Question 1

Dolomite power is applied in some agricultural lands. The purpose of applying it is to

Accepted Answer

Dolomite is a limestone compound that contains calcium and magnesium. It provides valuable nutrients to plants and helpschange the pH of the soil by raising it to match the plants' needs. It evenprovides more nutrients than straight lime. It is often used in addition to balanced fertilizers, particularly with seeding fruit.

Question 2

Excessive use of which ofthe following fertilizers may be responsible for the presence of a toxic substance in groundwater?

Accepted Answer

Excessive use of nitrate including manure may be responsible forthe presence of toxic substance in groundwater. Phosphate can also enter the groundwater via excessive use of fertilizers. High application rates of nitrogen containing fertilizers combined with the high-water solubility of nitrate, leads to increased runoff into surface water as well as leaching into groundwater, thereby causing groundwater pollution. Only a fraction of the nitrogen-based fertilizers, is converted to produce and other plant matter. Nitrate pollution in groundwater comes from pit latrines, it can cause blue baby syndrome.

Question 3

With reference to earthquakes, which of the following statements are correct? A. Earthquakes largely occur along the converging plate boundaries. B. Point of origin of earthquake in lithosphere is known as focus/hypocenter. C. Intensity of earthquak…

Accepted Answer

Epicentre of Earthquakes can be over both oceanic and continental surface. Epicentres above oceanic surface are cause of tsunamisof large intensity. Anearthquake's hypocentreis the position where the strain energy stored in the rockis first released, marking thepointwhere the fault begins to rupture.

Question 4

‘Altitude sickness’ is caused at high altitude due to

Accepted Answer

Altitude sickness, the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation.

Question 5

The elemental composition of an adult human body by mass is

Accepted Answer

O= 65% C= 18% H= 9.5% N= 3.2% Ca= 1.5% Ph=1.2%

Question 6

Which of the following statements concerning atmosphere of the Earth are correct? 1. In stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude. 2. In mesosphere, temperature decreases with altitude. 3. The lowest temperature of the atmosphere is recorded…

Accepted Answer

In troposphere and mesosphere, temperature declines with increasing altitude. In stratosphere and thermosphere, temperature increases with increasing altitude.The coldest temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere occur at the top of mesosphere, the Mesopause, especially in the summer near the pole.Transitional layers of atmosphere include tropopause, stratopause, and mesopause. These layers are relatively thin and are located between major layers of atmosphere. These have contrasting thermal properties. Hence, in these layers there is no change in temperature with change in altitude.

Question 7

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

Accepted Answer

In astronomy, a syzygy is a straight-line configuration of three or more celestial bodies in a gravitational system.Solar and lunar eclipses occur at times of syzygy, as do transits and occultations.

Question 8

Which one of the following is not related to wind erosion ?

Accepted Answer

Demoiselles These are rock pillars which stand as resistant rocks above soft rocks as a result of differential erosion of hard and soft rocks. Zeugen A table-shaped area of rock found in arid and semi-arid areas formed when more resistant rock is reduced at a slower rate than softer rocks around it. A Dreikanter It is a type of ventifact that typically forms in desert or periglacial environments due to the abrasive action of blowing sand. A wind gap is a gap through which a waterway once flowed that is now dry as a result of stream capture.

Question 9

Very small insoluble particles in a liquid may be separated from it by using

Accepted Answer

Sometimes the solid particles in a liquid are very small and can pass through a filter paper. For such particles, the filtration technique cannot be used for separation. Such mixtures are separated by centrifugation.

Question 10

Which one among the following stars is nearest to the earth?

Accepted Answer

Proxima Centauri is the nearest star, and on August 24, 2016 astronomers announced it likely has a planet. This star is the nearest of a triple star system, which we on Earth see with the eye alone as the single star Alpha Centauri, visible from Earth's Southern Hemisphere

Question 11

Which of the following planets of our solar system has least mass?

Accepted Answer

Question 12

Which one of the following States of India is not covered by Food Forecasting Stations set up by the Central Water Commission?

Accepted Answer

Presently, there are 226 flood forecasting stations consisting of 166 level forecasting stations for villages and towns and 60 inflow forecasting stations for reservoirs/dams/barrages in the country. Existing flood forecasting network covers 22 States / Union Territories and 19 major river basins / sub-basins in the country.

Question 13

When hot water is placed into an empty water bottle, the bottle keeps its shape and does not soften. What type of plastic is the water bottle made from?

Accepted Answer

Thermoset, or thermosetting, plastics are synthetic materials that strengthen during being heated, but cannot be successfully remouldedor reheated after their initial heat-forming. This contrasts withthermoplastics, which soften when heated and harden and strengthen after cooling. Thermoplastics can be heated, shaped and cooled as often as necessary without causing a chemical change, while thermosetting plastics will burn when heated after the initial moulding.

Question 14

Statement I : By far the most common topographic form in a Karst terrain is the sinkhole. Statement II : Topographically, a sinkhole is a depression that varies in depth from less than a meter to few hundred meters.

Accepted Answer

A sinkhole (in Karst topography) is a hole in the ground that forms when water dissolves surface rock. Often, this surface rock is limestone, which is easily eroded, or worn away, by the movement of water. Formation of a Sinkhole: In a landscape where limestone sits underneath the soil, water from rainfall collects in cracks in the stone. These cracks are called joints. Slowly, as the limestone dissolves and is carried away, the joints widen until the ground above them becomes unstable and collapses. The collapse often happens very suddenly and without very much warning. Water collects in these collapsed sections, forming sinkholes. Sinkholes also form when the roofs of caves collapse. Sinkholes are often funnel-shaped, with the wide end open at the surface and the narrow end at the bottom of the pool.Sinkholes vary from shallow holes about 1 meter (3 feet) deep, to pits more than 50 meters (165 feet) deep.

Question 15

Statement I : Incised meanders are formed in the mature stage of a river. Statement II : Incised meanders are characterized by rejuvenation and upliftment of land.

Accepted Answer

Rejuvenation occurs when the river’s base level falls (i.e. when sea level falls). This can be a consequence of either a fall in the amount of sea water or the land rising. Incised meanders are meanders which are particularly well developed and occur when a river’s base level has fallen giving the river a large amount of vertical erosion power, allowing it to down cut. Hence, 2nd statement is correct. There are two types of incised meanders, entrenched meanders and ingrown meanders.As they are products of rejuvenation, they are not formed in mature stage of a river

Question 16

Statement I : Portions of glacial troughs may exhibit remarkably flat floors. Statement II : The flat floor in a glacial trough is produced by uniform glacial erosion.

Accepted Answer

Glaciers cut distinctive U-shaped valleys with a flat floor and steep sides. These are an example of a glacial erosion landform. Example: As the main glacier erodes deeper into the valley, the tributary is left higher up the steep sides of the glacier.

Question 17

Statement I : Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitationed forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of the Earth. Statement II : The Earth rotates from west to east.

Accepted Answer

Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of Earth. Statement 2 is also correct. But it is not the correct explanation for the 1st statement.

General Science Questions