McqMate
These multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are designed to enhance your knowledge and understanding in the following areas: General Knowledge (GK) , Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) .
| 401. |
Where does most of the weather phenomena take place? |
| A. | Ionosphere |
| B. | Troposphere |
| C. | Stratosphere |
| D. | (4)Tropopause |
| Answer» B. Troposphere | |
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Explanation: Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate is the term for the average atmospheric conditions over longer periods of Lime. |
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| 402. |
Mariana Trench is found in – |
| A. | Atlantic Ocean |
| B. | Pacific Ocean |
| C. | Indian Ocean |
| D. | Arctic Ocean |
| Answer» B. Pacific Ocean | |
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Explanation: The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the world's oceans. It is located in the western Pacific Ocean, to the east of the Mariana Islands. |
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| 403. |
Which one of the following ocean currents does not occur in Atlantic Ocean? |
| A. | Gulf stream |
| B. | Brazil current |
| C. | Peru current |
| D. | Canary current |
| Answer» C. Peru current | |
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Explanation: The Humboldt Current , also known as the Peru Current, is a cold, low- salinity ocean current that flows north-westward along the west coast of South America from the southern tip of Chile to northern Peru. It is an eastern boundary current flowing in the direction of the equator, and can extend 1,000 kilometers offshore. |
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| 404. |
Which current is responsible for increase in the temperature of the western Europe? |
| A. | Labrador current |
| B. | Gulf stream |
| C. | Canari current |
| D. | North Equatorial current |
| Answer» D. North Equatorial current | |
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Explanation: North Equatorial Current is a significant Pacific and Atlantic Ocean current that flows east-to-west between about 10° north and 20° north. It is the southern side of a clockwise subtropical gyre. Despite its name, the North Equatorial Current is not connected to the equator. In both oceans, it is separated from the equatorial circulation by the Equatorial Countercurrent (also known as the North Equatorial Countercurrent), which flows eastward. |
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| 405. |
Tsunamis are cuased by – |
| A. | mixing of cold and warm currents |
| B. | earthquakes |
| C. | changes in sea level |
| D. | volcanic eruption |
| Answer» B. earthquakes | |
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Explanation: Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes generated in a subduction zone, an area where an oceanic plate is being forced down into the mantle by plate tectonic forces. The friction between the subducting plate and the oveniding plate is enormous. This friction prevents a slow and steady rate of subduction and instead the two plates become "stuck". |
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| 406. |
Coffee is a – |
| A. | Sub- tropical shrub |
| B. | Warm temperate shrub |
| C. | Tropical shrub |
| D. | Cool temperate shrub |
| Answer» C. Tropical shrub | |
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Explanation: Coffee grows between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. When grown in the tropics, coffee is a vigorous bush or small tree that usually grows to a height of 3-3.5 m (10-12 feet). |
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| 407. |
Contour ploughing helps in – |
| A. | stopping floods |
| B. | growing crops |
| C. | soil conservation |
| D. | checking landslides |
| Answer» C. soil conservation | |
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Explanation: Contour ploughing is the farming practice of ploughing across a slope following its elevation contour lines. The rows form slow water run-off during rainstorms to prevent soil erosion and allow the water time to settle into the soil. |
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| 408. |
Global warming is expected to result in |
| A. | Increase in level of sea |
| B. | Change in crop pattern |
| C. | Change in coastline |
| D. | All of the above |
| Answer» D. All of the above | |
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Explanation: Projections of future climate change suggest further global warming, sea level rise, and an increase in the frequency and severity of some extreme weather events. Overthe next several millennia, even if emissions were drastically reduced, global temperatures would remain close to their highest level for at least 1,000 years. The coast will suffer severe impacts from sea level rise. |
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| 409. |
Which one of the following is an abiotic and renewable resource? |
| A. | iron ore |
| B. | livestock |
| C. | water |
| D. | forests |
| Answer» C. water | |
