Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs
This category comprises 50 random questions from the total 74 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs category published in gktoday from 1 January, 2019 till July 4, 2020.
31. According to a recent study, the glaciers of which India state are losing mass faster than other parts of the Himalayas?
[A] Uttarakhand
[B] Sikkim
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sikkim]
Notes:
The Scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun have recently found that glaciers in Sikkim are melting at a higher magnitude than other Himalayan regions. The Institute is an autonomous research institute for the study of Geology of the Himalayas, under the Department of Science and Technology.
The study, which has been published in Science of the Total Environment, revealed that glaciers in Sikkim have deglaciated at a higher magnitude from 1991 to 2015. They also revealed that small-sized glaciers in Sikkim are disappearing and larger glaciers are thinning due to climate change.
32. Which national park in India has set up the country’s first quarantine facility for animals?
[A] Jim Corbett Park
[B] Ranthambore National Park
[C] Kaziranga National Park
[D] Gir Forest National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jim Corbett Park]
Notes:
Jim Corbett, the oldest National Park of India, has set up the country’s first quarantine facility for animals. The national park is situated in Paurhi Garhwal region in the state of Uttarakhand.
After a Malayan tiger was tested positive for COVID-19 in Bronx zoo in the United States, the Indian park has started to set up about 10 quarantine centres within its premises to isolate animals. The cages built for wild animals are also to be converted into quarantine facility.
33. The term ‘Long Range Forecast (LRF)’, which was seen in news recently, is used to predict which parameter?
[A] Inflation
[B] Industrial Production
[C] Monsoon Rainfall
[D] Pandemic
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Monsoon Rainfall]
Notes:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has recently released the first stage of Long Range Forecast (LRF) for south-west monsoon season.
As per its forecast, the southwest monsoon from June to September over India may be normal across the country. It also forecasted that the intensity of monsoon rainfall would be between 96 and 104 per cent of the long period average (LPA) of the country, which is 880 mm during 1961-2010.
34. Which newly discovered species in Arunachal Pradesh has been named after Salazar, a fictional character of the Harry Potter series?
[A] Spider
[B] Viper
[C] Turtle
[D] Grasshopper
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Viper]
Notes:
A team of Indian herpetologists, who study about amphibians and reptiles, have recently discovered a new species of viper family.
The green pit viper, which was found at the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, has been named after Salazar Slytherin, a fictional character of the Harry Potter series, as Trimeresurus Salazar. The male viper has orange to reddish stripe on its head and body.
35. As per the recent statement of World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the ozone hole over which region has depleted significantly?
[A] Pacific region
[B] Arctic region
[C] Antarctic region
[D] Atlantic region
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Arctic region]
Notes:
As per the recent statement of U.N. World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Ozone depletion has hit the highest level, which is the highest level since 2011.
The WMO also highlighted that the hole has now been closed. As per the spokesperson, the ‘springtime phenomenon’ in the northern hemisphere was caused by ozone depleting substances in atmosphere and cold winter in stratosphere. But this phenomenon is not due to the pandemic.
36. The first instance of African Swine Fever (AFS) has been reported in which Indian state/UT?
[A] Bihar
[B] Jharkhand
[C] Assam
[D] Manipur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Assam]
Notes:
The first instance of African swine fever has been reported in the country in the state of Assam, where the disease has killed about 2,500 pigs.
The state government will not cull or discard the animals immediately though the Centre has permitted for the same. It was also announced that swine fever does not spread from animals to humans and an alternative option to prevent the disease is being worked out. Assam has about 21 lakh domestic pigs and leads the pork market in the northeast.
37. Which plant species was removed from the ‘Tree’ category, through the amendment made in the Indian Forest Act, 1927?
[A] Rubber Fig
[B] Pistachio tree
[C] Bamboo
[D] Rubber tree
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bamboo]
Notes:
The 1927 Indian Forest Act was amended and the Indian Forest (Amendment) Act 2017 was passed by the Indian government, which removed Bamboo from the category of ‘Tree’ and felled or extracted bamboo, that is found in or brought from a forest, would not be considered as ‘timber’.
Recently, the Union Minister for the Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jitendra Singh addressed a bamboo conclave through video conference. He highlighted that bamboo is vital to develop post-COVID-19 economy of our country. The Home Ministry allowed the functioning of bamboo related activities amidst the lockdown from April 16.
38. Which is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers?
[A] Sundarbans Mangrove forest
[B] Florida Mangroves
[C] Bahia Mangroves
[D] Chitwan and Bardia National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sundarbans Mangrove forest]
Notes:
The Sunderbans delta, which is spread over India and Bangladesh, is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers.
According to the latest estimation conducted by the West Bengal Forest Department, the count of tigers has increased by 8 in 2019-20 to 96, from 88 in the previous year. The increase was significant as this is the biggest annual jump ever reported from the Sundarbans, which is a world heritage site and a Ramsar site.
39. The phenomenon ‘Arribada’, that was seen in news recently, is associated with which species?
[A] Snake
[B] Spider
[C] Turtle
[D] Fish
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Turtle]
Notes:
Recently, about 2 Crore Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings walked into the sea from Odisha’s coast. The turtles settle at the Gahirmatha and Rushikulya rookery in the state and lay eggs every year.
Several lakhs of turtles lay eggs on the coast, in a phenomenon called Arribada. These hatchlings will grow up and said to return to the same place for laying their eggs. The turtles get their name from the colour of its olive-green shell. As per the World Wildlife Fund, they are the most abundant of all sea turtles but they are vulnerable because they nest in only a few places.
40. Which Indian state witnessed the death of as many as 13000 pigs due to the outbreak of African swine fever (AFS)?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Assam
[C] West Bengal
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
Due to the outbreak of African swine fever (AFS), more than 13,000 pigs have died in the last few days in nine districts of Assam. The officials have dug a two km long canal inside Agoratoli range to prevent wild boars from going to nearby villages and domestic pigs from entering.
According to a 2019 census, the pig population in the state was 21 lakhs which has become 30 lakhs now. This outbreak has affected the livelihood of hundreds of people involved in the animal husbandry.
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