UPSC CSE 2019 Environment and Ecology Prelims Questions

 1. Which one of the following groups of plants were domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’?

(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber

(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber

(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane

(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat


2. Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine zone?

(a) Manas National Park

(b) Namdapha National Park

(c) Neora Valley National Park

(d) Valley of Flowers National Park

3. Consider the following statements:

1.     Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only

2.     Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only

3.     One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

4. In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into the stratosphere?

(a) Creating artificial rains in some regions

(b) Reducing the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones

(c) Reducing the adverse effects of solar wind on the Earth

(d) Reducing the global warming

 5. Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?

(a) Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

(b) Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park

(c) Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park

(d) Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and NagarjunasagarSrisailam Tiger Reserve

6. Consider the following statements:

1.     Some species of turtles are herbivores

2.     Some species of fish are herbivores.

3.     Some species of marine mammals are herbivores

4.     Some species of snakes are viviparous

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

7. Why is there a great concern about the ‘microbeads’ that are released into the environment?

(a) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems

(b) They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.

(c) They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.

(d) They are often found to be used as food adulterants.

 8. For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?

1.     Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location

2.     Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location

3.     Land surface temperatures of a specific location

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

9. Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’?

1.     Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits

2.     Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in Arctic Tundra and under the seafloor

3.     Methane in the atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c)1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

10. Consider the following:

1.     Carbon monoxide

2.     Methane

3.     Ozone

4.     Sulphur dioxide

Which of the above are released into the atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

11. In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with apprehension. These chemicals are used as

(a) pesticides in agriculture

(b) preservatives in processed foods

(c) fruit-ripening agents

(d) moisturising agents in cosmetics

12. Consider the following statements:

1.     Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India

2.     The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention

3.     The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

13. Consider the following statements:

1.     Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into the environment

2.     Cattle release ammonia into the environment

3.     The poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds into the environment

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

14. Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?

(a) Clouds absorb the radiation released from the Earth’s surface.

(b) Clouds reflect back the Earth’s radiation

(c) The Earth’s surface would have a low temperature on cloudy nights

(d) Clouds deflect the blowing wind to ground level

 15. Consider the following statements:

1.     According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India

2.     In India, there is no Intellectual Property Appellate Board

3.     Plant varieties are not eligible to be patented in India

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

16. The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to

(a) fossils of a kind of dinosaurs

(b) an early human species

(c) a cave system found in North-East India

(d) a geological period in the history of the Indian subcontinent

17. Consider the following statements:

The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to

1.     state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought

2.     lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

 18. Consider the following statements:

1.     As per the recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas

2.     As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce

3.     The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 19. Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of 

(a) anti-malarial drug

(b) biodiesel

(c) pulp for the paper industry

(d) textile fibre

20. In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel 

buses in public transport, consider the following statements:

1.     The main advantage of the use of HCNG is the elimination of carbon monoxide emissions

2.     H-CNG as fuel reduces carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions

3.     Hydrogen up to one-fifth by volume can be blended with CNG as fuel for buses

4.     H-CNG makes the fuel less expensive than CNG

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answers:

1. (a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber

2. (d) Valley of Flowers National Park

3. (a) 1 only

4. (d) Reducing the global warming

5. (a) Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

6. (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

7. (a) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems

8. (d) 1, 2 and 3

9. (d) 1, 2 and 3

10. (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

11. (a) pesticides in agriculture

12. (b) 2 and 3 only

13. (d) 1, 2 and 3

14. (b) Clouds reflect back the Earth’s radiation

15. (c) 3 only

16. (b) an early human species

17. (b) 2 only

18. (b) 2 and 3 only

19. (d) textile fibre

20. (b) 2 and 3 only

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