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Explanation: In ecology and biology, abiotic components (also known as abiotic factors) arc non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment, which affect ecosystems. Abiotic phenomena underlie all of biology. From the viewpoint of biology, abiotic factors can be classified as light or more generally radiation, temperature, water, the chemical surrounding composed of the terrestrial atmospheric gases, as well as soil. The macroscopic climate often influences each of the above. A renewable resource is a natural resource with the ability to reproduce through biological or natural processes and replenished with the passage of time. Renewable resources are part of our natural environment and form our ecosystem. |
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| 410. |
The largest ecosystem of the Earth is – |
| A. | Biome |
| B. | Hydrosphere |
| C. | Lithosphere |
| D. | Biosphere |
| Answer» A. Biome | |
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Explanation: Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a large area, creating a typical ecosystem over that area. Such major ecosystems are termed as biomes. |
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| 411. |
An ecosystem consists of – |
| A. | producers, consumers and decomposers in a particular area. |
| B. | all the plants and animals of an area. |
| C. | a living community and its environment. |
| D. | carnivorous and herbivorous of an area |
| Answer» C. a living community and its environment. | |
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Explanation: An ecosystem consists of communities of many different species living together, and all the physical aspects of the particular habitat, such as like soil, water, and weather. |
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| 412. |
Humus is a type of – |
| A. | fossil seen on the rocks |
| B. | decaying organic matters in soil |
| C. | fertilizers applied in soil |
| D. | special growth found in plants |
| Answer» B. decaying organic matters in soil | |
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Explanation: Humus refers to the decomposed and partly decomposed organic matter or animal and vegetation originally present in the soil. |
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| 413. |
Tides in the sea are caused by – |
| A. | effect of Sun |
| B. | effect of Moon |
| C. | eombined effect of Moon and Sun |
| D. | gravitational force of Earth and Sun |
| Answer» C. eombined effect of Moon and Sun | |
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Explanation: Tide-generating forces (TGF) are a result of the gravitational attraction between the earth, the sun, and the moon and the centrifugal force due to the relative motions of the moon around the earth, and the earth around the sun. |
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| 414. |
Sea water is saltier than rain water because – |
| A. | rivers wash away salts from earth and pour them into the sea |
| B. | sea beds have salt producing mines |
| C. | sea animals are salt producing |
| D. | the air around the sea is saltish |
| Answer» A. rivers wash away salts from earth and pour them into the sea | |
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Explanation: Sea water is saltier than rain water because rivers wash away salts from earth and pour them into the sea. |
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| 415. |
Which of the following statements is correct? |
| A. | Lava and magma both have gas |
| B. | Neither the lava nor the magma has gas |
| C. | Magma has gas while lava has no gas |
| D. | Lava has gas while magma has no gas |
| Answer» A. Lava and magma both have gas | |
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Explanation: Highly viscous lava tends to entrap gas, which form vesicles (bubbles) within the rock as they rise to the surface. Lava with low viscosity tends to easily release bubbling gases as they are formed. Lavas also may contain many other components, sometimes including solid crystals of various minerals, fragments of exotic rocks known as xenoliths and fragments of previously solidified lava. Volcanic eruptions are caused by magma (a mixture of liquid rock, crystals, and dissolved gas) expelled onto the Earth's surface. |
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| 416. |
A day is added when one crosses – |
| A. | the equator from south to north |
| B. | 180 degree longitude from east to west |
| C. | the equator from north to south |
| D. | 180 degree longitude from west to east |
| Answer» A. the equator from south to north | |
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Explanation: A traveler crossing the International Date Line eastbound subtracts one or 24 hours, so that the calendar date to the west of the line is repeated. Crossing the IDL westbound results in 24 hours being added, advancing the calendar date by one day, The International Date Line is necessary to have a fixed, albeit arbitrary, boundary on the globewhere the calendar date advances in the westbound direction. |
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| 417. |
The moon is showing its same face to the earth because – |
| A. | It is not rotating about its own axis |
| B. | Its rotation and revolution are opposite |
| C. | Its periods of rotation and revolution are the same |
| D. | Its rotation is faster than its revolution |
| Answer» C. Its periods of rotation and revolution are the same | |
