UPSC Prelims- 2014

Science &

Technology(Solutions)

Total number of question = 18Biology 8

Physics -

Chemistry 1

Technology 9

By

RAVI P. AGRAHARI(Faculty of Science and Technology

&Environmental Sciences)

Question 1

1. Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of

(a) algae and bacteria(b) algae and fungi(c) bacteria and fungi(d) fungi and mosses

Answer- b

A lichen is a composite organism consisting of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner growing together in a symbiotic relationship. The photobiont is usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium.

Question 2

2. With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a surface-to surface missile 2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only 3. It can deliver one- tonne nuclear

warhead about 7500 km away.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer - a

Agni-IV was first tested on 15 November 2011 and 19 September 2012 from Wheeler Island off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa for its full range of 4,000 km. Agni IV is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, that includes indigenously developed ring laser gyro and composite rocket motor. It is a two-stage missile powered by solid propellant.

Question 3

3. With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coalbed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following statements:

1. coalbed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks.

2. In India , abundant coalbed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found.

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.

Answer- d

What is coal bed methane?

The primary energy source of natural gas is a substance called methane (CH4). Coal bed methane (CBM) is simply methane found in coal seams. It is produced by non-traditional means, and therefore, while it is sold and used the same as traditional natural gas, its production is very different. CBM is generated either from a biological process as a result of microbial action or from a thermal process as a result of increasing heat with depth of the coal. Often a coal seam is saturated with water, with methane is held in the coal by water pressure. Currently, natural gas from coal beds accounts for approximately 7% of total natural gas production in the United States.

What is Shale gas?

Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations. Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich resources of petroleum and natural gas. Sedimentary rocks are rocks formed by the accumulation of sediments at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Common sedimentary rocks include sandstone, limestone, and shale.

Shale gas prospects of India

According to estimates by EIA, India has 63 tcf of recoverable shale gas reserves. However, there has been a recent downward revision in the estimates. India’s shale reserve estimates pale in comparison to global standards; however limited exploration has been carried out so far. It is quite possible that similar to the US, India’s shale gas reserve potential could be upgraded with further exploratory drilling.

Question 44. Consider the following pairs: Vitamin deficiency disease

1. Vitamin C : scurvy 2. Vitamin D : rickets 3. Vitamin E : night blindness

Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 3 only(c) 1, 2 and 3(d) None

Answer- a

Source : http://revivelifelab.com/kids/vitality-balance-kids-%E2%84%A2/faqs-the-symptoms-of-nutrient-deficiencies/

Question 5 5. With reference to Neem tree, consider

the following statements: 1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide

to control the proliferation of some species of insects and mites.

2. Neem seeds are used in the manufacture of biofuels and hospital detergents.

3. Neem oil has applications in pharmaceutical industry.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer- C

One of the first active ingredients isolated from neem is Azadirachtin which has proved to be the

tree’s main agent for battling insects.

Neem OIL use in Pharmaceutical Drugs

Digestive system drugs Circulatory system drugs Skin treatment drugs Dental treatment drugs Diabetic and blood pressure treatment drugs

Leading global pharmaceutical companies are entering into partnerships or joint ventures with the natural medicine manufacturers to tap the growing herbal medicine market. Therefore neem will be in great demand in the coming future as it is multi functional and multi purpose product and it does not have any side effects unlike other allopathic medicines.

Question 6 6. Which one of the following is the

process involved in photosynthesis?

(a) Potential energy is released to form free energy

(b) Free energy is converted into potential energy and stored

(c) Food is oxidised to release carbon dioxide and water

(d) Oxygen is taken, and carbon dioxide and water vapour are given out.

Answer- b

Photosynthesis is the physico-chemical process by which plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria use light energy (free energy) to drive the synthesis of organic compounds (stored). In plants, algae and certain types of bacteria, the photosynthetic process results in the release of molecular oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that is used to synthesize carbohydrates (oxygenic photosynthesis). Other types of bacteria use light energy to create organic compounds but do not produce oxygen (anoxygenic photosynthesis). Photosynthesis provides the energy and reduced carbon required for the survival of virtually all life on our planet, as well as the molecular oxygen necessary for the survival of oxygen consuming organisms1 . In addition, the fossil fuels currently being burned to provide energy for human activity were produced by ancient photosynthetic organisms.

Question 7 7. In addition to fingerprinting

scanning, which of the following can be used in the biometric identification of a person?

1. Iris scanning 2. Retinal scanning 3. Voice recognition

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer- d

Solution :

http://www.slideshare.net/RaviAgrahari1/2-a-biometrics-14630315

Question 8 8. Which of the following statements

is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants?

1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population.

2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.

3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer- d

Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It does not involve flowers, pollination and seed production. Instead, a new plant grows from a vegetative part, usually a stem, of the parent plant. However, plants which reproduce asexually almost always reproduce sexually as well, bearing flowers, fruits and seeds. Vegetative reproduction from a stem usually involves the buds. Instead of producing a branch, the bud grows into a complete plant which eventually becomes self-supporting. Since no gametes are involved, the plants produced asexually have identical genomes and the offspring form what is known as a clone. Tip of stem is free from viral infection so this part can be use for the vegetative reproduction where plant will free from viral infection. This type of reproduction can be practiced many year that’s why the rose grafting is possible now.

Question 99. Which of the following pairs is/are

correctly matched? Spacecraft purpose1. Cassini- Huygens : Orbiting the

Venus and transmitting data to the Earth

2. Messenger : Mapping and investigating the Mercury

3. Voyager 1 and 2 : Exploring the outer solar system.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer- b

Cassini–Huygens is an unmanned spacecraft sent to the planet Saturn.

