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MCQOPTIONS
This section includes 1185 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your UPSC IAS Exam knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.
| 801. |
An example of composite volcanoes is |
| A. | Mount Everest |
| B. | Puy de Dome |
| C. | Mauna Loa |
| D. | Mount Merapi |
| Answer» E. | |
| 802. |
As the magnitude of natural disasters decreases their frequency of occurrence_____? |
| A. | Increases |
| B. | Decreases |
| C. | Remains the same |
| D. | Varies with time |
| Answer» C. Remains the same | |
| 803. |
A place where an earthquake originates is called _____? |
| A. | Focus |
| B. | Fault line |
| C. | Epicenter |
| D. | S-Wave |
| Answer» B. Fault line | |
| 804. |
With reference to a conservation organization called Wetlands International', which of the following statements is/ are correct? 1. It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention. 2. It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies. Select the correct answer using the code given below. |
| A. | 1 only |
| B. | 2 only |
| C. | Both 1 and 2 |
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
| Answer» C. Both 1 and 2 | |
| 805. |
Consider the following international agreements : 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 3. The World Heritage Convention Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity? |
| A. | 1 and 2 only |
| B. | 3 only |
| C. | 1 and 3 only |
| D. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 806. |
Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? 1. Arsenic 2. Sorbitol 3. Fluoride 4. Formaldehyde 5. Uranium Select the correct answer using the codes given below. |
| A. | 1 and 3 only |
| B. | 2, 4 and 5 only |
| C. | 1, 3 and 5 only |
| D. | 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
| Answer» B. 2, 4 and 5 only | |
| 807. |
Due to improper/ indiscriminate disposal of old and used computers or their parts, which of the following are released into the environment as e-waste? 1. Beryllium 2. Cadmium 3. Chromium 4. Heptachlor 5. Mercury 6. Lead 7. Plutonium Select the correct answer using the codes given below. |
| A. | 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only |
| B. | 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only |
| C. | 2, 4, 5 and 7 only |
| D. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 |
| Answer» C. 2, 4, 5 and 7 only | |
| 808. |
Climatologist warn of a tipping point when global temperature trigger catastrophic events and rise levels risemore than 50 feets. What would cause the sea level rise so greatly and how much warmer does the world need to get for this tripping point to happen 1. 2. 3. Melting of Greenland ice sheet 4. thermal expansion of oceans Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 3 |
| B. | 1 and 3 |
| C. | 2 and 3 |
| D. | 2 and 4 |
| Answer» D. 2 and 4 | |
| 809. |
Gases commonly referred as greenhouse gases are : 1. 2. 3. CFC 4. Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 4 |
| B. | 2 and 3 |
| C. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| D. | 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
| Answer» D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 | |
| 810. |
Excessive exposure of humans to UV-rays results in 1. damage to immune system 2. damage to lungs 3. skin cancer 4. peptic ulcers Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 2 and 3 |
| C. | 1 and 3 |
| D. | 2 and 4 |
| Answer» D. 2 and 4 | |
| 811. |
Biomass gasification is considered to be one of the sustainable solutions to the power crisis in India. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Coconut shells, groundnut shells and rice husk can be used in biomass gasification. 2. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification consist of hydrogen and carbon dioxide only. 3. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification can be used for direct heat generation but not in internal combustion engines. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: |
| A. | 1 only |
| B. | 2 and 3 |
| C. | 1 and 3 |
| D. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Answer» D. 1, 2 and 3 | |
| 812. |
There is a concern, over the increases in harmful algal blooms in the seawaters of India. What could be the causative factors for this phenomenon? 1. Discharge of nutrients from the estuaries. 2. Run-off from the land during the monsoon. 3. Upwelling in the seas. Select the correct answer from the codes given below: |