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Explanation: Because it is "tidally-locked" to the Earth. The Earth's gravity slows down the moon's rotation, so that it rotates at the same speed as it revolves around the Earth. Imagine a person who walks around a center pole, but shifts their body so they are always facing it as they walk. |
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| 418. |
Stars twinkle but planets do not twinkle because – |
| A. | they emit light of a constant intensity |
| B. | their distance from the earth does not change with time |
| C. | they are very far away from the earth resulting in decrease in intensity of light |
| D. | they are nearer to the earth and hence we receive a greater amount of light and therefore minor variations in intensity are not noticeable |
| Answer» D. they are nearer to the earth and hence we receive a greater amount of light and therefore minor variations in intensity are not noticeable | |
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Explanation: Eris is the most massive and second-largest dwarf planet known in the Solar System. It is 27% more massive than dwarf planet Pluto. Eris is the ninth-most-massive known body directly orbiting the Sun, and the largest known body in the Solar System not visited by a spacecraft. |
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| 419. |
The mass of Jupiter is approximately – |
| A. | one tenth of the solar mass |
| B. | one thousandth of the solar mass |
| C. | one hundredth of the solar mass |
| D. | half the solar mass |
| Answer» B. one thousandth of the solar mass | |
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Explanation: Jupiter's radius is about 1/10 the radius of the Sun, and its mass is 0.001 times the mass of the Sun. Jupiter's mass is 2.5 times that of all the other planets in the Solar System combined—this is so massive that its barycenter with the Sun lies above the Sun's surface at 1.068 solar radii from the Sun's center. |
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| 420. |
What is the epicentre of an Earthquake? |
| A. | The point at which earth-quake originates |
| B. | The point which is prone to volcanoes |
| C. | The point from which the intensity of seismic waves declines |
| D. | The point on the earth's surface vertically above the seismic focus |
| Answer» D. The point on the earth's surface vertically above the seismic focus | |
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Explanation: The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates. In the case of earthquakes, the epicenter is directly above the point where the fault begins to rupture, and in most cases, it is the area of greatest damage. |
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| 421. |
Which one of the following organizations is responsible for publishing topographical sheets? |
| A. | Geological Survey of India (G.S.I.) |
| B. | National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation (N.A. T. M.O.) |
| C. | Indian Meteorological Department (I.M.D.) |
| D. | Survey of India (S.O.I.) |
| Answer» D. Survey of India (S.O.I.) | |
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Explanation: The Survey of India produces a rich "base" of map information through systematic topographical surveys and the use of remote sensing images. Topographic maps provide the graphical portrayal of objects present on the surface of the earth. These maps provide the preliminary, information about a terrain and thus very useful for engineering works. |
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| 422. |
Troposphere is the hottest part of the atmosphere because- |
| A. | it is closest to the Sun |
| B. | there are charged particles in it |
| C. | it is heated by the Earth's surface |
| D. | heat is generated in it |
| Answer» C. it is heated by the Earth's surface | |
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Explanation: The lowest part of the troposphere is the warmest because it is closest to the ground, where the heat is coming from. |
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| 423. |
The South-East trade winds are attracted towards the Indian sub-continent in the rainy season due to – |
| A. | the development of cyclone over the equator |
| B. | the effect of easterlies |
| C. | the effect of Northern-East trade winds |
| D. | the presence of low atmospheric pressure over North-West India |
| Answer» D. the presence of low atmospheric pressure over North-West India | |
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Explanation: During the Rainy Season in India (Mid-June to the end of September), the intense heat that prevails in the Indian subcontinent causes a low pressure region over the Northern Plains in the Northwestern parts of the country, It is intense enough to attract the moisture- bearing winds from the Indian Ocean. Thus, the south-east trade winds from the Southern Hemisphere are attracted towards India. On crossing the equator, they are deflected to their right and blow over the Indian subcontinent as the south-west monsoon winds. |
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| 424. |
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystem in the order of decreasing productivity? |
