Answer: A

Explanation:

Laterite formation, which is a passive factor in soil formation, varies greatly because it is strongly influenced by climate and parent material factors. Soil formation takes much longer time under tropical conditions. Latosol soil is formed as a result of laterite formation. In tropical areas, under high temperatures and heavy rainfall, silicate salts are very unstable and silica is lost. The aluminum and iron sesquioxides of the parent minerals are resistant to decomposition and are released in situ as ionic aluminum and iron during the breakdown of alumino - silicates . This process is called laterization and it leaves primary laterite as a waste containing some iron and aluminum sesquioxides and some resistant parent minerals. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The leached layer is slightly acidic, less nutritious and alkali-free. The tropical red forest soil developed by this process is called latosol. This soil is the opposite of podsol and is not useful for agriculture. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Wetlands (crucial parts of the hydrological cycle) are highly productive ecosystems that support rich biodiversity and provide ecosystem services such as water storage, water purification, flood mitigation, erosion control, aquifer recharge, microclimate regulation, aesthetic enhancement of the landscape, etc. Offer a wide range. As well as being part of our rich cultural heritage, they support many important recreational, social and cultural activities. Hence, option (d) is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is mandated to collect intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and provide this data to the State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action to arrest the criminals. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect while statement 3 is correct.

Along with this, its function is to establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: D

Explanation:

We are familiar with the reasons for deforestation. The main reason is population explosion due to which the need for wood and fuel wood increases and increase in the number of animals leads to increase in grazing. Forests are destroyed due to increase in livestock and nomadic grazing animals. There is more grazing in forest areas with easy access. Jhum cultivation or shifting cultivation in north-eastern India and Orissa has also made large areas of forests barren. In essence, it is a low energy budget and low investment subsistence farming system, using mineralization and recycling of minerals. The Jhum cycle time has reduced to 6 years (2-3 years only in some districts) which does not provide enough time for natural repair of the destroyed ecosystem. Forests have long been seen as a revenue generating area and have been exploited to the maximum by government and private owners. In the era of agriculture, urbanization and industrialization, very little priority has been given to the conservation of forests. Hence, option (d) is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

Parasitism is a relationship between two species. In this relationship, one organism (parasite) lives on or inside the body of another organism (host). The host is usually weakened by the parasite as it depletes the host's resources that the host uses to nourish itself. However, the parasite is unlikely to kill the host. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

Tapeworm is a parasite that causes disease in humans when they consume contaminated, undercooked meat of pigs, fish, etc. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in another living being. In this, the parasite benefits, but the host that provides food to this organism suffers loss. The reproductive cycles of parasites are often very complex, sometimes requiring more than one host species. Hence, statement 3 is correct.