General Science Questions (MCQs) for Competitive Examinations

Notes:
The National Viral Hepatitis Control Program aims to combat hepatitis and achieve country wide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030. Launched on 28 July, 2018, it also aims to achieve significant reduction in the infected population, morbidity and mortality associated with Hepatitis B and C viz. Cirrhosis and Hepato-cellular carcinoma (liver cancer).

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Micropropagation is the practice of rapidly multiplying stock plant material to produce a large number of progeny plants, using modern plant tissue culture methods. It leads to the production of plants that are clones of each other. It often produces more robust plants, leading to accelerated growth compared to similar plants produced by conventional methods– like cuttings.

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Pneumonia is a bacterial disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a Gram-positive bacterium. It lives in the noses and throats of healthy people and can enter lungs through inhalation. Other important Gram-positive causes of pneumonia are Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis.

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True berries, such as blueberries and cranberries have seeds inside. The strawberry, however has its dry, yellow “seeds” on the outside (each of which is actually considered a separate fruit). The “seeds” seen on the outside of a strawberry are actually the plant’s ovaries and are called “achnes.”

Notes:
Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that is important for metabolism and utilization of energy from the ingested nutrients – especially glucose. It keeps our blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). The pancreas is a glandular organ in the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates.

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Bone is a composite of proteins such as collagen and minerals such as calcium. Calcium phosphate is the major component of bones and teeth. Except for small portions of the inner ear, all hard tissues of the human body are formed of calcium phosphate. Collagen gives the bones a soft framework, while calcium makes them hard and strong.

Notes:
A webbed neck, or pterygium colli deformity, is a congenital skin fold that runs along the sides of the neck down to the shoulders. It is a feature of Turner syndrome and Noonan syndrome, as well as the rarer Klippel-Feil syndrome. Turner Syndrome (TS) is a condition in which a female is partly or completely missing an X chromosome.

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Vitamin K refers to a group of fat-soluble vitamins that play a role in blood clotting, bone metabolism, and regulating blood calcium levels. The body needs vitamin K to produce prothrombin, a protein and clotting factor that is important in blood clotting and bone metabolism.

Notes:
Salt, fat and leavening agents such as yeast and baking soda are common ingredients, though bread may contain other ingredients also. Yeast plays an important role in bread-making. It ferments and grows when combined with “food” such as flour and/ or sugar, and warmed. Carbon dioxide is produced and trapped in the dough as tiny air bubbles which make the bread rise during cooking and give it its characteristic texture.

Notes:
DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course), also known as TB-DOTS, is the name given to the tuberculosis control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization. It is the best curative method for treatment of tuberculosis being highly efficient and cost-effective strategy.