| A. | Oceans, mangroves, lakes, grassland |
| B. | Mangroves, oceans, grassland, lakes |
| C. | Oceans, lakes, grassland, mangroves |
| D. | Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans |
| Answer» D. Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans | |
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Explanation: Productivity is the rate of organic matter or biomass production. The average ocean productivity is about 50 grams carbon per square meter per year; while, the average land productivity is 160 grams carbon per square meter per year. Salt marshes and mangroves have one of the highest productivity of 3300- 6000 grams carbon per square meter per year. So the correct sequence of ecosystem in the order decreasing productivity is: Mangroves > Grasslands > Lakes > Oceans. |
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| 425. |
The tides in the sea are primarily due to – |
| A. | the atmospheric effect of the Earth |
| B. | the gravitational effect of Venus on the Earth |
| C. | the gravitational effect of the Sun on the Earth |
| D. | the gravitational effect of the Moon on the Earth |
| Answer» D. the gravitational effect of the Moon on the Earth | |
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Explanation: A tide is the periodic rising and falling of Earth's ocean surface caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the Moon acting on the oceans. The height of tides varies somewhat with the phases of the Moon. At New Moon and Full Moon, tides are higher because the Sun's tidal force adds to the Moon's. This is called "spring tide". |
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| 426. |
Cloud burst means – |
| A. | Formation of artificial rain |
| B. | Abnormally heavy downpour of rain, associated with thunderstorm |
| C. | Presence of scattered flakes of cloud in the sky |
| D. | Sowing of seeds of a crop in a cloudy weather |
| Answer» B. Abnormally heavy downpour of rain, associated with thunderstorm | |
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Explanation: A cloudburst is sudden copious rainfall. It is a sudden aggressive rainstorm falling for a short period of time limited to a small geographical area. Generally cloudbursts are associated with thunderstorms |
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| 427. |
Which of the following is FALSE with respect to rain water harvesting? |
| A. | It is a device of water conservation. |
| B. | It helps raising water table. |
| C. | It helps meet rising water demand. |
| D. | It increases run-off losses. |
| Answer» D. It increases run-off losses. | |
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Explanation: Rainwater harvesting is a technique used for collecting, storing, and using rainwater for landscape irrigation and other uses. It, reduces water runoff, improve infiltration and increase the water storage capacity of the soil. By reducing the runoff, it reduces flooding of water on the roads, improves the quality of water and reduces the chances of soil erosion. |
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| 428. |
Ozone layer is formed due to reactions of : |
| A. | oxygen and ultraviolet rays |
| B. | carbon dioxide and layers of atmosphere |
| C. | cosmic rays and layers of atmosphere |
| D. | infrared rays and ultraviolet rays |
| Answer» A. oxygen and ultraviolet rays | |
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Explanation: Ozone in the Earth's stratosphere is created by ultraviolet light striking ordinary oxygen molecules containing two oxygen atoms (O2), splitting them into individual oxygen atoms (atomic oxygen). The atomic oxygen then combines with unbroken O2 to create ozone (O3). |
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| 429. |
Laterite soils are found in area where – |
| A. | normal temperature and rain fall is less |
| B. | temperature is high and rain fall is heavy |
| C. | temperature is low and rain fall is nominal |
| D. | temperature is high and rain fall is normal |
| Answer» B. temperature is high and rain fall is heavy | |
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Explanation: Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop byintensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock. Tropical weathering (laterization) is a prolonged process of chemical weathering which produces a wide variety in the thickness, grade, chemistry and ore mineralogy of the resulting soils. |
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| 430. |
When does solar eclipse take place? |
| A. | When the sun is between the moon and earth |
| B. | When the earth is between the moon and sun |
| C. | When the moon is between the sun and earth |
| D. | When the moon does not lie on the line joining the sun and earth |
| Answer» C. When the moon is between the sun and earth | |
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Explanation: A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between Earth and the sun, and the moon casts a shadow over Earth. A solar eclipse can only take place at the phase of new moon, when the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth and its shadows fall upon Earth's surface. |
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| 431. |
The Montreal Protocol 1987 refers to – |
