UPSC Essentials | Daily quiz by subject — Environment, geography, science and technology (week 25)

UPSC Essentials presents its thematic quiz initiative. These quizzes are designed to help you review some of the most important topics in the static part of the syllabus. Every day we will cover a new topic. Try today’s topic quiz on Environment, Geography, Science and Technology to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to fix the problem Economics quiz.

Contents

QUESTION 1 QUESTION 2 QUESTION 3 QUESTION 4 QUESTION 5 ANSWERS TO MCQS 1.(b)2.(c)3.(a)4.(d)5.(b)Daily quiz by previous topic

QUESTION 1

In reference to the Astra missile, consider the following statements:

1. This is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) surface-to-air missile.

2. The missile is designed to engage and destroy highly maneuverable supersonic aircraft.

3. The missile has all-weather day and night capability.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) The three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

Consider the following applications:

1. Healthcare

2. Automobiles

3. Aerospace

How many of the applications listed above can be achieved by 3D printing?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) The three

(d) None

QUESTION 3

In reference to the Tortoise and the Tortoise, consider the following statements:

1. Tortoise is a land animal and tortoise is an aquatic animal.

2. Tortoises generally have a dome-shaped shell while those of tortoises are flat and streamlined.

3. The shell of turtles is harder and heavier than that of tortoises.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) The three

(d) None

QUESTION 4

Consider the following pairs:

(Wildlife Sanctuary (WS)) (Location)

1. Mhadei WS West Bengal

2. Amchang WS Karnataka

3. Thanthai Periyar WS Kerala

4. Dibang WS Assam

How many of the pairs given above do not match correctly?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) The four

QUESTION 5

Regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified foods, consider the following statements:

1. Gene editing involves making precise changes to an organism’s genome with the integration of foreign DNA elements.

2. Gene editing and GMOs increase crop tolerance to climatic stresses.

3. Genetically modified organisms are mainly used to produce herbicide-resistant crops or produce pesticides.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) The three

(d) None

ANSWERS TO MCQS

1.(b)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

— Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa.

— Astra is a state-of-the-art Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-air missile to engage and destroy highly maneuverable supersonic aerial targets. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct.

— It is designed and developed by Defense Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Center Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of DRDO.

— The missile is designed to engage and destroy highly maneuverable supersonic aircraft. Statement 2 is therefore correct.

— The missile has all-weather day and night capability. Therefore, statement 3 is correct.

— The ASTRA Mk-I weapon system integrated into the SU-30 Mk-I aircraft is being integrated into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other source: http://www.drdo.gov.in)

2.(c)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

— India’s first 3D printed post office was virtually inaugurated by the Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Cambridge layout of Bengaluru.

— The multinational company Larsen & Toubro Limited constructed the post office with technological support from IIT Madras under the guidance of Professor Manu Santhanam, Division of Building Technology and Construction Management, Department of Civil Engineering.

— To perform 3D printing, you need a personal computer connected to a 3D printer. All they have to do is design a 3D model of the desired object on computer-aided design (CAD) software and hit “print.”

— These machines are capable of printing anything from ordinary objects like a ball or spoon to complex moving parts like hinges and wheels.

— 3D printing is used in a multitude of different industries like healthcare, automotive and aerospace.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

3.(a)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

— There are various differences between a turtle and a turtle such as:

— The turtle is an aquatic animal and the tortoise is a land animal. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct.

— Tortoises have webbed feet, and turtle feet are round and stubby (like tiny elephant feet), suitable for walking on land and burrowing.

— Tortoises are largely vegetarian while tortoises are generally omnivorous.

— Tortoises generally have a dome-shaped shell while those of tortoises are flat and streamlined. Statement 2 is therefore not correct.

— The shell of turtles is harder and heavier than that of tortoises. Small turtles that live in brackish and fresh waters are called turtles. Therefore, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

4.(d)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

5.(b)

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

— Progress in genetic engineering have given rise to an era of foods – including genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified foods – that promise to revolutionize the way we eat.

— GMO are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially modified by inserting a piece of foreign DNA. This DNA may be of synthetic origin or come from other organisms.

– Gene modification involves making precise changes to an organism’s genome without the integration of foreign DNA elements. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct

— Scientists use tools like CRISPR/Cas to make precise “cuts” in DNA to create a new genetic variety. Unlike GMOs, this simply causes tiny changes indistinguishable from spontaneous mutations.

— GMOs and genetically modified foods have been in circulation for nearly three decades, and research in this area continues to make breakthroughs. These technologies are applied to provide a range of benefits, from improving nutrition in food, the reduction of food waste and an increased tolerance of crops to climatic stresses. Therefore, statement 2 is correct