1. Which South American country has joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in May 2025?
[A] Colombia
[B] Argentina
[C] Chile
[D] Brazil
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Colombia]
Notes:
Recently, Colombia officially joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during a meeting of Latin American leaders in Beijing. Colombia’s capital is Bogotá. It is called the “Gateway of South America” because it connects South America with Central and North America. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also called One Belt, One Road (OBOR), plans to build many roads, railways, and ports across several countries. It aims to boost China’s economic leadership by creating infrastructure in nearby regions. The initiative is known as the “21st Century Silk Road.”
2. Consider the following pairs with respect to space missions:
- Soyuz MS-26: Russian-built crewed spacecraft for ISS missions
- Johnson Space Center: Main NASA facility for astronaut training and recovery
- Zhezkazgan: A landing site commonly used for American space shuttles
Which of the above pairs is / are correctly matched?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 3
[C] Only 1 and 3
[D] All are correctly matched
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1 and 2]
Notes:Pair 1: Soyuz MS-26 — Correct
The Soyuz MS-26 is a Russian-built crewed spacecraft used for missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
Pair 2: Johnson Space Center — Correct
The Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas is the main NASA facility for astronaut training, mission control (for crewed missions), and recovery operations.
Pair 3: Zhezkazgan — Incorrect
Zhezkazgan is in Kazakhstan and is commonly used as a landing site for Russian Soyuz spacecraft, not American space shuttles.
(American space shuttles typically landed at Kennedy Space Center (Florida) or Edwards Air Force Base (California)).
3. Consider the following statements with reference to the Alamosaurus recently unearthed in Big Bend National Park:
- Alamosaurus was a sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Jurassic period.
- It is considered the largest land-dwelling animal ever discovered in North America.
- The recently discovered Alamosaurus fossil is notable for its exceptional preservation and completeness.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [2 and 3 only]
Notes:- Statement 1 is incorrect. The Alamosaurus lived during the Cretaceous period, not the Jurassic period.
- Statement 2 and 3 are correct. The Alamosaurus is considered the largest land-dwelling animal ever discovered in North America. Additionally, the recently discovered Alamosaurus fossil is notable for its exceptional preservation and completeness.
4. Consider the following statements regarding the global impact of herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops:
- Glyphosate use has increased dramatically due to the widespread adoption of HT crops.
- Monsanto (now part of Bayer) had initially claimed glyphosate resistance was unlikely to evolve.
- In South America and Canada, adoption of HT crops led to a decline in herbicide consumption.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:Statement 1: Glyphosate use has increased dramatically due to the widespread adoption of HT crops. Correct – The introduction of herbicide-tolerant (HT) genetically modified crops, especially those resistant to glyphosate (e.g., Roundup Ready crops), led to a sharp increase in glyphosate usage globally. Farmers increasingly relied on glyphosate for weed control, contributing to its widespread application.
Statement 2: Monsanto (now part of Bayer) had initially claimed glyphosate resistance was unlikely to evolve. Correct – When HT crops were introduced, Monsanto claimed that glyphosate resistance among weeds was unlikely due to the herbicide’s mode of action. However, over time, glyphosate-resistant weed species have evolved, proving this claim incorrect.
Statement 3: In South America and Canada, adoption of HT crops led to a decline in herbicide consumption. Incorrect – Contrary to this statement, studies and environmental assessments have shown that in countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Canada, the adoption of HT crops has increased total herbicide use over time, not decreased it. This is due to herbicide resistance in weeds and the need for multiple applications or mixtures with other herbicides.
5. Consider the following statements:
- Pope Francis was the first Pope from the Jesuit order
- Pope Francis was the first Pope from the Americas
- Pope Francis was the first Pope to be elected during the 21st century
- Pope Francis was the first Pope to publicly oppose trickle-down economics
Which of the above statement or statements is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1, 2 and 4 only
[C] 1, 3 and 4 only
[D] 2, 3 and 4 only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1, 2 and 4 only]
Notes:
The first statement is correct, Pope Francis was indeed the first Pope from the Jesuit order.