| A. | saving the Bio-diversity of our planet |
| B. | signing of an accord on the peaceful uses of atomic energy |
| C. | signing of an accord on keeping the antarctica as a nuclear free zone |
| D. | saving the ozone layer from destruction by reducting the use of CFCs |
| Answer» D. saving the ozone layer from destruction by reducting the use of CFCs | |
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Explanation: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is all international treaty designed to protect the Ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was opened for signature on September 16. 1987, and entered into force on January 1, 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki. May 1989. |
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| 432. |
What makes an ecosystem? |
| A. | A living community and its environment |
| B. | All the plants and animals of an area |
| C. | Carnivores and herbivores of an area |
| D. | Producers, consumers and decomposers in a particular locality |
| Answer» A. A living community and its environment | |
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Explanation: An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. These components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. |
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| 433. |
Airmass near to the earth's surface is warmer because it – |
| A. | radiates heat |
| B. | contains dust particles |
| C. | is warmed by terrestrial radiation |
| D. | is far from the sun |
| Answer» C. is warmed by terrestrial radiation | |
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Explanation: The air close to the ground is warmer because the earth's surface is what heats the atmosphere, for the most part. Terrestrial radiation accounts for much of the warming of air near the Earth's surface. The further away from the earth's surface we go, the cooler the atmosphere. |
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| 434. |
Which one of the following is called North-easter? |
| A. | Cold and fast-blowing winds in northern hemisphere that move from sub-polar to polar regions |
| B. | Cold and fast-blowing winds in South Pole region |
| C. | Cold and fast-blowing winds from the polar region in northern hemisphere |
| D. | Winds blowing towards Kazakhstan in Central Asia |
| Answer» C. Cold and fast-blowing winds from the polar region in northern hemisphere | |
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Explanation: The polar easterlies are the dry, cold prevailing winds that blow from the high-pressure areas of the polar highs at the north and south poles towards low-pressure areas within the Westerlies at high latitudes. Cold air subsides at the pole creating the high pressure, forcing an equator ward out flow of air: that outflow is then deflected westward by the Coriolis Effect. |
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| 435. |
Where are the hot deserts generally found? |
| A. | On the eastern margins of the Tropics |
| B. | On the western margins of the Tropics |
| C. | Nearer the Equator |
| D. | In the middle of the Continents |
| Answer» B. On the western margins of the Tropics | |
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Explanation: The deserts lie in the belt of the trade winds which blow from northeast in the northern hemisphere and southeast in the southern hemisphere. There-fore, the general direction of the trade winds is from the east to west. These winds shed their moisture on the eastern margins of the continents and by the time they reach the west they have lost their moisture. The hot desert climate is found around the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, usually on the west side of continents. Examples are the Thar Desert in Pakistan and the Atacama desert in Chile. |
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| 436. |
Why are winters more severe in Southern Hemisphere than in Northern Hemisphere? |
| A. | Earth is titled towards the sun in the Northern Hemisphere |
| B. | Northern Hemisphere receives more sunlight |
| C. | Because of more iceberg activity in Southern Hemisphere |
| D. | Southern Hemisphere is less inhabited |
| Answer» A. Earth is titled towards the sun in the Northern Hemisphere | |
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Explanation: The winter in the Southern Hemisphere occurs when the Northern hemisphere is tilted more toward the Sun. From the perspective of an observer on the Earth, the winter Sun has a lower maximum altitude in the sky than the summer Sun. |
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| 437. |
What is meant by Isthmus? |
| A. | Mouth of a river where it joins the sea |
| B. | Narrow strip of water dividing two land masses |
| C. | Narrow strip of land dividing two oceans |
| D. | Narrow strip of land connecting two large areas of land |
| Answer» C. Narrow strip of land dividing two oceans | |
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Explanation: An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas, usually with water on either side, The Panama Canal crosses the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, cutting across the western side of an isthmus formed by the Sinai Peninsula. Strait is the sea counterpart of isthmus. |
