UPSC Essentials : Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 10)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the semi-cryogenic engines in India, consider the following statements:

1. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of ISRO has undertaken the design and development of a semi cryogenic engine.

2. It is planned to validate the design of the propellant feed system.

3. It works on a Liquid-Oxygen-Hydrogen propellant combination.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

Consider the following pairs:

    (Lake)                         (Region)

1. Titicaca                      Africa

2. Superior                   North America

3. Nakaru                      South America

4. Baikal                        Europe

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements about hydrogen sulphide gas:

1. It is a toxic gas found in nature and industrial pollution.

2. Exposure to this gas leads to skin irritation and affects respiratory system.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 4

With reference to the sustainable aviation fuel, consider the following statements:

1. Sustainable aviation fuel is produced from sustainable feedstock derived from crude oil.

2. Sustainable aviation fuel has lower carbon footprint than aviation turbine fuel.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 5

Which of the following statements is not correct about thermobaric weapons?

(a) It uses hydrogen from the air for a large, high-temperature blast.

(b) It causes significantly greater devastation than a conventional bomb of comparable size.

(c) It can be fired as rockets from tank-mounted launchers or dropped from aircraft.

(d) These weapons are not prohibited by any international law or agreement.

ANSWERS TO MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— ISRO carried out the first integrated test on an intermediate configuration of the 2000 kN semicryogenic engine at the newly commissioned Semicryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test facility at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri.

— The intermediate configuration, designated as Power Head Test Article (PHTA), comprises all the engine systems except the thrust chamber.

— The test is the first of a series of tests planned to validate the design of the propellant feed system, including the low-pressure and high-pressure turbo-pumps, the gas generator, and control components. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of ISRO has undertaken the design and development of a Semicryogenic engine with 2000 kN thrust with Indian industry participation, and will power the booster stages of future launch vehicles and works on Liquid Oxygen (LOX)-Kerosene propellant combination. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.

— The newly established test facility at IPRC, Mahendragiri, with a state-of-art PLC-based control system and data acquisition system, is capable of testing semi-cryogenic engines up to 2600 kN thrust and will support the subsequent testing and qualification of the fully integrated Semicryogenic engine and stage.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: www.isro.gov.in)

2. (a)

FYI:

— According to new study published in journal Science, more than 50 per cent of the world’s largest lakes and reservoirs have shrunk over the past three decades primarily due to climate change and human activities.

— It also noted that more than half of the reservoirs located in peninsular India have witnessed substantial water storage decline, mainly due to sedimentation. Moreover, among the worst affected natural lakes in the country is Ladakh’s Tso Moriri.

— A team of international researchers reported that some of the world’s most important water sources – from the Caspian Sea between Europe and Asia to South America’s Lake Titicaca – lost water at a cumulative rate of around 22 gigatonnes per year for nearly three decades.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

3. (c)

FYI:

— A recent incident of toxic gas leakage, suspected to be Hydrogen Sulphide, in Ludhiana’s Giaspura which led to the death of 11 people, and the hospitalisation of many others.

— Hydrogen sulphide is a toxic gas found in nature, swamps, and during industrial production. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It is interesting to note that the human body also produces enzymatic or non-enzymatic methods of very small quantities of hydrogen sulphide.

— Any exposure to hydrogen sulphide in the atmosphere can lead to irritation and skin reaction, and if inhaled in larger quantities, it can stop cellular respiration. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Hydrogen sulphide, which is an extremely pungent gas can also lead to “premature asthma attacks.

— Long-term exposure to hydrogen sulphide can lead to more serious health problems, such as damage to the nervous system and lungs. 

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

4. (c)

FYI:

— According to Union Petroleum Ministry, India is well-positioned to achieve 1 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for all commercial flights by 2025.

— SAF is produced from sustainable feedstock and has similar chemistry to conventional ATF or jet fuel, which is derived from crude oil. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— SAF’s carbon footprint is significantly lower than ATF. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— A committee on SAF constituted by the petroleum ministry has submitted its recommendations to the government. According to people with direct knowledge of the matter, the panel has recommended an initial SAF blending mandate of 1 per cent from 2025, before scaling it up to 10 per cent over subsequent years in phases.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

5. (a)

FYI:

— Human rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova accused Russia of using cluster bombs and vacuum bombs in the ongoing war.

— Thermobaric weapons — also known as aerosol bombs, fuel air explosives, or vaccum bombs — use oxygen from the air for a large, high-temperature blast.

— A thermobaric weapon causes significantly greater devastation than a conventional bomb of comparable size.

— The weapons, which go off in two separate stages, can be fired as rockets from tank-mounted launchers or dropped from aircraft.

— Vacuum bombs are not prohibited by any international law or agreement, but their use against civilian populations in built-up areas, schools or hospitals, could attract action under the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907.

— Countries that have ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions are prohibited from using cluster bombs. As of date, there are 110 state parties to the convention, and 13 other countries have signed up but are yet to ratify it. Neither Russia nor Ukraine are signatories.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

New initiative for UPSC Mains

UPSC CSE Mains 2023 season has begun. Are you ready for it? UPSC Essentials brings to you its new initiative for the practice of Mains answer writing. Mains Answer Writing will cover essential topics of static and dynamic parts of the UPSC Civil Services syllabus covered under various GS papers. This answer-writing practice is designed to help you as a value addition to your UPSC CSE Mains. Try it out!

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 1)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 1)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 3)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 2)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 4 (Week 3)