UPSC 2012 › Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation

6 questions · 2012 · answers as per the UPSC key

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UPSC 2012 · Q41 · Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation · Save

Government of India encourages the cultivation of 'sea buckthorn'. What is the importance of this plant?

  1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in preventing desertification.
  2. It is a rich source of biodiesel.
  3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to live in cold areas of high altitudes.
  4. Its timber is of great commercial value.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
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Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
UPSC 2012 · Q92 · Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation · Save

Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?

(a) Great Indian Bustard, Musk Deer, Red Panda and Asiatic Wild Ass
(b) Kashmir Stag, Cheetal, Blue Bull and Great Indian Bustard
(c) Snow Leopard, Swamp Deer, Rhesus Monkey and Saras (Crane)
(d) Lion-tailed Macaque, Blue Bull, Hanuman Langur and Cheetal
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Answer: (a) Great Indian Bustard, Musk Deer, Red Panda and Asiatic Wild Ass
UPSC 2012 · Q95 · Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation · Save

What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?

(a) Oryx is adapted to live in hot and arid areas whereas Chiru is adapted to live in steppes and semi-desert areas of cold high mountains
(b) and
(c) given above is correct
(d) None of the statements (a),
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Answer: (a) Oryx is adapted to live in hot and arid areas whereas Chiru is adapted to live in steppes and semi-desert areas of cold high mountains
UPSC 2012 · Q96 · Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation · Save

Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area?

  1. Global warming
  2. Fragmentation of habitat
  3. Invasion of alien species
  4. Promotion of vegetarianism

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
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Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
UPSC 2012 · Q98 · Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation · Save

Consider the following agricultural practices :

  1. Contour bunding
  2. Relay cropping
  3. Zero tillage In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of them
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Answer: (b) 3 only
UPSC 2012 · Q100 · Environment & Ecology › Biodiversity & Conservation · Save

Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to

(a) the destruction of their nesting sites by new invasive species
(b) a drug used by cattle owners for treating their diseased cattle
(c) scarcity of food available to them
(d) a widespread, persistent and fatal disease among them
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Answer: (b) a drug used by cattle owners for treating their diseased cattle