Environment & Biodiversity MCQs
Environment, Ecology & Biodiversity Multiple choice questions for GK paper in SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations.
41. Which of the following heads the State Disaster Management Authority?
[A] Governor
[B] Chief Minister
[C] Home Minister
[D] Chief secretary of the state
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chief Minister]
Notes:
The Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act, 2005 on 23rd December 2005, which provided for the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA). SDMA is headed by the Chief Minister.
42. The Project Tiger Scheme constructed nine tiger reserves in the year of–
[A] 1973
[B] 1974
[C] 1975
[D] 1976
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1973]
Notes:
Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is one of the initial nine tiger reserves constituted at the time of
inception of the Project Tiger Scheme in the year 1973.
43. Spraying of DDT on crops causes pollution of _____:
[A] Air & Water
[B] Air & Soil
[C] Crops & Air
[D] Soil & Water
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Soil & Water]
Notes:
DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl trichloro ethane) is a persistent organic pollutant that is readily adsorbed into soils and sediments, which can act both as sinks and as long-term sources of exposure affecting organisms. It pollutes the ground water system which contaminates the entire food chain by severely affecting humans dependent on these.
44. Which of the following fuels causes minimum environmental pollution?
[A] Diesel
[B] Hydrogen
[C] Kerosene
[D] Coal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hydrogen]
Notes:
Fuel cells do not emit any pollution at their point of use when run on pure hydrogen. The “well-to-wheels” emissions of fuel cell electric vehicles running on renewable hydrogen (extracted from water using clean energy) are almost 100 percent lower than those of conventional gasoline vehicles.
45. Microbial degradation of nitrates into atmospheric nitrogen is known as _____:
[A] Ammonification
[B] Denitrification
[C] Nitrification
[D] Putrefaction
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Denitrification]
Notes:
Denitrification is the biological conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, nitric oxide or nitrous oxide. It involves nitrate reduction by bacterial species such as Pseudomonas and Clostridium, usually in anaerobic conditions that ultimately produces molecular nitrogen (N2). These bacteria use nitrate as an electron acceptor instead of oxygen during respiration.
46. In which State is the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary located?
[A] Odisha
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Haryana
[D] Uttar Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Haryana]
Notes:
Sultanpur National Park is located at Sultanpur, Haryana in Gurgaon District, Haryana. As a bird sanctuary it was the finding of Peter Jackson, famous ornothologist, and Honorary Secretary of the Delhi Birdwatching Society, who wrote to Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, founder of the Society, in 1970 about the need to declare the Sultanpur jheel near Delhi, a bird sanctuary, and she asked him to take her there.
47. Pin valley National park is situated in ______:
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Himachal Pradesh
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
The glorious Pin Valley National Park is located in the cold desert area of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Predesh and is home to more than 20 species of animals and birds, including the endangered Snow Leopard. Wildly furious but majestic Pin River flows right through it. The park is located in the desert habitat of the Spiti Valley, within the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, in the Himalayas region.
48. Which of the following is a National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, Project Tiger Reserve, Elephant Reserve as well as a Biosphere Reserve?
[A] Bandipur
[B] Gir
[C] Manas
[D] Rohla
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Manas ]
Notes:
- Bandipur National Park, established in 1973 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in the south Indian state of Karnataka.
- The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest and wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat.
- Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a Wildlife Sanctuary, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam.
- Rohla National Park in Kulu, Himachal Pradesh, is known for snow leopards.
49. Thalweg Doctrine, which was in news recently, is related to which of the following?
[A] Outer Space
[B] Water Bodies
[C] Immigration
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Water Bodies]
Notes:Thalweg Doctrine is a part of international law that aims to resolve water boundary disputes. The doctrine states that the boundary between two states divided by a flowing body of water may be drawn along the thalweg, which is the line of the greatest depth of the channel. The boundary would follow the center of the principal navigable channel of the waterway.
The Thalweg Doctrine has been used in several disputes, including:
- The Shatt al-Arab between Iraq and Iran
- The Danube in central Europe (Croatia–Serbia border dispute)
- The Kasikili/Sedudu Island dispute between Namibia and Botswana
- The 2004 dispute settlement under the UN Law of the Sea
The Thalweg Doctrine has also been used in the Sir Creek dispute between India and Pakistan. The dispute is not settled yet due to a lack of trust.
50. In an ecosystem, the movement of energy towards the higher trophic levels is:
[A] Multi-directional
[B] Unidirectional
[C] Undefined
[D] None of the flow
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Unidirectional]
Notes:
In any ecosystem, there is conversion of inorganic into organic material with the help of the radiant energy of the sun by the autotrophs; consumption of the autotrophs by heterotrophs; decomposition and mineralisation of the dead matter to release them back for reuse by the autotrophs, these events are repeated over and over again. There is unidirectional movement of energy towards the higher trophic levels and its dissipation and loss as heat to the environment.