| A. | 1 only |
| B. | 1 and 2 |
| C. | 2 and 3 |
| D. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 813. |
Which of the following statements are correct? 1. A new study has found that changes in solar activity contributed no more than 10 per cent to global warming in the 20th century published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. 2. It has been proposed that cosmic rays may have a role in cooling the earth by encouraging clouds to form, which subsequently reflect the sun's rays back into space. 3. Researchers found high correlation between cosmic rays and global temperatures occurring every 22 years. Select the answer from the codes given below- |
| A. | 1 only |
| B. | 1 and 2 only |
| C. | 2 and 3 only |
| D. | All of the above |
| Answer» C. 2 and 3 only | |
| 814. |
Which of the following statements about radioactive pollution are correct? 1. It causes genetic changes in the animals. 2. It causes disbalance among different minerals in the soil. 3. It hinders blood circulation. 4. It causes cancers. Select the correct answer from the codes given below: Codes: |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 1 and 4 |
| C. | 1, 3 and 4 |
| D. | 2, 3 and 4 |
| Answer» C. 1, 3 and 4 | |
| 815. |
Which of the following countries suffer from the acid rains? 1. Canada 2. France 3. Norway 4. Germany Select the correct answers from the codes given below: Codes: |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 1 and 3 |
| C. | 2 and 3 |
| D. | 3 and 4 |
| Answer» C. 2 and 3 | |
| 816. |
The acidification of oceans is increasing. Why is this phenomenon a cause of concern? 1. The growth and survival of calcareous phytoplankton will be adversely affected. 2. The growth and survival of coral reefs will be adversely affected. 3. The survival of some animals that have phytoplanktonic larvae will be adversely affected. 4. The cloud seeding and formation of clouds will be adversely affected. Which of the statements given above is /are correct? |
| A. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| B. | 2 only |
| C. | 1 and 3 |
| D. | 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
| Answer» B. 2 only | |
| 817. |
Humans have contributed to habitat destruction by 1. clearing land for farming 2. excessive use of chemicals 3. producing green-house gases through use of fossil fuels 4. exploitation of land and water for mining of scarce resources Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 2 and 3 |
| C. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| D. | All of these |
| Answer» E. | |
| 818. |
One Carbon Credit is defined as ____. 1. Credit permit to release one ton of carbon dioxide. 2. providing loans to establish a unit which produces carbon dioxide for industrial use. 3. Finding out one new business which can use and recycle greenhouse gases. Which of the following statements(s) is/are correct? |
| A. | 3 only |
| B. | 2 only |
| C. | 1 only |
| D. | All 1, 2 and 3 |
| Answer» D. All 1, 2 and 3 | |
| 819. |
Climatologist warm of a tipping point when global temperature trigger catastrophic events and rise levels rise more than 50 feet?s. What would cause the sea level rise so greatly and how much warmer does the world need to get for this tripping point to happen 1. \[1{}^\circ C\] 2. \[3{}^\circ C\] 3. Melting of Greenland ice sheet 4. thermal expansion of oceans Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 3 |
| B. | 1 and 3 |
| C. | 2 and 3 |
| D. | 2 and 4 |
| Answer» D. 2 and 4 | |
| 820. |
Ozone layer can be destroyed by pollutants such as 1. Hydrocarbons 2. Carbon mono oxide 3. Sulphur dioxide 4. Nitrogen oxides |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 2 and 3 |
| C. | 1 sad 3 |
| D. | 1 and 4 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 821. |
Acid rain concentrated in the eastern portions of the United States is primarily the result of |
| A. | nuclear power plants in the region |
| B. | coal-burning power plants in the Midwest |
| C. | hydro electric power plants in northeastern Canada |
| D. | off-shore oil drilling rigs along the east coast of the United States |
| Answer» C. hydro electric power plants in northeastern Canada | |
| 822. |
