5 only

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements about the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system:

1. It can be launched from both coasts and warships.

2. It has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

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

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— A type of protein, peptides or polypeptides are the building blocks of collagen and elastin fibres that are found naturally in our skin. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.

— They have several benefits, including firming, brightening, anti-ageing properties, and wrinkle reduction. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

— “Pregnant or breastfeeding women” may also use peptides. Unlike retinoids, peptides are relatively safe to use during pregnancy because they are not absorbed into the bloodstream or cause harm to the foetus, making them safe for both mother and child. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Peptides suppress tyrosinase, which slows the production of melanin, the brown pigment.

— Peptides have anti-inflammatory qualities, which assist in calming the skin.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (b)

FYI:

— For the first time, a single-atom thick sheet of free-standing gold has been produced by scientists. As a result, gold is now the first metal to be formed into (freestanding) 2D sheets, creating a wealth of intriguing new opportunities.

— To make goldene, the researchers sandwiched an atomic monolayer of silicon between layers of titanium carbide. When they deposited gold on top of the sandwich structure, the gold atoms diffused into the material and replaced the silicon atoms, resulting in a trapped monolayer of gold.

— Scientists then etched away the titanium carbide layers, leaving a free-standing, one-atom-thick coating of gold. This was accomplished by the application of an age-old Japanese technology for forging katanas and high-quality blades, known as Murakami’s reagent.

— Furthermore, the scientists’ technique for creating goldene might theoretically be used for other metallic items.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

3. (a)

FYI:

— India will soon have the world’s highest and longest tunnel. The tunnel, which will connect Zanskar Valley in Ladakh to Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh, will run beneath the Shinku-La Pass, which stands at 16,580 feet. The tunnel is scheduled to be finished by 2025.

— The project is titled ‘Project Yojak’ and has been approved by the Centre. The tunnel will provide safe, all-weather connectivity between these two mountainous areas.

— This tunnel is aimed to boost commerce in the Zanskar Valley by bringing better connectivity.

— At present, people have to travel 101km from Manali to Darcha on Leh Road and then enter the Zanskar Valley through Shinku-La Pass.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

4. (d)

FYI:

— Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs typical of estuarine and intertidal regions, meaning they grow in areas where freshwater and saltwater meet.

— Mangroves typically have aerial, breathing roots and waxy, succulent leaves, and are flowering plants.

— Mangrove seedlings called propagules germinate on the parent tree before falling into the waters and growing into a mangrove tree again.

— Mangroves are abundant in swampy and marshy locations and belong to the littoral forest ecosystem, which means they grow in saline or brackish waters in coastal regions.

— The Sundarbans, which spans India and Bangladesh, is the world’s biggest contiguous mangrove forest. Common mangrove trees include red mangroves, avicennia marina, grey mangroves, and rhizophora.

— Some magnificent areas include the Godavari Krishna delta in Andhra Pradesh, Bhitarkanika in Odisha, Pichavaram in Tamil Nadu, and mangrove forests in the Andaman Islands, Kerala, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, among others.

— The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) programme aims to maintain and revitalise mangrove habitats along the Indian coast while also improving the socioeconomic position of coastal people.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

5. (c)

FYI:

— The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested a next-generation torpedo release system aimed at boosting the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

— The Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system has been designed and developed by the DRDO. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— This missile-based method for launching lightweight torpedoes can reach submarines hundreds of kilometres distant, significantly exceeding the normal range of lightweight torpedoes.

— This SMART system comprises a mechanism by which the torpedo is launched from a supersonic missile system with modifications that would take the torpedo to a far longer range than its own. For example, a torpedo with a range of a few kilometres can be sent a distance to the tune of 1000 km by the missile system from where the torpedo is launched.

— It will be useful in the absence of other assets for fast action when an enemy submarine is discovered.

— The system can be launched from both coasts and warships. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The canister-based missile system consists of multiple advanced subsystems, including two-stage solid propulsion and precision inertial navigation. It carries a sophisticated lightweight torpedo missile and a parachute-based release mechanism.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 64)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 64)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 63)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 63)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 63)

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