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| 438. |
Magnetic Meridian is a – |
| A. | Line parallel to the equator of the Earth |
| B. | Latitude |
| C. | Line joining the geographic north and geographic south of Earth |
| D. | Plane passing through the magnetic north and magnetic south of Earth |
| Answer» D. Plane passing through the magnetic north and magnetic south of Earth | |
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Explanation: Magnetic Meridian is a line on the earth's surface approximating a great circle passing through the north and south magnetic poles. It can be taken as the horizontal component of magnetic force lines along the surface of the earth. A compass needle is parallel to the magnetic meridian. |
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| 439. |
'Cloud burst' means – |
| A. | Sowing of seeds of a crop in cloudy weather. |
| B. | Abnormally heavy downpour of rain, associated with a thunderstorm. |
| C. | Formation of artificial rain. |
| D. | Presence of scattered flakes of cloud in the sky. |
| Answer» B. Abnormally heavy downpour of rain, associated with a thunderstorm. | |
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Explanation: A cloudburst is an extreme amount of precipitation, sometimes accompanied by hail and thunder, that normally lasts no longer than a few minutes but is capable of creating flood conditions. A cloudburst can suddenly dump large amounts of water. However, cloudbursts are infrequent as they occur only via orographic lift or sudden condensation. |
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| 440. |
Best way to conserve our water resources : |
| A. | Rain water harvesting |
| B. | Sustainable water utilization |
| C. | Encouragement of natural regeneration of vegetation |
| D. | All of the options mentioned here |
| Answer» D. All of the options mentioned here | |
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Explanation: Water conservation encompasses the policies, strategies and activities to manage fresh water as a sustainable resource, to protect the water environment and to meet current and future human demand. Rain water harvesting, sustainable water use and natural regeneration of vegetation are some of the holistic ways for conserving water. |
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| 441. |
The word Biosphere refers to : |
| A. | Zone of soil, water and air around earth capable of supporting the flora and fauna. |
| B. | Part of earth surface which can support the flora |
| C. | Parts of air around earth a where life can exist |
| D. | Zone of water on earth which can support life. |
| Answer» A. Zone of soil, water and air around earth capable of supporting the flora and fauna. | |
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Explanation: Biosphere refers to that portion of the Earth which is occupied by the various forms of life, in addition to the three main physical zones, the Lithosphere, the Hydrosphere and the Atmosphere. |
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| 442. |
Spring tides occur on – |
| A. | New moon day only |
| B. | Full moon day as well as on new moon day |
| C. | Full moon day only |
| D. | The day the moon's position moon's position is in its first quarter |
| Answer» B. Full moon day as well as on new moon day | |
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Explanation: Spring Tides refer to either of the two tides that occur at or just after new moon and full moon when the tide-generating force of the sun acts in the same direction as that of the moon, reinforcing it and causing the greatest rise and fall in tidal level. The highest spring titles (equinoctial springs) occur at the equinoxes. |
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| 443. |
Choose the correct option which represents the arrangement of atmospheric layers. |
| A. | Ionosphere, Ecosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere |
| B. | Ecosphere, Troposphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere |
| C. | Mesosphere, Ionosphere. Eco-sphere, Troposphere, Stratosphare |
| D. | Troposphare, Ionosphere, Ecosphere |
| Answer» D. Troposphare, Ionosphere, Ecosphere | |
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Explanation: From top to bottom, the Earth's atmosphere is divided into five main layers, the exosphere, the thermosphere, the mesosphere, the stratosphere and the troposphere. The atmosphere thins out in each higher layer until the gases dissipate in space. The five main layers are: Exosphere: 700 to 10,000 km Thermosphere: 80 to 700 km Mesosphere: 50 to 80 km Stratosphere: 12 to 50 km Troposphere: 0 to 12 km |
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| 444. |
The 'graded profile' of a river course is a |
| A. | smooth curve from source to mouth |
| B. | smooth curve in the upper course. |
| C. | smooth curve in the middle course. |
| D. | smooth curve in the lower course. |
| Answer» A. smooth curve from source to mouth | |
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Explanation: The course of a river from its source to its mouth is normally divided into 3 sections, namely upper, middle and lower courses. Action of the river on its valley from source to mouth in relation to the features developed by it is seen in the river valley profile, known as graded profile. Throughout the long profile of a river, deposition and erosion are balanced meaning that, given enough time, the river's long profile would become a smooth, concave, graded profile from its source to mouth. |