MESSENGER is only the second spacecraft sent to Mercury. “MESSENGER observations have also shown that Mercury’s surface was shaped by volcanic activity, identified unique landforms shaped by loss of volatile materials, and confirmed the presence of large amounts of water ice protected from the Sun’s heat within permanently shadowed impact craters near the planet’s poles.

The twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft are exploring where nothing from Earth has flown before. Continuing on their more-than-35-year journey since their 1977 launches, they each are much farther away from Earth and the sun than Pluto. In August 2012, Voyager 1 made the historic entry into interstellar space, the region between stars, filled with material ejected by the death of nearby stars millions of years ago. Scientists hope to learn more about this region when Voyager 2, in the "heliosheath" -- the outermost layer of the heliosphere where the solar wind is slowed by the pressure of interstellar medium -- also reaches interstellar space. Both spacecraft are still sending scientific information about their surroundings through the Deep Space Network, or DSN. http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/

Question 1010. Which of the following is/are the

example/examples of chemical change?

1. Crystalization of sodium chloride 2. Melting of ice 3. Sourcing of milk

Select the correct answer using the code given below

(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 3 only(c) 1, 2 and 3(d) None

Answer – c

Question 11 11. Consider the following

techniques/phenomena:

1. Building and grafting in fruit plants.2. Cytoplasmic male sterility3. Gene silencing

Which of the following is/are used to create transgenic crops?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) None

Answer- d

Transgenic is the transfer of gene concept which become possible due to recombinant DNA technology. It not possible with grafting and budding. In the case of cytoplasmic male sterility cytoplasm is responsible to carry character, here have no role of transfer of gene.

Gene silencing: A mechanism by which cells shut down large sections of chromosomal DNA. Gene silencing is done by incorporating the DNA to be silenced into a form of DNA called heterochromatin that is already silent.The process of gene silencing is important for the differentiation of many different types of cells. In this case have also no role of transfer of gene.

Question 12 12. Consider the following statements:

1. Maize can be used for the production of starch.

2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.

3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3

Answer- d

Maize is a source of carbohydrate (starch) in their own grain. Over the past two years, the use of nonfood-grade (NFG) corn oil for biodiesel production has grown tremendously. Corn oil biodiesel is eligible for a D4 RIN under the renewable fuel standard (RFS), and California's low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) has assigned it a carbon intensity (CI) value of 4. Maize, the American Indian word for corn, literally means "that which sustains life." After wheat and rice, it is the most important cereal grain in the world, providing nutrients for humans and animals. It also serves as a basic raw material for the production of starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, and fuel. Maize has the highest average yield per hectare.

Question 13 13. Among the following organisms,

which one does not belong to the class of other tree?

(a) Crab(b) Mite(c) Scorpion(d) Spider

Answer- a

Spiders, mites and scorpions belongs from arachnida group where as crab are crustacean group animal.

Question 1414. With reference to technologies for solar power

production, consider the following statements:

1. ‘Photovoltaics’ is a technology that generates electricity by direct conversion of light into electricity, while ‘Solar Thermal’ is a technology that utilizes the Sun’s rays to generate heat which is further used in electricity generation process.

2. Photovoltaics generate Alternating Current (AC), while Solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC).

3. India has manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for Photovoltaics.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only(2) 2 and 3 only(c) 1, 2 and 3(d) None

Answer- a

Different ways of solar energy utilization :

Convert into thermal energy (by using solar collector it can be used in solar cooker, solar water heating system, solar air heating & solar pond and can also be use for electricity generation. Asia’s first solar pond is located in Bhuj (Gujrat).

Photovoltic cells(PVC) – Direct conversion of light into electricity, when light falls on certain elements like silicon, the flow of electron starts potential of solar voltic power generation, which is 20 MW/SqKm. It synthesis in the form of DC which covert in AC at the time of use. Salijpally is the country’s first village to be electrified by solar PVC system.

Question 1515. Consider the following diseases: 1. Diphtheria 2. Chickenpox 3. Smallpox

Which of the above disease has/have been eradicated in India ?

(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 3 only(c) 1, 2 and 3(d) None

Answer- b

Question 1616. Consider the following:

1. Bats2. Bears3. Rodents

The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in which of the above kinds of animals?

(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 2 only(c) 1, 2 and 4 Only(d) Hibernation can be observed in

any of the above

Answer- d

Hibernation is that condition of an animal to spend the winter in close quarters in a dormant condition, as bears, bats, rodents and certain other animals.

Question 1717. Which of the following adds/ add

carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on the planet Earth?

1. Volcanic action 2. Respiration 3. Photosynthesis 4. Decay of organic matterSelect the correct answer using the

code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only(b) 2 only(c) 1, 2 and 4 only(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer- c

In the process of photosynthesis CO2 is utilized for food production not add (free) to atmosphere.

Question 1818. In India cluster bean (Guar) is

traditionally used as a vegetable of animal feed, but recently the cultivation of this has assumed significances. Which one of the following statements is correct in this context?

(a) The oil extracted from seeds is used in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics

(b) The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas

(C) The leaf extract of this plant has the properties of anti-histamines

(d) It is a source of high quality biodiesel

Answer- C

When your body comes into contact with whatever your allergic trigger is -- pollen, ragweed, pet dander, dust mites, for example -- it makes chemicals called histamines. They cause the tissue in your nose to swell (making it stuffy), your nose and eyes to run, and your eyes to itch. Sometimes you may also get an itchy rash on your skin, called hives. Antihistamines reduce or block histamines, so they stop allergy symptoms. Antihistamines work well to relieve symptoms of different types of allergies, including seasonal (hay fever), indoor, and food allergies, but they can't relieve every symptom. To treat nasal congestion, your doctor may recommend taking a decongestant. Some drugs combine an antihistamine and decongestant.