Gases commonly referred as greenhouse gases are : 1. \[C{{H}_{4}}\] 2. \[C{{O}_{2}}\] 3. CFC 4. \[N{{H}_{3}}\] Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 4 |
| B. | 2 and 3 |
| C. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| D. | All of these |
| Answer» D. All of these | |
| 823. |
Due to their extensive rice cultivation, some regions may be contributing to global warming. To what possible reason/reasons is this attributable? 1. The anaerobic conditions associated with rice cultivation cause the emission of methane. 2. When nitrogen based fertilizers are used, nitrous oxide is emitted from the cultivated soil. 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. Neither 1 nor 2 | |
| 824. |
If atmospheric carbon dioxide was eliminated from our atmosphere, we would expect that: 1. the Earth would cool considerably 2. photosynthesis would dramatically increase 3. the Earth would heat up considerably 4. photosynthesis would dramatically decrease Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 2 and 3 |
| C. | 1 and 4 |
| D. | 2 and 4 |
| Answer» D. 2 and 4 | |
| 825. |
Compared to 50 years ago, the thinning ozone layer has produced dramatic increases in cases of: 1. asthma 2. color blindness 3. cataracts 4. skin cancer Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 3 and 4 |
| C. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| D. | All of these |
| Answer» C. 1, 2 and 3 | |
| 826. |
Consider the following statements: 1. Kyoto protocol came into force in the year 2005. 2. Kyoto protocol deals primarily with the depletion of the ozone layer. 3. Methane as a greenhouse gas is more harmful than carbon dioxide. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 1 and 3 |
| C. | 1 only |
| D. | 3 only |
| Answer» C. 1 only | |
| 827. |
Eutrophication in the Chesapeake Bay along the eastern edge of Maryland bas resulted in low oxygen levels in the water and alteration of food webs. The cause of this eutrophication appears to be pollution that contains high levels of: 1. nitrogen 2. carbon 3. phosphorus 4. sulphur Which of the above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 3 |
| B. | 2 and 4 |
| C. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| D. | All of these |
| Answer» B. 2 and 4 | |
| 828. |
Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances? (IAS Prelims 2015) |
| A. | Bretton Woods Conference |
| B. | Montreal Protocol |
| C. | Kyoto Protocol |
| D. | Nagoya Protocol |
| Answer» C. Kyoto Protocol | |
| 829. |
?Bio Carbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Land-scopes? is managed by the (IAS Prelims 2015) |
| A. | Asian Development Bank |
| B. | International Monetary Fund |
| C. | United Nations Environment Programme |
| D. | World Bank |
| Answer» E. | |
| 830. |
Which one of the following pairs is mismatched? |
| A. | fossil fuel burning - release of \[C{{O}_{2}}\] |
| B. | nuclear power - radioactive wastes |
| C. | solar energy - greenhouse effect |
| D. | biomass burning - release of \[C{{O}_{2}}\]. |
| Answer» D. biomass burning - release of \[C{{O}_{2}}\]. | |
| 831. |
Acid rains are produced by |
| A. | excess \[N{{O}_{2}}\] and \[S{{O}_{2}}\] from burning fossil fuels |
| B. | excess production of \[N{{H}_{3}}\] by industry and coal gas |
| C. | excess release of carbon monoxide by incomplete combustion |
| D. | excess formation of \[C{{O}_{2}}\] by combustion and animal respiration. (1988, 89) |
| Answer» B. excess production of \[N{{H}_{3}}\] by industry and coal gas | |
| 832. |
Ozone holes are more pronounced at the |
| A. | Equator |
| B. | Tropic of Cancer |
| C. | Tropic of Capricorn |
| D. | Poles |
| Answer» E. | |
| 833. |
'El Nino' associated with the formation of the South West Monsoon of India is |
| A. | an abnormally warm ocean current |
| B. | a periodic warm air-mass |
| C. | a periodic warm wind |
| D. | a periodic low pressure centre |
| Answer» B. a periodic warm air-mass | |
| 834. |
Protection of endangered species by preserving the entire ecosystem is known as: |
| A. | In-situ conservation |
| B. | Ex-situ conservation |
| C. | Biodiversity conservation |
| D. | None of the above |
| Answer» C. Biodiversity conservation | |
| 835. |
Widely applying pesticides may lead to resurgence and secondary-pest outbreak because: |
| A. | the insecticide also killed the natural predators of the pests. |
| B. | the plants have now lost their ability to fight the pests. |
