UPSC 2010 › Environment & Ecology

20 questions · 2010 · answers as per the UPSC key

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Topics: Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts (4)Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases (3)Biodiversity & Conservation (2)Environmental Governance & Legislation (2)International Environmental Treaties & Summits (2)Pollution & Waste Management (2)Protected Areas & Wildlife (2)Renewable Energy & Green Technologies (2)Biogeochemical Cycles & Earth Systems (1)
UPSC 2010 · Q4 · Environment & Ecology › Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts · Save

A new type of El Nino called El Nino Modoki appeared in the news. In this context, consider the following statements:

  1. Normal El Nino forms in the Central Pacific ocean whereas El Nino Modoki forms in Eastern Pacific ocean.
  2. Normal El Nino results in diminished hurricanes in the Atlantic ocean but El Nino Modoki results in a greater number of hurricanes with greater frequency.

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
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 only
UPSC 2010 · Q20 · Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation · Save

Consider the following statements :

  1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions.
  2. India has four biodiversity hotspots i.e., Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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
Show answer
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
UPSC 2010 · Q22 · Environment & Ecology › Protected Areas & Wildlife · Save

Consider the following statements:

  1. The boundaries of a National Park are defined by legislation.
  2. A Biosphere Reserve is declared to conserve a few specific species of flora and fauna.
  3. In a Wildlife Sanctuary, limited biotic interference is permitted.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
UPSC 2010 · Q23 · Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Waste Management · Save

A pesticide which is a chlorinated hydrocarbon is sprayed on a food crop. The food chain is: Food crop – Rat – Snake – Hawk. In this food chain, the highest concentration of the pesticide would accumulate in which one of the following?

(a) Food crop
(b) Rat
(c) Snake
(d) Hawk
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Answer: (d) Hawk
UPSC 2010 · Q38 · Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Waste Management · Save

Consider the following:

  1. Oxides of Hydrogen
  2. Oxides of Nitrogen
  3. Oxides of Sulphur

Which of the above causes/cause acid rain?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
UPSC 2010 · Q56 · Environment & Ecology › International Environmental Treaties & Summits · Save

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty drawn at

(a) United Nations’ Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 1972
(b) UN Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992
(c) World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002
(d) UN Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen, 2009
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Answer: (b) UN Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 1992
UPSC 2010 · Q59 · Environment & Ecology › International Environmental Treaties & Summits · Save

India is a party to the Ramsar Convention and has declared many areas as Ramsar Sites.

Which of the following statements best describes how we should maintain these sites in the context of this Convention?

(a) Keep all the sites completely inaccessible to man so that they will not be exploited.
(b) Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach and permit tourism and recreation only.
(c) Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach for a period without any exploitation, with specific criteria and specific period for each site, and then allow sustainable use of them by future generations.
(d) Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach and allow their simultaneous sustainable use.
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Answer: (d) Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach and allow their simultaneous sustainable use.
UPSC 2010 · Q60 · Environment & Ecology › Renewable Energy & Green Technologies · Save

Other than Jatropha curcas, why is Pongamia pinnata also considered a good option for the production of bio-diesel in India?

  1. Pongamia pinnata grows naturally in most of the arid regions of India.
  2. The seeds of Pongamia pinnata are rich in lipid content of which nearly half is oleic acid.

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
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
UPSC 2010 · Q61 · Environment & Ecology › Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases · Save

Due to their extensive rice cultivation, some regions may be contributing to global warming. To what possible reason/reasons is this attributable?

  1. The anaerobic conditions associated with rice cultivation cause the emission of methane.
  2. When nitrogen based fertilizers are used, nitrous oxide is emitted from the cultivated soil.

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
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 only
UPSC 2010 · Q62 · Environment & Ecology › Environmental Governance & Legislation · Save

Sustainable development is described as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In this perspective, inherently the concept of sustainable development is intertwined with which of the following concepts ?

