Daily Static MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams
Subject : Environment & Ecology
1. Which of the following are green house gases are included under Kyoto Protocol:
1. Carbon-dioxide (CO2)
2. Water vapor
3. Sulfur Dioxide
4. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
5. Ozone
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) All of the above
Answer: (A)
Explanation: The Kyoto Protocol to commits its parties to binding targets based on as a ‘basket’ of six GHGs, including carbon-dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Most studies dealing with climate change, however, have almost exclusively focused on CO2, which remains the main anthropogenic contributor to climate change. Even though non-CO2 GHGs have so far only contributed around 40 percent to overall global warming (IPCC 2001), the interest in them is increasing. Hence, option (a) is correct.
2. Which the following Conventions is/are not correctly matched with their themes:
1. Rotterdam Convention- Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides
2. Stockholm Convention - The control of trans-boundary movements of hazardous
wastes and their disposal
3. Basel Convention – Persistent Organic Pollutants
4. Nagoya Protocol- Biological Diversity
Select the answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
Answer: (B)
Explanation:
- The Rotterdam Convention was signed on 10th september, 1998 at Rotterdam, Netherlands and came into effect on 24th february, 2004.It is a multilateral treaty on hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an International environmental treaty. This was signed in 2001 and came into effective from May 2004. It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
- The Basel Convention is on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.It is usually known as the Basel Convention. It is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs). It does not, however, address the movement of radioactive waste. The Basel Convention was opened for signature on 22 March 1989, and entered into force on 5 May 1992. As of February 2014, 180 states and the European Union are parties to the Convention. Haiti and the United States have signed the Convention but not ratified it.
- The Nagoya Protocol or the Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio “Earth Summit”) and entered into force on 29 December 1993. The Convention is the only international instrument comprehensively addressing biological diversity.
Hence, option (b) is correct.
3. Consider the following statements:
1. In bioaccumulation there is an increase in concentration
of a pollutant from one link in a food chain to another.
2. For biomagnification to occur, the pollutant must be soluble in fats.
3. If a pollutant is not active biologically it will not magnify.
How many statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (A)
Explanation: In bioaccumulation, there is an increase in the concentration of a pollutant from the environment to the first organism in a food chain, whereas in biomagnification, there is an increase in concentration of a pollutant from one link in a food chain to other. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
For biomagnification to occur, the pollutant must be: long-lived, mobile, soluble in fats and biologically active. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
4. Consider the following statements regarding the Tundra region:
1. They are found where environmental conditions are very
severe.
2. On the South Pole, tundra is very small since most of it is covered by the
ocean.
3. Mammals of the tundra region have large body size, large tail and large ear.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (A)
Explanation: Tundra means a 'barren land' since they are found where environmental conditions are very severe. There are two types of tundra – arctic and alpine. Arctic tundra extends as a continuous belt below the polar ice cap and above the tree line in the northern hemisphere. On the South Pole, tundra is very small since most of it is covered by ocean. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are correct.
They are protected from chillness by the presence of thick cuticle and epidermal hair. Mammals of tundra region have large body size, small tail and small ear to avoid the loss of heat from the surface. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
5. Consider the following statements:
1. It covers the Ganga alluvial plain in Northern India.
2. The topography is level, low lying and ill-drained.
These statements are best related with:
(a) Dry sub humid zone
(b) Semi-arid zone
(c) Moist-sub humid zone
(d) Humid montane regions
Answer: (C)
Explanation:
- Dry sub humid zone: It covers the whole of peninsular India (except Nilgiri)
- Semi-arid zone: It covers northern portion of Gujarat, Rajasthan (excluding Aravallis), western UP, Delhi and Punjab. The topography is up by hill spurs and sand dunes.
- Moist sub-humid zone: It covers the Ganga alluvial plain in Northern India. The topography is level, low lying and ill-drained. Hence, option (c) is correct answer.
- Humid montane regions: This extends to the humid montane regions and moist sub–humid areas of Assam, Manipur, West Bengal, UP, Punjab. The savanna is derived from the humid forests on account of shifting cultivation and sheep grazing.