| C. | pesticides typically harm plants in ways that take several years to appear. |
| D. | new species that are more resistant to insecticides have evolved. |
| Answer» B. the plants have now lost their ability to fight the pests. | |
| 836. |
Which one of the following statements best reflects the overall position of current science on the role of biodiversity in ecosystems? |
| A. | The more species in an ecosystem, the greater the biomass production. |
| B. | The more species in an ecosystem, the greater the drought resistance. |
| C. | The effects of biodiversity on the functioning of an ecosystem are not consistent. |
| D. | Almost every species in an ecosystem is essential to maintain the overall ecosystem. |
| Answer» D. Almost every species in an ecosystem is essential to maintain the overall ecosystem. | |
| 837. |
In the lower regions of Uttaranchal, a toxic weed called leafy spurge was accidentally introduced and has grown and spread rapidly, covering millions of acres of grass- lands. Leafy spurge is generally avoided by cattle and horses and may be toxic to them. Thus, grasslands where leafy spurge has spread has been damaged by the invasion of this plant. Plants such as leafy spurge can double their population size every year in part because of their efficient production of large amounts of seeds. Populations that can double every year, such as leafy spurge. |
| A. | can do so endlessly, eventually covering all of the land on Earth. |
| B. | exhibit constant growth increasing by the same amount every year. |
| C. | exhibit a state of equilibrium when they are spreading. |
| D. | exhibit exponential growth as they spread to new regions. |
| Answer» E. | |
| 838. |
What is B.O.D.? |
| A. | The amount of \[{{O}_{2}}\] utilized by organisms in water |
| B. | The amount of \[{{O}_{2}}\] utilized by micro-organisms for decomposition |
| C. | The total amount of \[{{O}_{2}}\] present in water |
| D. | All of the above. |
| Answer» C. The total amount of \[{{O}_{2}}\] present in water | |
| 839. |
The population of a particular type of fish, called Kubani found and in the Chilka lake only, is under heavy fishing pressure. If too many Kubians are caught, its population will crash and future years of fishing Kubani will suffer. Kubani can exhibit logistic growth under certain circumstances. Assuming logistic growth, it would be best to manage Kubani population by permitting the harvesting of just enough fish to keep the Kubani population. |
| A. | at 1/10 of its carrying capacity. |
| B. | at half its carrying capacity. |
| C. | at its full carrying capacity. |
| D. | above its carrying capacity. |
| Answer» C. at its full carrying capacity. | |
| 840. |
Moss invades and establishes itself on bare rock, accumulating the beginnings of soil. After several years, enough soil has become established that grasses begin to grow where there was once bare rock. Without the moss building up soil, the grasses would have had no chance. The mosses changed the environment enough to permit grasses to grow in a process called: |
| A. | sublimation, |
| B. | facilitation. |
| C. | regeneration, |
| D. | improvisation. |
| Answer» C. regeneration, | |
| 841. |
A gardener has a large garden and decides this year he will not let the pests get beyond control. At the earliest sign of insect pests, he applies an organic insecticide and continues to apply it every month throughout the growing season. The next year he decides not to use any insecticides, thinking that he must have eliminated the pests with the prior year's treat-ments. Unfortunately, the pests reappear in numbers greater than he has ever seen before, and his plants are destroyed. Investigating this phenomenon, he learns that he has just experienced a phenomenon known as |
| A. | resurgence |
| B. | pesticide resistance |
| C. | natural selection |
| D. | emergence |
| Answer» B. pesticide resistance | |
| 842. |
A gardener applied heavy doses of the same insecticide to his garden for two consecutive years to kill squash bugs. During the third year, the man called in an expert to explain why he had an abundance of new pests that were destroying her garden. The expert explained that the abundant new pests were largely due to his previous use of a insecticide in a phenomenon known as |
| A. | pesticide resistance |
| B. | secondary-pest outbreak |
| C. | triennial pest emergence |
