UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations (Week 21)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Missile Technology Control Regime, consider the following statements:

1. It is an informal political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology.

2. India is not a member of this Regime.

3. It encourages members not to export missiles delivering any weapon of mass destruction.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None of the statements

QUESTION 2

Sievierodonetsk has a big industrial hub known for chemical works and machine-building factories. It is located in:

(a) Ukraine

(b) Romania

(c) Russia

(d) Turkey

QUESTION 3

Consider the following countries:

1. Greece

2. Turkey

3. Bulgaria

How many of the countries given above borders the Aegean Sea?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

Consider the following islands:

1. Triton Island

2. Easter Island

3. Scarborough Shoal

4. Woody Island

How many of the islands given above are part of the South China Sea?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Onlt three

(d) All four

QUESTION 5

Lake Garda was in the news due to devastatingly low water levels. It is located in:

(a) France

(b) Portugal

(c) Spain

(d) Italy

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— MTCR is an informal political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It was established in 1987.

— It has 35 members. India was admitted in June 2016. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— MTCR’s initial aim of controlling proliferation of nuclear missiles was expanded in 1992 to include delivery systems for chemical and biological weapons as well.

— It encourages members not to export missiles delivering any weapon of mass destruction, with special focus on missiles capable of carrying a 500-kg payload over at least 300 km, and on equipment, software, technology for such systems. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— According to Arms Control Association, a US based group, MTCR members are supposed “to establish national export control policies” for ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, space launch vehicles, drones, remotely piloted vehicles, sounding rockets, their components and technologies.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (a)

FYI:

— Sievierodonetsk is one of the largest cities of the Donbas region located in Ukraine nearly 140 km south of the Russian border.

— It is located near the left bank of the Siverskyi Donets river and has a population of over a lakh.

— Administratively, Sievierodonetsk falls under Ukraine’s Luhansk oblast (province).

— It is a big industrial hub known for chemical works and machine-building factories.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

3. (b)

FYI:

— Greek coast guard ships opened fire on a cargo vessel sailing in international waters in the Aegean Sea, escalating tensions between the regional rivals.

— The Aegean Sea is bordered by Greece and Turkey.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

4. (c)

FYI:

— China appears to be constructing an airstrip on a disputed South China Sea island that is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, according to satellite photos analysed by The Associated Press.

— The work on Triton island in the Paracel group mirrors construction on seven human-made islands in the Spratly group to the east which have been equipped with airstrips, docks and military systems, although it currently appears to be somewhat more modest in scale.

— Triton is one of the major islands in the Paracel group, which is roughly equidistant from the coast of Vietnam and China’s island province of Hainan.

— The other islands in the South China Sea are woody islands, Scarborough Shoal, Paracel Islands, Tree Island, etc. The Easter Island is located in the Pacific Ocean.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

5. (d)

FYI:

— Italy’s Lake Garda has a new tourist attraction — visitors can now walk to Rabbit Island (Isola dei Conigli), a tiny outcrop in the middle of the lake, instead of having to take a boat.

— The lake’s devastatingly low water levels have exposed sand banks and stones that forms a path from the shore to the outcrop, which is also known as San Biagio Island.

— The region has become so dry that the water level of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, is only half of what it normally is at this time of year.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 21)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 21)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 21)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 21)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 20)

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