1. Which nation has recently banned the ‘reef toxic’ sunscreen?
[A] Australia
[B] New Zealand
[C] Palau
[D] Nauru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Palau]
Notes:
Palau has banned “reef-toxic” sunscreens. The scientific evidence showed that chemicals found in most sunscreens were toxic to corals. Therefore, from New Year’s Day, any reef-toxic sunscreens that are imported or sold in Palau will be confiscated and the owner will be fined.
2. According to the recent data from the Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC), what is the total number of tiger deaths occurred in India during 2019?
[A] 95
[B] 100
[C] 105
[D] 110
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [95]
Notes:
According to the recent data from the Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the total number of tiger deaths was under 100 after three years. In the year 2019, 95 tigers were dead in total, among them 84 tigers were actually dead and 11 of them were presumed dead by identifying their body parts. In the previous year 2018, there were 100 deaths of tigers in total and in 2017, the count was 115.
3. According to the recent IMD report, which state had the highest number of deaths due to unusual weather conditions?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar]
Notes:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently released a report titled ‘Statement on Climate of India During 2019’. According to the report, almost 1560 people died in 2019 due to unusual weather events including heavy rain and floods, heat wave, lightning and thunderstorm.
With nearly 650 deaths, Bihar had the highest number of people who died due to extremities in weather. The report also cited that five of the eight cyclones that hit India, were on the Arabian Sea, which was against the normal count of 1 cyclone on the west.
4. Which major tech-company recently announced that it has planned to cut more than half of carbon emissions across its supply chain, by 2030?
[A] Google
[B] Microsoft
[C] Infosys
[D] IBM
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Microsoft]
Notes:
The Chief Executive of Microsoft Corporation, Satya Nadella recently announced that the company has set a new ambition to address climate change and promised to remove the carbon emissions the company has made.
Microsoft has planned to cut more than half of carbon emissions across its supply chain by 2030. The plan also includes the creation of a “Climate Innovation Fund,” which will invest $1 billion for developing technologies to remove carbon. The company aims to remove the entire direct and indirect carbon emissions it had made since 1975 (founding year of Microsoft), by 2050.
5. The World Wetlands Day is observed annually on which date, across the world?
[A] February 1
[B] February 2
[C] February 3
[D] February 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [February 2]
Notes:
The World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2 across the world. On 2 February 1971, the Convention on Wetlands was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar. From then, the day has been observed annually on the same date.
The theme of this year’s World Wetlands Day is “Wetlands and Biodiversity”. Recently, 10 more wetlands of India are included in the ‘Ramsar site’ list. With this, India has 37 Ramsar sites totally, which cover more than 1 million hectares of area in the country.
6. Kaamya Karthikeyan of Mumbai recently became the youngest girl in the world to summit Mt Aconcagua. Mt Aconcagua is the highest peak of South America, located in which country?
[A] Brazil
[B] Argentina
[C] Peru
[D] Chile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Argentina]
Notes:
Kaamya Karthikeyan a student from Mumbai, recently became the youngest girl in the world to scale Mt Aconcagua. Mt Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America, located in Argentina. It is the highest peak outside Asia with the height of 6962 metres.
The student of Navy children school has already scaled the some of the highest peaks in Africa, Europe, and Australia in the past.
7. Vellbergia bartholomaei , which was seen in news recently, belongs to which species?
[A] Frog
[B] Lizard
[C] Spider
[D] Snake
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Lizard]
Notes:
According to the recent research done by the researchers of Harvard University, a new prehistoric reptile species was discovered, which was claimed to be an ancestor to modern-day lizards and snakes.
The ancient lizard is called as ‘Vellbergia bartholomaei’ and this discovery is expected to reveal several details about the revolution of four-legged creatures.
8. India’s first commercial Liquified Compressed natural gas (LNG) bus was launched in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
India’s first commercial Liquified Compressed natural gas (LNG) bus, which was developed by Petronet, was recently launched in the city of Kochi, Kerala.
It is claimed that the bus will be able to travel up to 900 km in a single filling. Petronet also has plans to open 28 LNG dispensing stations in India and four stations in Kerala. LNG is both environment friendly and cost efficient compared to diesel.
9. The study of the fossil of a fish called Elpistostege watsoni revealed the evolutionary origin of which part of the human body?
[A] Heart
[B] Hand
[C] Lungs
[D] Brain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hand]
Notes:
The recent research of the fossil of a fish called Elpistostege watsoni has revealed the evolutionary origin of human hands.
After the research on the fossil of the fish, which was believed to be in today’s Canada about 380 million years ago, scientists have found the evolutionary origins. This research represents a crucial stage in the history of life on Earth especially the transition of fish to land vertebrates.
10. Longleng and Chiulan are the names of which migratory birds recently mentioned by the Union Environment Ministry?
[A] Amur Falcon
[B] Eurasian hobby
[C] Caspian plover
[D] Spotted kestrel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Amur Falcon]
Notes:
The Union Environment Ministry recently announced that two female Amur Falcon Birds named Longleng and Chiulan, which were satellite-tagged, are providing information regarding the flying pattern of these birds.
The bird named “Longleng” was satellite-tagged at Nagaland in November, 2016 under the Environment Ministry funded project. After visiting Somalia, the bird has returned to India. Another bird named Chiulan was tagged last year and it has travelled to Somalia.