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| 445. |
Which one of the following is called as "Roaring Forty"? |
| A. | Winds blowing in southern hemisphere between 40°-60° S |
| B. | Winds blowing in northern hemisphere between 40°-60° N |
| C. | Very cold winds which blow in winters |
| D. | Very hot and fast blowing summer winds |
| Answer» A. Winds blowing in southern hemisphere between 40°-60° S | |
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Explanation: The Roaring Forties is the name given to strong westerly winds found in the Southern Hemisphere, generally between the latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees. The strong west- to-east air currents are caused by the combination of air being displaced from the Equator towards the South Pole and the Earth's rotation, and there are few landmasses to serve as windbreaks. |
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| 446. |
The distribution of characteristic vegetation of a region is determined mainly by – |
| A. | soil, water and temperature |
| B. | water, greenhouse effect and altitude |
| C. | wind, water and latitude |
| D. | sunlight, water and wind |
| Answer» A. soil, water and temperature | |
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Explanation: Soil, water and climate of a region are the three primary factors significantly influencing the vegetation of a region. Such factors as depth, texture, and humus content of the soil determine the type of vegetation that can be supported in a region. Again, any vegetation needs moisture to survive and this explains the range which varies from evergreen forests to shrubs. |
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| 447. |
The food chain refers to the transfer of energy from : |
| A. | the interior of the earth to the surface |
| B. | lower to higher latitudes |
| C. | one organism to another |
| D. | organisms of the land to those of the sea by means of river |
| Answer» C. one organism to another | |
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Explanation: A food chain is a linear sequence of links in a food web starting from atrophic species that eats no other species in the web and ends at a trophic species that is eaten by no other species in the web. A food chain differs from a food web, because the complex polyphagous network of feeding relations are aggregated into trophic species and the chain only follows linear monophagous pathways. A common metric used to quantify food web trophic structure is food chain length. |
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| 448. |
The presence of a lion in the forest is essential in order to – |
| A. | keep the trees safe from felling |
| B. | add beauty in the forests |
| C. | save the pastures from being overgrazed |
| D. | keep other carnivorous animals away |
| Answer» C. save the pastures from being overgrazed | |
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Explanation: Lions provide important ecological and cultural functions. As an apex and keystone predator, lions help to regulate prey populations; they also will scavenge if the opportunity arises. Culturally, the lion (and particularly the male with its highly distinctive mane) is one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human culture and lion play a key role in save the pastures from being overgrazed. |
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| 449. |
The main cause of global climatic change is – |
| A. | increase in the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere |
| B. | emissions of industrial gases |
| C. | adding of dust |
| D. | changes in plant cover |
| Answer» A. increase in the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere | |
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Explanation: Our ever increasing addiction to electricity from coal burning power plants eleases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 40% of U.S. CO2 emissions come from electricity production, and burning coal accounts for 93% of emissions from the electric utility industry. Every day, more electric gadgets flood the market, and without widespread alternative energy sources, we are highly dependent on burning coal for our personal and commercial electrical supply. |
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| 450. |
Echo sounding is the technique applied to— |
| A. | measure the depth of the sea |
| B. | measure the amplitude of sound waves |
| C. | record earthquake waves |
| D. | record the density of air in the atmosphere |
| Answer» A. measure the depth of the sea | |
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Explanation: Echo sounding is the technique of using sound pulses to find the depth of water. The interval from the emission of a pulse to reception of its echo is recorded, and the depth calculated from the known speed of propagation of sound through water. This information is then typically used for navigation purposes or in order to obtain depths for charting purposes. |
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