UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 29)

1. A full moon occurs when the moon is directly opposite the sun.

2. The point closest to earth in the moon’s elliptical orbit is called apogee.

3. A super moon happens when the moon is passing through or is close to its perigee.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Namami Gange Programme, consider the following statements:

1. It was launched with a prime focus on involving people living on the river’s banks in this project.

2. It functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

3. The criteria used by the Central Pollution Control Board identifies five categories of polluted river stretches based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand.

4. The programme covers six states.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 3

With reference to the LVM-3, consider the following statements:

1. It is capable of placing the 4 tonne class satellites of the GSAT series into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits.

2. It is a two stage launch vehicle.

3. It uses only solid propellant.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

With reference to the “Invasive Alien Species”, consider the following statements:

1. It is the major factor behind the extinction of global animals and plants.

2. The majority of the impacts of biological invasions on native species are positive.

3. The water hyacinth is the world’s most widespread invasive alien species on land.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 5

The “National Carbon Registry”, has recently been accredited as a digital public good (DPG). It allows countries to effectively manage national data and processes for trading carbon credits. It is launched by

(a) Global Alliance on Health and Pollution

(b) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

(c) United Nations Environment Programme

(d) United Nations Development Programme

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— The orbit of the moon around the earth is not circular; it is elliptical, that is, an elongated or stretched-out circle. It takes the moon 27.3 days to orbit the earth.

— However, the time between new moons is 29.5 days. This is due to the fact that, as the moon orbits the earth, both the earth and the moon are also moving around the sun — and it takes more time for the sun to illuminate the moon in the same manner that it does at the start of each cycle around the planet. The new moon is the polar opposite of the full moon; it is the darkest period of the moon’s invisible phase, when its lit side faces away from the Earth.

— The point closest to earth in the moon’s elliptical orbit is called perigee, and the point that is farthest is called apogee. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— A super moon occurs when the moon is moving through or near to its perigee while also being a full moon. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— A full moon occurs when the moon is directly opposite the sun (as seen from earth), and therefore, has its entire day side lit up. The full moon appears as a brilliant circle in the sky that rises around sunset and sets around sunrise. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (c)

FYI:

— The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, implements the Namami Gange Programme that was launched in 2014 to deal with pollution in the Ganga. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines identify five types of contaminated river sections based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels – priority 1 to 5, with priority 1 being the most polluted and having a BOD level of 30 mg/litre or more. Priority 5 is the cleanest, with BOD values ranging from 3 to 6 mg/litre. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Salient features of “Namami Gange” programme

— It covers 8 states, 47 towns & 12 rivers under the project. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— Prime focus will be on involving people living on the river’s banks in this project. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Setting river-centric urban planning process to facilitate better citizen connects, through interventions at Ghats and Riverfronts.

— Development of rational agricultural practices & efficient irrigation methods.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.india.gov.in)

3. (a)

FYI:

— LVM3 is essentially a three-stage launch vehicle, including two solid boosters (S200), the core liquid fuel-based stage (L110), and the cryogenic upper stage (C25). Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— LVM3 is capable of placing the 4 tonne class satellites of the GSAT series into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— LVM3 is a three stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons and core stages comprising of L110 liquid stage, C25 cryogenic stage, the equipment bay (EB) and the Encapsulated assembly (EA). Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Cryogenic upper stage is configured with the fully indigenous high thrust cryogenic engine (CE20) with a propellant loading of 28 tons.

— According to ISRO, “The vehicle takes off with the simultaneous ignition of the two S200 boosters. The core stage (L110) is ignited at about 113s (seconds) through the flight, during the firing of the S200 stages. Both S200 motors burn for about 134s and the separation occurs at 137s. The payload fairing is separated at an altitude of 115 km and at about 217s during L110 firing. The L110 burnout and separation and C25 ignition occur at 313s. The spacecraft is injected into a GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) orbit of 180×36000 km at a nominal time of 974s.”

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.isro.gov.in)

4. (b)

FYI:

— The Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and Their Control, the most comprehensive study on invasive species to date, published by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), found that 37,000 alien species, including plants and animals, have been introduced by numerous human activities to regions and biomes around the world, including more than 3,500 invasive alien species.

— The report has noted that the number of alien species (species introduced to new regions through human activities) has been rising continuously for centuries in all regions, but are now increasing at unprecedented rates, with increased human travel, trade and the expansion of the global economy.

— About 6% of alien plants; 22% of alien invertebrates; 14% of alien vertebrates; and 11% of alien microbes are known to be invasive, posing major risks to nature and to people,’’the IPBES has said.

— Nearly 80% of the documented impacts of invasive species on nature’s contribution to people are negative. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Invasive alien species have been a major factor in 60% and the only driver in 16% of global animal and plant extinctions that we have recorded. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— About 85% of the impacts of biological invasions on native species are negative,” said Prof. Anibal Pauchard, co-chair of the Assessment.

— The water hyacinth is the world’s most widespread invasive alien species on land. Lantana, a flowering shrub, and the black rat are the second and third most widespread globally. The brown rat and the house mouse are also widespread invasive alien species. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

5. (d)

FYI:

— UNDP has developed an open-source software which allows countries to effectively manage national data and processes for trading carbon credits.

— The software, called the National Carbon Registry, has recently been accredited as a digital public good (DPG).

— The registry uses open-source code, which allows countries to replicate and adapt the information to fit their own needs and contexts.

— The registry is based on input from countries and follows national and international best practices. It is the result of ongoing work by the Digital4Climate (D4C) Working Group, which includes UNDP, the World Bank, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), among others.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.undp.org)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 29)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 29)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 28)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 28)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 28)

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