Daily Static MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams
Subject : Environment & Ecology (18 November 2023)
1. Consider the following statements:
1. Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
2. Forests and other land vegetation absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis is one of the ways of Carbon sequestration.
3. An area which absorbs more carbon than releases it, is considered as carbon sink.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (C)
Explanation: Carbon sequestration is a crucial part of the global carbon cycle, as it is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. One of the ways this happens is when forests and other land vegetation absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. According to a 2014 NASA-led study, tropical forests remove up to 30 per cent of human carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere and make for an important carbon sink — an area which absorbs more carbon than releases it. Therefore, they have a significant role in keeping global temperatures low. Hence, all statements are correct.
2. Consider the following statements:
1. Carbon sinks are natural systems that suck up and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
2. The Earth’s land and oceans absorb about half of all carbon dioxide emissions from human activities.
3. Continental forests store at least ten times more carbon than Mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (B)
Explanation: Carbon sinks are natural systems that suck up and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Earth’s land and oceans absorb about half of all carbon dioxide emissions from human activities. Mangroves, seagrass beds and salt marshes store at least ten times more carbon than continental forests. Sedimentary rocks in the Earth’s crust contain loads of carbon compounds, including the hydrocarbons we use as fossil fuels that leads to excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. A forest is considered a carbon sink if it absorbs more carbon than it releases. Worryingly, the Amazon rainforest is now releasing instead of absorbing carbon dioxide. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
3. Consider the following statements:
1. A “carbon credit” is an electronic and serialized unit that represents one ton of CO equivalent that is reduced, avoided, or sequestered from projects applying an approved carbon credit methodology.
2. Decarbonization refers to the conversion of the economic system or individual carbon emitting entity reducing the carbon intensity of its emissions over time.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (B)
Explanation: A “carbon credit” (also known as a “carbon offset”) is an electronic and serialized unit that represents one ton of CO2 equivalent that is reduced, avoided, or sequestered from projects applying an approved carbon credit methodology. Decarbonization means the reduction of carbon. More specifically, the term refers to the conversion of the economic system or individual carbon emitting entity converting to reduce the carbon intensity of its (direct or value chain) emissions over time. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
4. Consider the following statements regarding the characteristics of Tropical rainforest biome:
1. Very high annual rainfall
2. High average temperatures
3. Nutrient-poor soil
4. High levels of species richness
How many of the above options is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only Three
(d) Only Four
Answer: (D)
Explanation: The tropical rainforest biome has four main characteristics: very high annual rainfall, high average temperatures, nutrient-poor soil, and high levels of biodiversity (species richness). The soil is nutrient poor because of the heavy rain that leaches the top layer of the soil frequently. Temperature is high because they are largely found in equatorial regions and species richness is high due to abundance of the range of biotic and abiotic factors expressed in the ecosystem. Hence, all are correct.
5. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity?
(a) Oceans, mangroves, lakes, grasslands
(b) Mangroves, oceans, grasslands, lakes
(c) Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans
(d) Oceans, lakes, grasslands, mangroves
Answer: (C)
Explanation: Production/unit area depends on the number and diversity of producers. Mangroves are one of the high productive regions in the world whereas ocean has least productivity. Hence, option (c) is correct.
