UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on Genetics, National Parks and more (Week 51)

1. They are bright flashes of light that appear for a few milliseconds and then vanish.

2. The origin of FRB is known and their appearance is predictable.

3. FRBs can be used to measure missing matter between galaxies.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

Consider the following pairs:

National Park            State/U.T

1. Dachigam               Manipur

2. Madhav                   Bihar

3. Mukundra Hills    Rajasthan

4. Jaldapara               Assam

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 3

Consider the following:

1. Cyclamates

2. Neotame

3. Sucralose

4. Saccharin

How many of the above are non-sugar sweeteners (NSS)?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 4

Consider the following statements:

1. Genetically modified organisms (GMO) involves modification of the genetic material of the host by introduction of a foreign genetic material.

2. Genome editing involves the introduction of foreign genetic material.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Lumpy Skin Disease, consider the following statements:

1. Lumpy Skin Disease is caused by a protozoan.

2. It infects cattle and water buffalo.

3. Infected animals immediately start gaining weight.

4. The disease can be transmitted from animal to human.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— FRBs are bright flashes of light that appear for a few milliseconds and then vanish. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Since the first FRB was identified in 2007, 140 more have been discovered till June 2021, according to a post on the MIT website.

— The origin of FRBs is unknown, and their appearance is unpredictable. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— According to the European Southern Observatory, this discovery verifies the ability of FRBs (fast radio bursts) to quantify “missing” matter between galaxies and provide a new approach to “weigh” the Universe. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (a)

FYI:

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: wiienvis.nic.in)

3. (d)

FYI:

— The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a new guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), advising against using NSS to regulate body weight or lower the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

— The recommendation is based on the results of a systematic evaluation of the literature, which indicates that using NSS to reduce body fat in adults or children does not appear to have any long-term benefits.

— The recommendation is applicable to everyone, with the exception of those who already have diabetes, and it covers all artificial, naturally occurring, or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that aren’t considered sugars and can be found in manufactured goods or sold separately for consumers to add to their own food and drink.

— Common NSS include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: http://www.who.int)

4. (a)

FYI:

— Genetically modified organisms (GMO) involves modification of the genetic material of the host by introduction of a foreign genetic material. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— In agriculture, soil bacteria are the best source of such genes, which are then put into the host genome by genetic engineering. For example, in cotton, the introduction of genes cry1Ac and cry2Ab derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) allows the native cotton plant to spontaneously produce endotoxins to combat pink bollworm.

— BT Cotton uses this advantage to help farmers naturally fight pink bollworm which is the most common pest for cotton farmers.

— The basic difference between genome editing and genetic engineering is that while the former does not involve the introduction of foreign genetic material, the latter does. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— In agriculture, these strategies strive to produce variations that are more productive and resistant to biotic and abiotic stress.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

5. (a)

FYI:

— According to a report by GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) disease is caused by a virus called the Capripoxvirus and is “an emerging threat to livestock worldwide”. It is genetically related to the goatpox and sheeppox virus family. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors such as blood-feeding insects. Signs of infection include the appearance of circular, firm nodes on the animal’s hide or skin that look similar to lumps. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Infected animals immediately start losing weight and may have fever and lesions in the mouth, along with a reduced milk yield. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The disease has been endemic in most African countries, and since 2012 it has spread rapidly through the Middle East, Southeast Europe and West and Central Asia.

— While the virus does not spread to humans, “milk produced by an infected animal will be fit for human consumption after boiling or pasteurisation as these processes will kill the viruses, if any, in the milk. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 51)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 51)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 50)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 49)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 50)

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