The second statement is also correct. Pope Francis originates from Argentina, which makes him the first Pope from the Americas.
The third statement is incorrect. Although Pope Francis was elected in 2013 which falls in the 21st century, Pope Benedict XVI was also elected in 2005, also in the 21st century.
The fourth statement is correct, Pope Francis was the first Pope to openly criticize trickle-down economics.
6. With reference to the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) programme in the United States, consider the following statements:
- The EHV programme was introduced under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 during the Biden administration.
- The programme aimed at assisting individuals fleeing homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
- The programme currently has surplus funds and is expected to run until 2030 without further congressional intervention.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:- Statement 1: The EHV was indeed initiated under the American Rescue Plan Act during President Biden’s term, hence it is correct.
- Statement 2: This statement is correct as the programme was intended to help individuals affected by homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
- Statement 3: This statement, however is incorrect. The EHV program currently faces a funding gap and is projected to exhaust its funds by 2025, not 2030.
7. Consider the following:
Assertion (A): Don Pettit, at the age of 70, became America’s oldest serving astronaut to return from a mission aboard the ISS.
Reason(R): He broke John Glenn’s record of being the oldest human to fly into orbit.
Choose the correct option:
[A] Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
[B] Both 1 and 2 are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
[C] A is true, but R is false.
[D] A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [A is true, but R is false.]
Notes:Assertion (A) is true: Don Pettit, at the age of 70, became America’s oldest serving astronaut to return from a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025.
Reason (R) is false: Don Pettit did not break John Glenn’s record. John Glenn remains the oldest human to fly into orbit, having done so at the age of 77 in 1998 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-95).
8. Consider the following implications of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on U.S. electoral procedures:
- It may render online and automatic voter registration systems inoperable.
- It mandates same-day registration voters to carry proof of citizenship at polling stations.
- It provides a uniform federal process for name change verification post-marriage.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act could potentially render online and automatic voter registration systems inoperable due to compliance issues, that’s why statement 1 is correct. Under this act, same-day registration voters are required to present proof of citizenship at polling stations, making statement 2 correct. However, the act does not provide a uniform federal process for name change verification post-marriage, rather it leaves this verification to the states, making statement 3 incorrect. Hence, only statements 1 and 2 are correct.
9. Consider the following statements about Mario Vargas Llosa:
- He was a key figure in the Latin American Boom alongside writers like Gabriel García Márquez and Carlos Fuentes.
- His fiction is characterized by surreal experimentation and magical realism.
- He received the Nobel Prize in Literature for portraying the structures of power and resistance to oppression.
- His early political sympathies were aligned with the Cuban Revolution, but he later became a staunch advocate of liberal democracy.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] 1, 3, and 4 only
[B] 1, 2, and 3 only
[C] 2, 3, and 4 only
[D] 1, 2, and 4 only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 3, and 4 only]
Notes:- Mario Vargas Llosa indeed played a crucial role in the Latin American Boom.
- His works were not renowned for surreal experimentation or magical realism; instead, they were deeply grounded in realism. This makes statement 2 wrong.
- He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his portrayal of power and resistance to oppression.
- His politics mirrored what’s stated in statement 4 – early support for the Cuban Revolution gave way to avid support of liberal democracy.
10. Regarding military governance, consider the following statements:
- A junta is typically a committee of military leaders who govern a country.
- The term ‘junta’ was first used in the context of Spanish government advisory committees.
- Military juntas are often associated with democratic transitions in Latin America.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All three
[D] None
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [All three]
Notes:- A junta is typically a committee of military leaders who govern a country: This is correct. A junta typically consists of military officials who take control of governance, especially during times of political instability.
- The term ‘junta’ was first used in the context of Spanish government advisory committees: This is correct. The term originated in Spain, referring to committees formed for governance.
- Military juntas are often associated with democratic transitions in Latin America: This is correct. In many Latin American countries, juntas have played a significant role during transitions from authoritarian regimes to democracy.
Thus, all three statements are correct.