(a) Social justice and empowerment
(b) Inclusive Growth
(c) Globalization
(d) Carrying capacity
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Answer: (d) Carrying capacity
UPSC 2010 · Q63 · Environment & Ecology › Renewable Energy & Green Technologies · Save

Given below are the names of four energy crops. Which one of them can be cultivated for ethanol ?

(a) Jatropha
(b) Maize
(c) Pongamia
(d) Sunflower
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Answer: (b) Maize
UPSC 2010 · Q64 · Environment & Ecology › Protected Areas & Wildlife · Save

Consider the following pairs: Protected area — Well-known for

  1. Bhitarkanika, Orissa — Salt Water Crocodile
  2. Desert National Park, Rajasthan — Great Indian Bustard
  3. Eravikulam, Kerala — Hoolak Gibbon

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
UPSC 2010 · Q65 · Environment & Ecology › Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts · Save

Some species of plants are insectivorous. Why ?

(a) Their growth in shady and dark places does not allow them to undertake sufficient photosynthesis and thus they depend on insects for nutrition.
(b) They are adapted to grow in nitrogen deficient soils and thus depend on insects for sufficient nitrogenous nutrition.
(c) They cannot synthesize certain vitamins themselves and depend on the insects digested by them.
(d) They have remained in that particular stage of evolution as living fossils, a link between autotrophs and heterotrophs.
Show answer
Answer: (b) They are adapted to grow in nitrogen deficient soils and thus depend on insects for sufficient nitrogenous nutrition.
UPSC 2010 · Q69 · Environment & Ecology › Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts · Save

In India, which type of forest among the following occupies the largest area?

(a) Montane Wet Temperate Forest
(b) Sub-tropical Dry Evergreen Forest
(c) Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
(d) Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest
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Answer: (c) Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
UPSC 2010 · Q74 · Environment & Ecology › Biogeochemical Cycles & Earth Systems · Save

Which one of the following reflects back more sunlight as compared to the other three?

(a) Sand desert
(b) Paddy crop land
(c) Land covered with fresh snow
(d) Prairie land
Show answer
Answer: (c) Land covered with fresh snow
UPSC 2010 · Q103 · Environment & Ecology › Ecosystems & Ecology Concepts · Save

King Cobra is the only snake that makes its own nest. Why does it make its nest?

(a) It is a snake-eater and the nest helps attract other snakes
(b) It is a viviparous snake and needs a nest to give birth to its offspring
(c) It is an oviparous snake and lays its eggs in the nest and guards the nest until they are hatched
(d) It is a large, cold blooded animal, and needs a nest to hibernate in the cold season
Show answer
Answer: (c) It is an oviparous snake and lays its eggs in the nest and guards the nest until they are hatched
UPSC 2010 · Q104 · Environment & Ecology › Environmental Governance & Legislation · Save

As a result of their annual survey, the National Geographic Society and an international polling firm GlobeScan gave India top rank in Greendex 2009 score. What is this score?

(a) It is a measure of efforts made by different countries in adopting technologies for reducing carbon footprint
(b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in different countries
(c) It is an assessment of programmes/schemes undertaken by different countries for improving the conservation of natural resources
(d) It is an index showing the volume of carbon credits sold by different countries
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Answer: (b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in different countries
UPSC 2010 · Q105 · Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation · Save

Consider the following statements:

  1. The Taxus tree naturally found in the Himalayas.
  2. The Taxus tree is listed in the Red Data Book.
  3. A drug called “taxol” is obtained from Taxus tree is effective against Parkinson’s disease.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
UPSC 2010 · Q129 · Environment & Ecology › Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases · Save

What are the possible limitations of India in mitigating the global warming at present and in the immediate future ?

  1. Appropriate alternate technologies are not sufficiently available.
  2. India cannot invest huge funds in research and development.
  3. Many developed countries have already set up their polluting industries in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
UPSC 2010 · Q149 · Environment & Ecology › Climate Change & Greenhouse Gases · Save

Consider the following which can be found in the ambient atmosphere :

  1. Soot
  2. Sulphur hexafluoride
  3. Water vapour

Which of the above contribute to the warming up of the atmosphere ?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3