| D. | bounce back resurgence |
| Answer» C. triennial pest emergence | |
| 843. |
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emission as per Kyoto Protocol implies that |
| A. | industrial countries receive carbon credits by funding carbon saving projects in another relatively affluent nation |
| B. | industrial countries reduce their carbon emission by using environment friendly technology in production |
| C. | developed countries invest in carbon reduction in developing countries and receive carbon credit in return |
| D. | developed nations purchase carbon credit from other nations |
| Answer» C. developed countries invest in carbon reduction in developing countries and receive carbon credit in return | |
| 844. |
Wood pellets are produced from the waste sawdust of lumber and paper mills. Home-heating stoves burning these pellets can heat homes directly, instead of relying on other energy sources. Heating your home with wood pellets is: |
| A. | sustainable, less polluting, and about 3 times as efficient as heating a home using electricity from a coal-fired power plant. |
| B. | sustainable, slightly more polluting, and is about 30% more efficient than using electricity from a coal-fired power plant. |
| C. | not sustainable but is less polluting and is about as efficient as using electricity from a coal-fired power plant. |
| D. | not sustainable and actually pollutes more than using electricity from a coal-fired power plant. |
| Answer» B. sustainable, slightly more polluting, and is about 30% more efficient than using electricity from a coal-fired power plant. | |
| 845. |
In general, temperatures along an ocean coastline vary less than temperatures 100 miles inland. This moderation of temperatures along coastlines is because |
| A. | as the oceans evaporate it cools off the coastlines. |
| B. | the sun shines more intensely away from the ocean coastlines |
| C. | ocean temperatures change more quickly than air temperatures. |
| D. | ocean temperatures do not change as quickly as air temperatures. |
| Answer» E. | |
| 846. |
In developing countries, contaminated water is responsible for the deaths of more than 1.6 million people. Contributing to this problem is the use of |
| A. | groundwater for consumption and the disposal of human sewage. |
| B. | groundwater for consumption and the disposal of human sewage in surface waters. |
| C. | surface waters for consumption and me disposal of human sewage. |
| D. | surface waters for consumption and the disposal of human sewage in groundwater. |
| Answer» D. surface waters for consumption and the disposal of human sewage in groundwater. | |
| 847. |
Freshwater becomes polluted: |
| A. | by oil spills in ocean water moving inland. |
| B. | primarily by contaminants from aquifers moving to surface waters. |
| C. | as a result of eutrophication. |
| D. | from runoff associated with urban areas chemicals used in farming in rural areas. |
| Answer» E. | |
| 848. |
Concerned with the expensive disposal their hazardous wastes, a company learns that it can purchase another chemical that will neutralize the company's hazardous wastes into a nontoxic form. The strategy used by this company is most consistent with which of the following hazardous waste disposal system methods? |
| A. | secure landfill |
| B. | deep-well injection |
| C. | on-site surface impoundment |
| D. | best-demonstrated available technology |
| Answer» E. | |
| 849. |
At an international conference on global climate change, a representative of a developing country admits that each year, his country contributes the same amount of green-house gases to the atmosphere as a particular developed nation. However, he argues that because his country has only 10% of the wealth of that developed nation, the developed nation should pay much more of the costs of adaptation. This representatives arguments illustrate the: |
| A. | polluter pays principle. |
| B. | precautionary principle. |
| C. | equity principle. |
| D. | conservation of the commons principle. |
| Answer» D. conservation of the commons principle. | |
| 850. |
Brightly colored antique children's toys from before 1970 may be colored with paints that are contaminated with: |
| A. | heavy metals |
| B. | toxic plastic compounds. |
| C. | synthetic organic compounds. |
| D. | synthetic inorganic compounds. |
| Answer» B. toxic plastic compounds. | |