Daily Static MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams
Subject : Science and Technology
1. Consider the following statements regarding Doppler radars:
1. Doppler radars forecast weather by using the mechanism of
radio waves.
2. They track the movement of weather systems and cloud bands, and thus gauge
rainfall over an area.
3. They cannot detect thunderstorms and lightning.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (B)
Explanation:
- In radars, a beam of energy– called radio waves– is emitted from an antenna. When this beam strikes an object in the atmosphere, the energy scatters in all directions, with some reflecting directly back to the radar. The larger the object deflecting the beam, the greater is the amount of energy that the radar receives in return. Observing the time required for the beam to be transmitted and returned to the radar allows weather forecasting departments to “see” raindrops in the atmosphere, and measure their distance from the radar. What makes a Doppler radar special is that it can provide information on both the position of targets as well as their movement. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are correct.
- In India, Doppler radars of varying frequencies — S-band, C-band and X-band — are commonly used by the IMD to track the movement of weather systems and cloud bands, and gauge rainfall over its coverage area of about 500 km. An X-band radar is used to detect thunderstorms and lightning whereas C-band guides in cyclone tracking. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
2. The term ‘Data Scraping’ sometimes seen in news, rightly denotes:
(a) Modifying the original data content in a website
(b) Restricting data access from a website
(c) Process of extracting data from a website
(d) Process of deleting data from a website
Answer: (C)
Explanation: Data scraping, or web scraping, is the process of extracting data from a website. Scraper bots are designed to derive information from these websites. A user designing a bot to extract data is called a scraper. Hence, option (c) is correct.
3. Consider the following statements regarding Space Station:
1. A space station is a large spacecraft that remains in
low-earth orbit for extended periods of time.
2. International Space Station is the first fully functional Space Station built
by five space agencies.
3. The ownership and use of International space station is established by
intergovernmental treaties and agreements.
How many of the above statements is/are incorrect?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (A)
Explanation:
- Russia announced that it would be withdrawing from the International Space Station in 2025, and build and manage its own floating laboratory that will be launched into orbit by 2030.
- A space station is essentially a large spacecraft that remains in low-earth orbit for extended periods of time. It is like a large laboratory in space, and allows astronauts to come aboard and stay for weeks or months to carry out experiments in microgravity. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- The Mir space station of the former Soviet Union, and later operated by Russia, was functional from 1986 to 2001. The ISS has been in space since 1998, and has been known for the exemplary cooperation between the five participating space agencies that have been running it: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
- The ownership and use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties and agreements. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
4. Consider the following statements regarding Ultraviolet Radiation:
1. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is naturally emitted by the
Sun.
2. The wavelength range of Ultraviolet Radiation is higher than that of visible
light.
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: (A)
Explanation: Ultraviolet (UV) is a type of light or radiation naturally emitted by the Sun. It covers a wavelength range of 100-400 nm. The human visible light ranges from 380–700 nm. UV is divided into three bands: UV-C (100-280 nm), UV-B (280-315 nm) and UV-A (315-400 nm). UV-A and UV-B rays from the Sun are transmitted through our atmosphere and all UV-C is filtered by the ozone layer. Hence, statement 1 is correct while statement 2 is incorrect.
5. Consider the following statements regarding Zoonotic diseases:
1. Zoonotic diseases are mainly infectious diseases that are
naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans.
2. Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacteria of the genus
Brucella.
3. Zoonotic pathogens may be bacterial, viral or parasitic, or may involve
unconventional agents.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D)
Explanation: A zoonosis is an infectious disease that has jumped from a non-human animal to humans. Zoonotic pathogens may be bacterial, viral or parasitic, or may involve unconventional agents and can spread to humans through direct contact or through food, water or the environment. Various studies indicate that more than two-thirds of existing and emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. The transboundary impact of viral outbreaks in recent years such as the Nipah virus, Ebola, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Avian Influenza. Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacteria of the genus Brucella. Hence, all statements are correct.
