11. The “waterless chrome tanning technology” introduced by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), aims at reducing which of the following pollution?
[A] Arsenic
[B] Lead
[C] Chromium
[D] Sulphur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chromium]
Notes:
“Waterless chrome tanning technology” is a first of its kind technology introduced by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to reduce chromium pollution load. The technology aims to make Indian leather sector achieve the set target of USD 27 billion by 2020 by making leather processing environmentally sustainable. Chromium is the most sought after tanning agent with about 2.0 billion sq. ft. of leather being made in India.
12. The tropical cyclone ‘Pabuk’ has recently occurred in which of the following countries?
[A] Thailand
[B] Indonesia
[C] Japan
[D] Mauritius
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Thailand]
Notes:
In Thailand, Tropical storm Pabuk caused floods and blackouts leaving nearly 30,000 people in evacuation shelters across the southern part of the country on January 5, 2019. Pabuk packed winds of up to 75km an hour and brought heavy rains and storm surges as it lashed the entire south of the kingdom. It is expected to be the worst storm to hit the region in 30 years. The storm was downgraded to a depression early today as it moved into the Andaman Sea. Meanwhile, ‘yellow’ alert has been issued for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As per the latest data, no warning has been issued for Odisha but due to cyclonic activities near the Andaman Islands, weather in the eastern Indian state will be cloudy and dry. IMD has predicted heavy rainfall over the Andaman Islands from the evening of January 5. People in the Andaman Islands have been advised to remain in safe places and IMD has advised fishermen to stay out of the sea.
14. Who won the Gold Medal in the 2017 London World Championships in Athletics in the Men’s Pole Vault?
[A] Shawnacy Barber
[B] Sam Kendricks
[C] Piotr Lisek
[D] Renaud Lavillenie
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sam Kendricks ]
Notes:
Sam Kendricks is an American pole vaulter. He is a three-time indoor national champion and also a 2016 Olympic Bronze medallist.
15. Who among the following were not a part of the Indian team in the 4X100m relay event at the 2018 Asian Games?
[A] Aaron D’Souza
[B] Anshul Kothari
[C] Sandeep Sejwal
[D] Sajan Prakash
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sandeep Sejwal ]
Notes:
The Indian 4X100m relay team at the 2018 Asian Games comprised Aaron D’Souza, Anshul Kothari, Sajan Prakash and Virdhawal Khade. The Games were held in Jakarta, Indonesi
16. Consider the map given below :
The numbers marked 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively indicate the islands of (UPSC Prelims 1994)
[A] the Bahamas, Azores, Falkland and Cape Verde
[B] the Bahamas, Azores, Cape Verde and Falkland
[C] Azores, Cape Verde, the Bahamas and Falkland
[D] Cape Verde, the Bahamas, Falkland and Azores
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Azores, Cape Verde, the Bahamas and Falkland]
Notes:
• The Azores are an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. The islands are characterized by dramatic landscapes, fishing villages, green pastures and hedgerows of blue hydrangeas.
• Cape Verde is an island country spanning an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the central Atlantic Ocean. It forms part of the Macaronesia ecoregion, along with the Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Savage Isles.
• The Bahamas is a coral-based archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Its 700-plus islands and cays range from uninhabited to pack with resorts.
• The Falkland Islands are a remote South Atlantic archipelago. With rugged terrain and cliff-lined coasts, its hundreds of islands and islets are home to sheep farms and abundant birdlife.
17. The following advertisement
appeared in the Times of India dated 7th August, (UPSC Prelims 1996)
[A] 1931
[B] 1929
[C] 1921
[D] 1896
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1896]
Notes:
On July 7th 1896, the Lumiere Brothers showcased six films at the Watson Hotel in Mumbai and this marked the birth of Indian cinema as we know it today.
The Lumiere brothers were French Cinematographers who arrived in India after having proved their cinematic excellence in Paris. The screening of the films took place on July 7th 1896 at the Watson Hotel in Mumbai and the ticket was priced at Re.1. The Times of India referred to this event as the “miracle of the century”. The show received an overwhelming response and motion pictures were soon introduced to India, in Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras).
19. In which one of the following areas in the given map was there a recent discovery of copper deposits by the Atomic Minerals Division of Department of Atomic Energy?
(UPSC Prelims 1999)
[A] 1
[B] 2
[C] 3
[D] 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [3]
Notes:
In the given map, copper deposits discovered by Atomic Minerals Division of Department Atomic energy, are at Hasson in Karnataka and is marked as ‘4’. Hassan is a city and the district headquarters of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The town is situated 980 m above sea level. It is named after the Hasanamba temple. The urban population in 2011 was 133,436.
20. Consider the diagrams below:
The above diagrams show the position of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun where (UPSC Prelims 1999)
[A] Only situation A explains the spring tides.
[B] Only situation B explains the spring tides.
[C] Both situations A and B explain the spring tides.
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both situations A and B explain the spring tides.]
Notes:
Spring tide is a tide in which the difference between high and low tide is the greatest. Spring tides occur when the Moon is either new or full, and the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are aligned. When this is the case, their collective gravitational pull on the Earth’s water is strengthened. Compare neap tide.
(UPSC Prelims 1999)