UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 32)

1. It is the indigenously developed first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

2. It cannot be stored at the room temperature of a standard medical refrigerator.

3. The technology uses genetically engineered mRNA to instruct cells to make the S-protein found on the surface of the Covid-19 virus.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

“Acinetobacter baumannii” is related with

(a) Blood disorder

(b) Used in prematurely born children to prevent infection.

(c) Flu Vaccine

(d) Antibiotic-resistant bacteria

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), consider the following statements:

1. It is a disfiguring disease spread by mosquitoes.

2. Rajasthan has the highest incidence of Lymphatic Filariasis.

3. It can cause abnormal growth of body parts and can lead to disability.

4. Triple therapy is used to treat and prevent LF.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 4

Etna, Dukono, Mauna Loa, Merapi were recently in the news. These are

(a) Artificial Islands

(b) Volcanoes

(c) Forest region in Amazon Rainforests

(d) Region in Sahara Desert

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Cloud Seeding, consider the following statements:

1. It is a weather modification technology to create artificial rainfall.

2. It is done to increase the radius of the cloud droplets.

3. It can work without pre-existing clouds in the atmosphere.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— The country’s first home-grown mRNA Covid-19 vaccine — GEMCOVAC-19 — developed at Pune’s Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has got a ‘restricted emergency use’ nod for the 18-and-above age group. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— As mRNA vaccines are required to be kept at sub-zero temperatures, it was a mammoth task for Gennova scientists to develop a thermostable mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.

— Scientists had to innovate to suit local needs to make it affordable and deployable. The new vaccine can now be stored at the temperature of a standard medical refrigerator. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Basically, the technology uses genetically engineered mRNA to instruct cells to make the S-protein found on the surface of the Covid-19 virus. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (d)

FYI:

— In a major breakthrough for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of medicine, scientists from the United States and Canada have found a new antibiotic – powerful enough to kill a superbug – using AI.

— In 2017, the bacterium was identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the world’s most dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

— Acinetobacter baumannii can cause pneumonia, meningitis and infect wounds, all of which can lead to death. It is usually found in hospital settings, where it can survive on surfaces for long periods.

— According to WHO, Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines. This ultimately threatens the ability of medicines to treat common infectious diseases.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

3. (c)

FYI:

— Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), or elephantiasis, is a painful, disfiguring disease spread by mosquitoes. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— India accounts for roughly 40% of the global LF burden. Maharashtra is one of the states with a higher LF prevalence. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The disease can cause abnormal growth of body parts and can lead to disability, social stigma and isolation. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— A new drug regimen called triple therapy, which uses Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole (IDA) together to treat and prevent LF. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

4. (b)

FYI:

— There may be as many as 50 to 80 new volcanic eruptions worldwide at any given time, but only the most significant ones—Etna, Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Merapi, Eyjafjallajökull, or Fagradalsfjall—make headlines when they happen.

— Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano and one of the largest in the world. Its recorded volcanic activity dates back to 1500 B.C. Since then, it has erupted more than 200 times.

— One of the most famous long-term eruptions was Kilauea volcano on Hawaii.

— Dukono in Indonesia started erupting in August 1933 and is still continuing. Santa Maria in Guatemala began erupting in June 1922 and continues to this day.

— According to the US Geological Survey, “Volcanoes are openings, or vents where lava, tephra (small rocks), and steam erupt onto the Earth’s surface.” Volcanoes can be on land and in the ocean.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

5. (b)

FYI:

— Cloud seeding is a kind of weather modification technology to create artificial rainfall. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It works only when there are enough pre-existing clouds in the atmosphere. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— With cloud seeding, clouds are usually injected with salts like silver iodide, potassium iodide, or sodium chloride, which is the ‘seed’.

— It is done to increase the radius of the cloud droplets so that they will grow bigger and because of gravity, they will come down as rainfall. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Cloud seeding can’t be done during the clear skies.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 32)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 32)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 31)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 31)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 31)

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